ONDO, DIOCESE of. - In the south-eastern part of Nigeria. The evangelization of the territory began in 1913 through the work of the Fathers of the Society for African Missions. The first missionary residence was founded in 1916.
On 12 Jan. 1943, through the division of the then vicariates of the Coast of Benin (now the archdiocese of Lagos) and Western Nigeria (now the diocese of Benin City), the apostolic vicariate of O. Illorin was erected and entrusted to the same Society. On 18 Apr. 1950, with the establishment of the episcopal hierarchy in British West Africa, it was raised to the rank of diocese, under the name of O., suffragan of Lagos.
The territory (68,000 sq. km.) is inhabited by the large Yoruba tribe. According to the statistical data of 1950: population approx. 1,000,000; Catholics approx. 30,000, with 5,831 catechumens; Protestants approx. 250,000 (established in the area long before the Catholics and with approx. 550 schools); Muslims approx. 200,000; pagans more than 330,000. Native priests 3, foreign priests 28; foreign sisters 3; catechists 29; teachers 542; major seminarians 1, minor seminarians 5; principal mission stations 12, secondary stations 151; churches 12; chapels 144. Elementary schools 109. An interdiocesan school for the training of teachers is in Lagos. There is not yet Catholic Action properly so called, since the diocese is at the beginning of its development.