Diocese of Lagos - Rt. Revd. Festus Oluwole Segun

Rt. Revd. Festus Oluwole Segun

Rt. Revd. Festus Oluwole Segun (1975 â 1985)
The Rt. Rev. F. O. 5egun was a great cleric. He was a fearless preacher, a great musician, an accomplished Administrator, eminent scholar and theologian.

Born in Ijebu Ode on March 20, 1915,; Festus Oluwole began his early education at Our Saviour's Primary School, Ijebu Ode from where he proceeded to St. Andrew's College, Oyo in 1933, primarily, to train as a school teacher. There, he distinguished himself leaving behind, the record of being the Senior Prefect, House Captain and Skipper of the College Football Team. On graduation from Oyo in 1937, F. O. Segun was appointed- Tutor at CMS Grammar School, Lagos and there he was, until his admission to Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone for his Bachelor's degree from 1945 to 1949.

Made Deacon on 20th May 1951 and priested a year later. The Rev. F. O. Segun worked at various stations including St. Jude's Church, Ebute Metta Lagos, St. John's Church, Aroloya, Christ Church Porogun in Ijebu Ode, and Igbobi College, Yaba where he, again, taught briefly before leaving for the United States of America (USA) in 1956, to study for his Bachelor of Divinity degree at the Union Theological Seminary USA. He also lectured briefly at St. Augustine's College in Canterbury, U.K.

On his return to Lagos he was appointed Provost of the Cathedral Church of Christ and served from 1960 to 1970. He was consecrated Bishop in April 1970 and was the first black Bishop of Northern Nigeria in succession to Rt. Rev. J. L. Mort. He also bagged a honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the University of Ife, Nigeria in 1971. He served as Bishop of Northern Nigeria from 1970 to 1975, when he was translated to the See of Lagos upon the retirement of the Rt. Rev. S. I. Kale.