By Fr. Anthony Adetayo

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Lagos Ecclesiastical Province (LEP), held her annual conference on 27th January 2022 at Saint Agnes Catholic Church Maryland, Lagos. The purpose of the conference is to promote solidarity and synergy in the pastoral activities of the Catholic Dioceses in Lagos and Ogun State area of Nigeria that make up the Province. They are Lagos Archdiocese, Ijebu-Ode Diocese and Abeokuta Diocese. In attendance were the Metropolitan, Most Rev. Alfred Martin Adewale, Archbishop of Lagos, his Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, Most Rev. Peter Odetoyinbo, Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese, Most Rev. Francis Obafemi adesina, Bishop of Ijebu-Ode Diocese, Provincial heads of organizations and directorate, few observers and media practitioners.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos, who doubles as the chairman, presided over the meeting and welcomes everyone to a full participation and fruitful discussion. The Bishops received comprehensive reports from the Laity as an umbrella name for all organizations and pious societies. Reports also came from Conferences of Male and Female Religious, Church and Society, knights of St. Mulumba, Directorate of Social Communications, NCDPA. There was also a time for general questions and other business.

One of the highlights of the Conference is that the Bishops directed that everyone who is an eligible Catholic should take the election period seriously as campaigns have started with full force. They told the priests, Religious and Laity to get ready with their PVC to vote. This is the only way we can legitimately select the type of leaders we crave for.

The Bishops directed the conference to observe a minute of silence for the happy repose of Late Bishop Albert Ayinde Fasina, the Emeritus Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode and all those who were alive at the last conference but have now gone before us marked with sign of faith.

The Metropolitan commended those attending for the first time. He thanked everyone for their participation in the conference as it was very full and active assuring the conference of implementation of the brilliant suggestions that were thrown up and a need to asses more options. There were group photographs taken at the end of the conference.