• Ogbomoso Catholic diocese joins Muslim Fulani monarch, Christian lady in marital vows
By Cosmas Omegoh
t was a marriage like no other – a Muslim and Fulani traditional leader wedding a Catholic and Yoruba lady in the church? That was exactly what went down on May 15, 2025, in the Catholic Diocese of Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
It was both an inter-ethnic and inter-faith fusion as well as a symbolic celebration of the Holy Matrimony which the Bishop of the diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, said highlights the Church’s strong belief in inter-faith marriage, that goes on to underscore the urgent need for Nigerians to begin to rebuild faith, peace, progress and harmony in today’s fractured Nigeria and the world.
Such a unique celebration of love and faith was between Olori Clara Oluwatoyin Abodunrin, a devout Catholic and Jooro Fulani of Ogbomoso land, Nurudeen Oloruntoyin Abodunrin, a Muslim traditional ruler and the celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Ogbomoso. It saw in attendance, an array the clergy and the religious as well as friends and relations of the couple.
Daily Sun gathered that the inter-faith marriage often referred to in the Catholic Church as Disparity of Cult, received the full blessings of the Local Ordinary of the diocese, Badejo, a onetime Secretary General, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria. The marriage followed the Catholic Church’s carefully-guided process and approval for interfaith marriages.
It was learnt that the Catholic Church allows inter-religious marriages between a baptised Catholic and members of other denominations as well as marriages between a baptised Catholic and a non-baptised Christian such as a Muslim, traditional worshiper, or adherent of other faiths. In the case of any of the couple, a formal approval known as dispensation was sought and obtained from the bishop of the diocese.
And because such marriages involve significant differences in belief, the Church requires a dispensation from the impediment of Disparity of Cult, which must be granted by the Local Ordinary, the bishop, after a thorough assessment.
Parish Priest of the church, Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Olabode, said: “The Church approaches this kind of union with both compassion and caution. We scrutinise the couple’s intentions deeply to ensure they understand what this union means in the light of faith.
“The couple had to be thoroughly catechised. If either of them did not understand what a marriage with dispensation from Disparity of Cult entails, it is our responsibility to teach them in Yoruba, Igbo, English, or whatever language they best understand.
“Two main conditions are mandatory before a Bishop can grant the required dispensation. First, the Catholic party must remain committed to their faith. And secondly, the couple must promise to raise their children in the Catholic Church.
“Upon agreement, the couple undergoes a six-month marriage course, followed by three consecutive Sunday banns published in the parish and elsewhere the couple had lived for a considerable period of time; civil registration of the marriage, then proof of traditional wedding ceremony confirming both families’ approval and support also has to be provided.
“In the case of Clara and Abodunrin, they also completed a spiritual retreat, which helped them to reflect on their responsibilities and the sacramental essence of their marriage.
“Before the Church wedding, an official petition for dispensation was submitted to the Bishop. In granting the dispensation, the Bishop considered the pastor’s testimony of the couple’s preparedness. In this polygamous context, the consent of the other spouses of the non-baptised party was also sought.
“This is to ensure there are no hidden intensions and that the marriage is entered into freely, faithfully, and with respect to all involved.”
In his homily, Rev. Fr. David Ayodeji remarked: “We are celebrating love. God is love and love is God. When a man and woman are joined in love, they become one just as we are all one in Christ. Love is not proud, nor boastful and not resentful.
“Marriage calls for mutual understanding, sacrifice and above all, prayer. Just as Jesus was present at the Wedding at Cana, we invite Him into this home through faith and prayer.” He urged the faithful to continue in supporting the couple with prayers and encouragement.
Olori Clara expressed gratitude to God and the Church for granting them the opportunity to be united in the Holy Matrimony. She thanked the Bishop for his unwavering support over the past 25 years. She said Bishop Badejo stood by her during her time as Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) Secretary for the Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, offering spiritual and financial supports. She also shared one of her long-standing prayer points, to marry a good man who would allow her to remain steadfast in the Catholic faith, declaring that this prayer had been answered.
Her husband, Jooro Fulani expressed appreciation to the church and acknowledged Bishop Badejo, for approving their union. He also expressed gratitude to Olabode for guiding and teaching them about the Catholic faith: “Today is the happiest day of my life. The blessings of a Catholic faith-based marriage mark a new beginning for me, one I will never forget.”
Bishop Badejo expressed best wishes for the couple: “In this Jubilee Year of Hope, it is important for the Church as an institution and the faithful to build bridges across different facets of life among religions and among peoples and among institutions.
“Only this approach can bring harmony and peace and progress to the fractured and divided world in which we live today. Nigeria as a country certainly needs courageous and committed people like this new couple to witness to this need and reality in fidelity to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“The marriage of this royal significance is the first of its kind in the diocese.”
The celebration was graced by Very Rev. Fr. Boniface Wuraola, Vicar General, Catholic Diocese of Oyo; Rev. Fr. Olabode; Rev. Fr. David Ayodeji, Diocesan Coordinator of CYON; Rev. Sr. Elizabeth Agwu and Rev. Sr. Elizabeth Anieke.