Diocese of Ilorin

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ilorin (Latin: Ilorinen(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Ilorin in the ecclesiastical province of Ibadan in Nigeria.

Diocese of Ilorin Dioecesis Ilorinensis
Location
Country	Nigeria
Territory	Kwara State
Ecclesiastical province	Ibadan
Metropolitan	Archbishop of Ibadan
Coordinates	8°30′00″N 4°33′00″E
Statistics
Area	32,500 km2 (12,500 sq mi)
Population Total Catholics	(as of 2004) 1,260,000 25,500 (2.0%)
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	May 29, 1969
Cathedral	Saint Joseph Cathedral in Ilorin
Current leadership
Pope	Leo XIV
Bishop	Anselm Pendo Lawani
Map
Ilorin is located in Kwara State which is shown here in red.
Website
http://www.catholicdioceseofilorin.org/

History

• January 20, 1960: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Ilorin from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ondo.
• May 29, 1969: Promoted as Diocese of Ilorin

Special churches

The Cathedral is Saint Joseph Cathedral in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Bishops

• Prefects Apostolic of Ilorin (Roman rite)
  • Fr. William Mahony, S.M.A. (1960.12.06 – 1969.05.29 see below)
• Bishops of Ilorin (Roman rite)
  • William Mahony, S.M.A. (see above 1969.05.29 – 1984.10.20)
  • John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan (1984.10.20 – 1990.07.07), appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Abuja; future Cardinal
  • Ayo-Maria Atoyebi, O.P. (1992.03.06 – 2019.06.11)
• Paul Adegboyega Olawoore (2019.06.11 – 2022.01.01)
• Anselm Pendo Lawani (2024.02.02 – present)

Coadjutor Bishop

• Paul Adegboyega Olawoore (2018-2019)

Auxiliary Bishop

• John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan (1982-1984), appointed Bishop here; future Cardinal

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

• Martin Igwe Uzoukwu, appointed Bishop of Minna in 1996
• Bulus Dauwa Yohanna (priest here, 1998-2002), appointed Vicar Apostolic of Kontagora in 2012

See also

• Roman Catholicism in Nigeria

Sources

• GCatholic.org Information
• Catholic Hierarchy
• Official website