Jacob BABALOLA (Staff Writer)

The Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Province, comprising Ibadan Archdiocese, Oyo, Osogbo, Ondo, Ekiti and Ilorin Dioceses held her 2026 First Plenary Meeting from 19th -20th January, 2026 at Jubilee Conference Centre (JBC) by St. Joseph Catholic Church, Oke – Ado, Ibadan, Oyo – State.

The meeting commenced with a Mass that had the Chairman of the Bishops in the Province, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin as the Chief Celebrant, while Grandpa, the Archbishop Emeritus of Ibadan, Most Rev. Dr. Felix Alaba Job, other Bishops and Priests concelebrated with the Archbishop.

Also present at the Mass were the Dean of Oke- Ado Deanery, Very Rev. Fr. Matthew Oniseitan, Priests, Chaplains and Executives of Lay Organizations in the Province, Knights, Catholic Nurses Guild etc.

The Archbishop welcomed and appreciated all for joining the Bishops in the Province to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide and direct them in their deliberation. He equally appealed to all to always remember that the Church is greater than any individual, hence, all should learn to listen to those that are leading them in the faith. His Grace enjoined the laity to encourage the young ones to support and listen to the Church, so that things may go well with the Church.

The opening Mass was followed by a general meeting, where all lay organizations gave reports of their activities in the last one year and also highlighted their challenges. Participants were asked to make comment on the reports presented and from there some resolutions came up to guide the operation and compilation of reports of lay organizations for subsequent meetings thus:

• All Lay Organizations or Societies in the Province are to fully identify with the Laity and be active as well.
• Dioceses that are having financial outstanding in any of the Lay Organizations are to be mentioned in their respective subsequent reports for corrective measures.
• Lay Organizations are to carry out Spiritual activities that are of benefit to the society at large apart from just having meetings.
• Parents and Guardians encouraged to visit their wards in institutions of learning to put an end to movement of the youth away from the Catholic faith and not just sending money to them.
• Dissemination of Social teaching of the Church must be frequent in JDPC’s report, to make it different from other NGOs.
• Need to reproduce old Hymn Books that are helpful to the Catholic faith.
• That music should always accompany liturgy to differentiate liturgical music from social music.
• Choir to compose theological choruses.
• Choir should stop solo-singing during reception of Holy Communion.
• Need for a group of people that will guide the choir in the area of music in the Church.
• Choir to desist from resisting the appointed Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Martin Badejo; as resisting him is resisting the Bishops of the Province.
• Rev. Fr. Anthony Ogunyale was appointed as the Chaplain of Catholic Artistes and Entertainers Association of Nigeria (CAEAN).
• Bishop Anselm Pendo Lawani of Ilorin Diocese was appointed as the Laity Chaplain in the Province.
• And above all, the need for accountability in all the Lay Organizations in the Province.

The Bishops at the end of the meeting issued a Communique (as published by the Catholic Weekly Independent in its 25th January 2026 edition).

To round it up, a Press Conference was addressed by the Bishops’ Chairman, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin, alongside Bishop Emmanuel Badejo of Oyo Diocese and the Director of Social Communications in the Archdiocese of Ibadan, Rev. Fr. Anthony Ogunyale.