Reflections On The Life And Legacy Of Bishop Michael Olatunji Fagun
Compiled by Peter Ajayi Dada
The late Bishop Michael Patrick Olatunji Fagun, pioneer and emeritus bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, was a man of many sides, a teacher, builder, writer, and visionary whose faith shaped generations.
My first encounter with Baba Fagun was in 1994 while working on the biography of his lifelong friend, Bishop Julius Babatunde Adelakun.
When I presented my manuscript to him in Ado-Ekiti, he received me warmly, read it within a week, and wrote a thoughtful foreword.
That meeting marked the beginning of my deep admiration for his humility, discipline, and intellect. Fagun and Adelakun shared an extraordinary bond — one that transcended life itself, as they departed this world just eleven days apart.
Born in Akure, Bishop Fagun’s vocation was inspired by the Irish priests of the Society of African Missions (SMA), whose dedication to education and evangelism deeply impressed him. Baptised and later ordained by Rev. Fr. William Field (SMA), he would go on to study at Sts. Peter and Paul Seminary, Ibadan, where his brilliance shone through.
There, he founded l’Académie Française and taught future church leaders such as Archbishops Okogie and Onaiyekan.
Ordained a priest in 1965 and appointed Bishop in 1971, Bishop Fagun faced his new responsibilities with humility. “I had no experience in governance,” he once recalled, “but I prayed and trusted God to lead me.”
Through determination and faith, he transformed Ekiti Diocese from nine parishes to over thirty and trained many indigenous priests, building a self-reliant local church.
A man of intellect and culture, he believed strongly in local authorship.
His passion for language and evangelisation led him to translate major Catholic texts, including the Jerusalem Bible, into Yoruba, a monumental work that took years of personal labour.
He was also the founder of the Sisters of St. Michael the Archangel (SSMA), born out of his vision for indigenous evangelisation through inculturation.
His reflections on celibacy, moral leadership, and nation-building reveal a man of uncommon discipline and depth. “Celibacy became, for me, a source of joy and strength,” he wrote. “It gave me zest for life and action.”
From his sermons to students and leaders, Bishop Fagun always emphasised moral integrity, self-reliance, and service.
To him, true leadership meant sacrifice and faith in God’s grace.
Today, his words still ring true — a reminder that holiness, humility, and hard work remain timeless virtues.
May the souls of Bishop Michael Patrick Olatunji Fagun and Bishop Julius Babatunde Adelakun continue to rest in peace. Amen.
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