Michael OKEOLA

 

The Catholic Bishop of Oyo, Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, has received Mr. Femi Emmanuel Adeojo, Head of the Religious Education, Catechesis and Biblical Apostolate Unit of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), who paid a courtesy and working visit to the Bishop ahead of the forthcoming meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

Adeojo, who recently returned from a training programme in the United States, visited Bishop Badejo to present a report on the programme and brief him on ongoing efforts towards the establishment of the proposed National Institute for Catechesis and Evangelization (NICE) in Nigeria.

Bishop Badejo, who serves as Episcopal Chairman of the Pastoral Affairs Department of the CBCN, under which Adeojo’s unit operates, described the visit as significant, particularly as the report from the training programme would subsequently be presented to the Bishops’ Conference.

 

CATECHESIS CENTRED ON CHRIST

Explaining the purpose of the visit, Adeojo described Bishop Badejo as both a personal mentor and, officially, the Episcopal Chairman of the department under which he works.

According to him, the United States training was connected with efforts to establish NICE, an institute conceived to strengthen catechesis and evangelization by helping people grow deeper in their knowledge and lived experience of the Catholic faith.

He stressed that catechesis goes beyond the transfer of religious information, as its ultimate purpose is to bring people into communion with Jesus Christ.

“At the heart of catechesis is a person, and the person is Jesus,” Adeojo said.

He explained that the proposed institute emerged from the recognition that catechesis has not always received the attention and position it deserves within the pastoral life of the Church in Nigeria.

TWO-PRONGED MISSION

Adeojo said NICE would operate through two major components. The first would strengthen existing catechetical structures through ongoing formation, outreach and programmes for provinces, dioceses and Catholic organizations.

The second would establish an academic institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate studies in catechesis and related fields.

He explained that the vision is to produce professionals who can integrate their Christian faith into their various fields of endeavour, demonstrating that catechesis is not merely a ministry for parish volunteers but a vocation and professional discipline capable of influencing wider society.

Adeojo identified four principal dimensions of catechetical formation: knowledge of the faith, celebration of the faith, living the faith and communication with God through prayer.

 

ATTRACTING YOUNG PEOPLE

The CSN official also highlighted the need to attract more young people into catechesis. He observed that Catechists in Nigeria are often older married men or volunteers, whereas Catechesis in other parts of the world is treated as a serious academic and professional discipline.

He noted that economic considerations can also discourage young people from pursuing catechesis professionally because of uncertainties surrounding employment and remuneration.

According to Adeojo, NICE therefore envisages a more sustainable approach to catechetical ministry, including improved economic prospects for professionally trained catechists. One of its aspirations is to employ at least 70 per cent of its first set of graduates, with the long-term vision of establishing centres across Nigeria and eventually extending the initiative to other African countries.

BRIEFING AHEAD OF CBCN MEETING

Explaining the reason for briefing Bishop Badejo personally before the CBCN meeting, Adeojo said those directly connected with the project should not encounter its details for the first time at the Bishops’ Conference.

He expressed confidence that the briefing would enable Bishop Badejo to contribute effectively to discussions on NICE and provide clarity on the outcome of the training and the direction of the proposed institute.

The proposed National Institute for Catechesis and Evangelization thus seeks to reposition catechesis within the pastoral life of the Catholic Church in Nigeria by strengthening formation, creating academic pathways and encouraging greater participation by young people.