Media Team

In a major step toward strengthening Catholic participation in ecumenical affairs within Oyo State, the Metropolitan of Ibadan Province, Most Rev. Gabriel ’Leke Abegunrin, has officially appointed Rev. Fr. Samson Babatunde Ojo as the Bloc Leader for the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria within the Christian Association of Nigeria.

 

The appointment is regarded as a significant development for the Catholic Church in Oyo State, particularly for the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, which now occupies two notable executive positions within the state structure of CAN. Alongside Fr. Ojo’s appointment as CSN Bloc Leader, Mr. Ajetoro Augustine currently serves as Chairman of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN).

 

The development also places Oyo Diocese alongside the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, which maintains strategic positions within the CAN leadership structure, including the offices of State Vice Chairman and Director of Legal Affairs.

 

As Bloc Leader, Fr. Ojo will function as a Principal Liaison Officer between the Catholic hierarchy and the State leadership of CAN, representing the interests and concerns of the Catholic Church in ecumenical engagements across the State. The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria remains one of the five foundational blocs of CAN, with operational presence at national, state, and local government levels.

 

Reacting to the appointment, Fr. Ojo expressed gratitude to the Church authorities for the confidence reposed in him. “I am very grateful for this privilege and opportunity. May God continue to bless His Church,” he stated.

 

Following the announcement, the newly appointed Bloc Leader called on priests and pastoral agents across Nigeria to deepen their involvement in ecumenical affairs, stressing that the active presence of the Church in CAN activities remains vital for promoting Christian unity and advancing the collective interests of believers within society.

 

He urged greater prioritization of CAN-related matters at parish and diocesan levels, encouraging clergy and lay leaders to dedicate time toward active participation in meetings and regional activities. According to him, stronger collaboration and engagement within CAN structures will help amplify the voice of Christianity in Nigeria’s social, moral, and national discourse.

 

Observers within the Church have described the appointment as both strategic and timely, especially at a period when stronger cooperation among Christian bodies is increasingly seen as essential for national unity, advocacy, and pastoral outreach.