Vincent OBANIYI

The Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, has honoured a member of the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) in the Diocese, Josephine Ogunkunle, for clinching the first position in the 2025 Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Oyo State Bible Quiz Competition.

 

During Holy Mass celebrated in Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, Tede — the parish of the 16-year-old SS2 student — on June 5, 2025, the Bishop thanked the young lady for making her family, the Church, and the Diocese proud. He attributed Josephine’s success to diligence, obedience to her parents — including her mother, Clara — and attentiveness to the Holy Spirit, who works in each and every child of God.

 

The Bishop, while commending young people generally for winning accolades for Nigeria, the Church, and their families in sports, music, technology, and other fields, admonished them to pay more attention to the voice of God in their lives, shun evil, and resist negative peer pressure. He advised parents and other adults to avoid demonizing the youths or blaming them for every woe in society, pointing out that many of these problems are, in fact, caused by adults and privileged individuals.

 

Bishop Badejo, who presented a gift to Josephine on behalf of the Diocese, congratulated the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Samson Babalola, his assistant Fr. John Ojeniyi, the entire parish, and especially the youth for the joyful event. He also promised to continue to pray for more blessings upon the entire congregation. The parish priest thanked the Bishop for the great honour of his presence and prayed for more abundant grace upon him.

 

Josephine, who is a lector in the Church, is also the sister of a Seminarian of Oyo Diocese.