BY FR. ANTHONY ADETAYO

It was a cheering news for the entire Diocese of Ijebu-Ode, Lagos Province and the entire Nigerian Church that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has appointed Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael Ayanleke Banjo as the Secretary General (SG) of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Abuja which will take effect from 1^st January 2025

Fr. Banjo, who until now was the Director of Pastoral Affairs Department of the Secretariat and Deputy Secretary General, will take over from his immediate boss Very Rev. Fr. Zacharia Nyantiso Samjumi in the general administration of the Secretariat. On behalf of the Bishops’ Conference, Fr. Banjo will see to the running of the technical and administrative work of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria under the supervision of the Conference. He will ensure an organizational follow-up of different departments and pastoral agencies of the Catholic Secretariat in the implementation of their tasks and responsibilities.

Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael Banjo is a priest of Ijebu Ode diocese and was ordained on July 18, 1998. He had his seminary formation at the SS. Peter and Paul Major seminary, Bodija, Ibadan, Nigeria. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (University of Ibadan); a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (Urban University, Rome); a Licentiate in Canon Law (Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome); a Master of Arts in Government and Politics with specialization in International Relations (St. John’s University, New York – Rome campus); a Diploma in International Law and Diplomacy (St. John’s University, New York – Rome campus); and a Doctorate in Canon Law (Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome). He worked in different capacities in Ijebu-Ode Diocese including Pastor of St. Michael Parish, Ago-Iwoye, the Chaplain of the Catholic Community of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, the Judicial Vicar of Ijebu-Ode Diocese, the director of Family and Human Life department of the same diocese and a Judge at the Lagos Inter-diocesan Marriage Tribunal. He is the author of the Canonical Guide series and a lover of music.

He was made the Deputy Secretary General of CSN on 10th December 2020. After an obvious impressive ministry, he has now been made the Secretary General.
We wish Fr. Michael Banjo and the entire personnel of the CSN a purposeful and fruitful service to the Catholic Church and the Nigerian society as a whole.