The Catholic Church in Nigeria is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, the curia in Rome, and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). The president of the CBCN is Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, Archbishop of Jos.
The Latin and Eastern Catholic Churches comprise the world's largest Christian Church, and its largest religious grouping. In 2005, there were an estimated 19 million baptised Catholics in Nigeria and 22.6 million in 2010.
Nigeria, together with Congo Democratic Republic, boasts of the highest number of priests in Africa. The boom in vocation to the priesthood in Nigeria is mainly in the eastern part (especially among the Igbo ethnic group) which accounts for over 70 percent of the country's Catholic population.
The second papal visit to the country in 1998 witnessed the beatification of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi. Pope John Paul II proclaimed him blessed at Oba, Onitsha Archdiocese, a local Church established by the apostle of eastern Nigerian, Bishop Joseph Shanahan, CSSp.
The official patron saints of Nigeria are: Mary, Queen of Nigeria and Saint Patrick of Ireland.
Within Nigeria the hierarchy consists of:
ArchbishopricBishopricThe Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria is the Nigerian episcopal conference.
A more traditionalist subset of the Catholic Church is also present in Nigeria and embodied by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (Nne Enyemaka Shrine, Umuaka). There also exists a community of the irregular status Society of St. Pius X (Saint Michael’s Priory, Enugu).
Caritas University, Amorji-NikeGodfrey Okoye University, EnuguMadonna University (Ihiala), OkijaOur Saviour Institute of Science and Technology, EnuguVUNA, Veritas University Abuja (The Catholic University of Nigeria), AbujaAugustine University IlaraDon Bosco Institute of Philosophy Affiliated to Salesian Pontifical University (Rome)Dominican InstitutePan-Atlantic University, LagosClaretian Institute of Philosophy, NekedeSeminary of Saints Peter and Paul, Ibadan, Oyo State, NigeriaSeminary of All Saints, Uhiele Ekpoma, Edo State, NigeriaBigard Memorial Seminary, EnuguSt. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, MakurdiSt. Augustine's Major Seminary, JosNational Missionary Seminary of St. Paul, GwagwaladaSt Joseph Ikot EkpeneBlessed Tansi Major Seminary OnitshaSt Albert The Great Major Seminary AbeokutaBonus Pastor Seminary OrluSt. John of the Cross Spiritual Year Seminary, EkpomaSeat of Wisdom Major Seminary, OwerriGood Shepherd Major Seminary, KadunaSt. Gabriel's Spiritual Year Seminary, Ozubulu, Anambra StateSt. Augustine's seminary, Amechi Ezzamgbo, Abakaliki, Ebonyi StateSt. John Vianney Minor Seminary, Barkin-Ladi, Plateau StateSt. James' Junior Seminary, Yandev GbokoSt. Jude's Minor Seminary, Kuje AbujaSt Theresa's Minor Seminary Oke-Are IbadanSacred Hearts Minor Seminary AkureSt. Clement's Minor Seminary, Adankolo-Lokoja, Kogi StateSt Paul's Seminary Ukpor, Nnewi Anambra StateAll Hallows Seminary, Onitsha Anambra StateMercy Seminary, Bende Abia StateImmaculate Conception Seminary, Ahiaeke Umuahia, Abia StateSt. Dominic Savio Seminary, Akpu, Anambra StateSt John Bosco Seminary, Isuaniocha, Anambra StateHoly Martyrs of Uganda seminary Effurun, Delta StateAnnunciation Seminary Amaudara, Abia StateSt John-cross minor seminary, Isienu-Nsukka, Enugu stateBlessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi, from Anambra State Beatified by Pope John Paul II, March 22, 1998Daughters of Divine LoveNew Evangelization Sisters of Mother of Perpetual Help (NES)Sons of Mary, Mother of Mercy Congregation(SMMM)Daughters of Mary, Mother of Mercy Congregation (DMMM)Holy Family Sisters of the Needy (HFSN)Missionary Sisters of Divine Mercy (MSDM) Nnewi, Nigeria. Website: www.divinemercysisters.netSociety of African MissionsThe Spiritans (Congregation of the Holy Spirit, C.S.Sp.)The Augustinians (Order of Saint Augustine, O.S.A.)Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of ApostlesSt. Louis SistersSalesians of Don Bosco Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB)]Missionaries of AfricaPontifical Mission Societies of Nigeria (PMS Nigeria)Aid to the Church in NeedMissionary Society of St. PaulOrder of Preachers (Dominicans)The FranciscansSociety of Jesus (Jesuits)The Cleratian Missionary FathersThe Oblates Of St JosephThe RedemptoristsDaughters of St Paul(Missionary Sisters of Divine Mercy P. O. Box 611 Nnewi Nigeria. Cell: +2348033802674)
