AFRICA/NIGERIA - The Pope appoints Coadjutor Bishop of Oyo

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on 14 August 2007, appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Oyo (Nigeria), Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, of the clergy of Osogbo.
Bishop elect Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, was born on 13 July 1961, at Funtua, Katsina State, diocese of Osogbo. After attending St Mary's Catholic School in Osogbo, he entered St Kitizo minor seminary in Ede, in 1971. In 1977, he went to study philosophy and theology at Saints Peter and Paul major seminary in Bodija, Ibadan. He completed his studies with a degree in theology at Urban College in Rome (1981-1985). He was ordained a priest on 4 January 1986 at Osogbo for the diocese of Oyo. In 1995, when the diocese of Oyo was divided to create the new circumscription of Osogbo, he became a member of the clergy of the new diocese. Since his ordination he has ministered as follows: (1986-1991) assistant priest at Saints Peter and Paul parish at Lagere, Ile-Ife; (1991-1992) parish priest at St Joseph's parish, Inisa; (1992-1995) Studies for a licentiate in Communication Studies at the Salesian University in Rome; (1995-2003) director of the Social Communications Department in the secretariat of the Nigerian Catholic Bishops' Conference; (2003-2006) Administrator Saint Benedict's Cathedral at Osogbo; from 2004 to 2006 diocesan head of vocations pastoral; since 2006: sabbatical year in the United States, in the archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama.
The diocese of Oyo, one of the smallest in Nigeria, suffragan of Ibadan, was created in 1963. Situated in Oyo State in south west Nigeria, it has an area of 25,269sq km, a population of 2,146,000 including 32,500 Catholics, gathered in 26 parishes, assisted by 34 priests (32 diocesan and 2 religious), 32 women religious and there are 34 seminarians. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 3/9/2007; Righe 23; Parole 310)