Pope appoints Archbishop Martins to Vatican Dicastery

By Philip Nwosu

His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, has appointed the Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, as a member of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelisation, marking a historic milestone as the first Nigerian bishop to serve in the influential body.

The appointment, which takes effect from yesterday, June 30, recognises Archbishop Martins’ 27 years of distinguished episcopal ministry and his extensive contributions to the Catholic Church in Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa.

In a statement by the Secretary to the Archbishop of Lagos, Rev. Fr. Paul Ariole, the Dicastery for Evangelisation, restructured under Pope Francis through the 2022 Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium and whose mandate has been renewed under Pope Leo XIV, is responsible for promoting the New Evangelization in historically Christian societies while supporting the establishment and growth of mission churches, particularly across the Global South.

Archbishop Martins is expected to bring decades of pastoral, administrative and missionary experience to the Vatican body, while continuing to serve as Archbishop of Lagos. Although based in Lagos, he will participate in the Dicastery’s meetings, consultations and decision-making processes in Rome whenever required.

Born on June 1, 1959, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Archbishop Martins was ordained a priest on September 18, 1983, by Anthony Cardinal Okogie at Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. He graduated with First Class Honours in Theology from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome and later obtained postgraduate degrees in Philosophy from the University of Ibadan and the University of St Andrews in Scotland. He also commenced doctoral studies at the University of Edinburgh before his appointment to the episcopacy.

In 1997, Pope John Paul II appointed him the pioneer Bishop of the Diocese of Abeokuta, where he spent 14 years building the young diocese into a thriving ecclesiastical jurisdiction, increasing the number of incardinated priests from eight to more than 60 and establishing strong pastoral and institutional foundations.

He was appointed Archbishop of Lagos by Pope Benedict XVI on May 25, 2012.

Since assuming leadership of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lagos, Archbishop Martins has overseen remarkable growth. He has ordained 84 priests, expanded the Archdiocese from seven to 20 deaneries and dedicated more than 50 churches and parishes. Today, he shepherds approximately 3.5 million Catholics within one of Africa’s largest Metropolitan Sees.

The Archdiocese of Lagos spans about 3,577 square kilometres and serves a population of roughly 20 million people through more than 230 parishes, over 200 outstations, 100 Mass centres and 20 deaneries. Its pastoral mission is supported by about 600 priests, hundreds of religious brothers and sisters, more than 360 female religious, over 100 healthcare institutions, about 80 educational institutions and numerous charitable and pastoral agencies.

His tenure has also witnessed major institutional development, including the attainment of full degree-awarding status by Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, the first Catholic-owned university in Lagos State, as well as the establishment of the St. John Mary Vianney Home for Priests and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre.

At the national level, he has held several strategic leadership positions within the Catholic Church. He served as Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria between 2008 and 2012 and currently serves as the Conference’s Vice President. He is also Co-Chairman of the Nigerian Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Catholic Institute of West Africa, a delegate to the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops in Rome in 2009 and previously chaired the Board of the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria from 2022 to 2025.

Church leaders say the Vatican appointment represents a significant moment for the Catholic Church in Nigeria and West Africa, reflecting the growing contribution of African Churches to the global mission of evangelisation.

As a member of the Dicastery for Evangelization, he is expected to contribute his extensive pastoral experience, particularly from leading the Church in Africa’s largest megacity, to shaping missionary initiatives and evangelisation strategies across the universal church while continuing his ministry as the fourth Archbishop of Lagos.