The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has hailed the Catholic clergy in Nigeria for their sacrifices, dedication and contributions to humanity.

The Senior Media Officer, Ooni’s Palace, Sodiq Lawal, in a statement on Tuesday, on behalf of the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, said Mr Ogunwusi disclosed this to a delegation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, led by its president and Archbishop of Kaduna, Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, who paid a courtesy visit to the monarch in his palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The palace said the bishops were in the state for its Second Plenary Assembly of the CBCN, holding from September 10 to 18, 2026, at the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo.

The statement read, “The Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), Arole Oodua Olofin Adimula and the Natural Head of the Oduduwa race worldwide, the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has received the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at his palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State, where he commended the Catholic Church for its service to humanity and contributions to the development of society.”

Receiving the bishops, Mr Ogunwusi described the Catholic Church as an institution whose voice commands significant respect in and out of the country, while also distinguishing itself through advocacy, discipline, prayers and promoting the welfare of the society. 

The monarch said, “Thank you for coming to Ife, where it all began. In our country, we don’t joke with bishops. Their voices are very powerful; anything you say, the entire country and even the continent usually feel it.

“I grew up in the midst of the Catholic community. I am so happy that I am in your midst today. The Catholic mission is so disciplined; everything is very organised.”

Mr Ndagoso earlier during the visit thanked the the monarch for receiving them and described Ile-Ife as the cradle of Yoruba culture and the throne of the Ooni as an important symbol of the history, identity and cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.

Commending the monarch’s efforts in promoting peace, national unity, youth development and harmonious coexistence among Nigerians of different ethnic and religious backgrounds, Mr Ndagoso stressed the need for stronger cooperation between religious and traditional institutions in promoting peaceful coexistence, protecting young people, strengthening families and combating violence and criminality.

Ahead of the 2027 election, Mr Ndagoso urged Nigerians to reject vote-buying and called for transparent, free, fair and credible polls. 

He also stated that Nigeria’s challenges, including insecurity, poverty, corruption, unemployment and divisions along ethnic and religious lines, required collective efforts from government, traditional institutions, religious bodies and citizens.

Among the dignitaries in the delegation were the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; the Bishop of Ekwulobia, Peter Cardinal Okpaleke; the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Most Rev. Michael Francis Crotty; the Archbishop of Ibadan, Most Rev. Gabriel Ojeleke Abegunrin; the Bishop of Osogbo, Mocast Rev. John Akin Oyejola; and the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah.