By Ibukun Emiola
The Catholic Community in Nigeria has bid farewell to Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Julius Adelakun, describing his contributions to the Catholic Church as notable and selfless.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Funeral Mass, held in Oyo on Friday, had in attendance family members, clerics and dignitaries from within and outside the country.
Delivering the sermon, the Bishop of Osogbo Diocese, Most Revd. John Oyejola, urged the congregation to reflect on their legacy and the purpose of their lives.
He described Bishop Adelakun as a man who lived “a respectful and impactful life”.
Oyejola said that the late cleric embodied dedication, sacrifice and selfless service, adding that his life should inspire believers to live with purpose, courage and love.
He prayed God to grant eternal rest to the late bishop, whom he described as “a great icon of the Church in Nigeria”.
In his address, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Emmanuel Badejo, thanked everyone, adding that the funeral drew an impressive number of bishops across Nigeria and beyond.
He extended his appreciation to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the clergy, religious communities, medical personnel and caregivers who looked after the late bishop during his final years.
Badejo particularly thanked Dr Petrus of the Catholic Hospital, Ibadan, and the seminarians and Reverend Sisters who cared for Adelakun, saying “they made his old age more comfortable.”
He recalled that Adelakun was ordained a bishop on the grounds of St. Bernardine Grammar School, Oyo, in 1973, where his funeral was now being held, describing it as “a full-circle moment”.
The bishop prayed for the restoration of mission schools to the Church, for more effective contributions to national development.
Mr Adekunle Adelakun, a nephew of the late bishop, described his late uncle as a model of servant leadership who lived for others.
He recounted how the bishop sold a car gifted to him and invested the proceeds in the Bishop Adelakun Foundation to assist the needy.
“I consider it a blessing and a great opportunity to be a nephew to such a great man.
“He was a leader of great stature, a leader who had the hearts of people in mind. He is a model of servant leadership,” he said.
Mr Goke Adelakun, another relative and former General Manager of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), said the deceased was a family man.
According to him, the late bishop extended care and support to everyone around him, even to the North.
Mrs Funmilayo Ojo, Dean of Nursing, Afe Babalola University, who grew up in Oyo, said she encountered Adelakun from childhood.
She described him as a shepherd whose legacy of dedication to faith and community could not be forgotten.
Earlier, the Oyo State Chairman of CAN, Rev. Elisha Ogundiya, commended the Church and the people of Oyo for the love and solidarity shown, before and after the bishop’s passing.
NAN recalls that Bishop Julius Adelakun was born on Nov. 4, 1934.
He was ordained a priest on June 26, 1965, appointed Bishop in December 1973 and died on Oct. 24, 2025.
He served as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo until his retirement on Nov. 4, 2009, at the age of 75. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Augusta Uchediunor and Moses Solanke
