Brief History of SMA – SMA Fathers

The Development of the SMA Nigeria Province

The Development of the SMA Nigeria Province
The first SMA missionary to set foot in Lagos on his way to Dahomey a French Missionary, Fr. Laffite in 1861. He was so impressed by the size of the city that he informed Fr. Augustin Planque (successor of the Founder, Monsignor de Brésillac) and Fr. Borghero of the importance of beginning a mission in Lagos. The first SMA missionary to begin evangelization in Nigeria in 1863 was Fr Francesco Borghero from Italy. He established a mission at Lagos. Since 1863, Nigeria is and has been a hub of SMA missionaries. French, Italian, Dutch, Irish missionaries have participated in the evangelization of Nigeria. The Irish Province of the SMA is the SMA Unit with the longest tradition of missionary experience in Nigeria. In recent years SMA members, from many African countries and India work in the following Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions in Nigeria:

Abuja Archdiocese
Benin City Archdiocese
Jos Archdiocese
Kaduna Archdiocese
Ibadan Archdiocese
Lagos Archdiocese

Bauchi Diocese
Ilorin Diocese
Issele-Uku Diocese
Kafanchan diocese
Kano Diocese
Lafia Diocese
Makurdi Diocese
Ondo Diocese
Uromi Diocese
Kontagora Diocese

The SMA African Project

Though the idea of recruiting young Africans into the SMA had been discussed at several SMA General Assemblies, the historic decision to actually start was taken during the 1983 Assembly held in Rome. As soon as the decision was taken a former SMA Superior General, Fr. Joseph Hardy, (French national and former Superior General) was chosen to prepare for the take-off of what was then called the “African Project”. Fr. Hardy resided in Abidjan and travelled across West Africa, meeting different bishops to discuss with them and hear their reaction to the SMA decision to start recruiting in Africa. Invariably they were supportive. In Nigeria he collaborated with Fr. Kieran O’Reilly, SMA (now Archbishop of Cashel & Emily in Ireland) who at the time was a member of the teaching staff at Ss. Peter & Paul Major Seminary in Ibadan. Fr. Kieran had already been discussing with the Rector, Fr. (now Msgr.). John Aniagwu, about the possibility of kick starting the project by accepting the first group of SMA applicants to begin their studies at the Seminary. Fr. John readily agreed and the first group of SMA aspirants enrolled at the Major Seminary in September 1986.
Fr. Hardy had headed the interview board assisted by Frs. Eddie Deeney, SMA, (Regional Superior), Fintan Daly, SMA (Rector, St. Teresa’s Minor Seminary, Ibadan) and Kieran O’Reilly, SMA (Lecturer at Ss. Peter & Paul Major Seminary). They conducted the final interviews for the pioneer SMA candidates (Augustine Onwuzurike, Robert Obro, Noel Musa, Innocent Okozie, Felix Enegho and Basil Soyoye), all of whom were accepted. Out of these six young pioneer candidates five were ordained. Over the past thirty-three years many young students from Africa, India, the Philippines and Poland have been admitted into the Society.. Today Nigerian …SMAs have been ordained priests and has also admitted on lay woman as an Associate.

From African Foundation (AF) to African District in Formation (ADF)

As early as 1988 the ‘African Project’ whose first Superior in Nigeria was Fr. Desmond Corrigan, SMA (Irish Province) became the ‘African Foundation’ (AF) with its headquarters in Lomé, Togo. The Superior was Fr. Harrie van Hoof, SMA who was succeeded in 1995 by Fr. John Dunne, SMA. The year 2001 saw the evolution of the ‘African Foundation’ into the ‘African District-in-Formation’ (ADF). The dream was gradually becoming a reality. Hence the creation of a new status within the SMA, building on the achievements of the more established units in Europe and America. The day of the first African Superior dawned in 2001 when Fr. Michael Adrie, SMA from Ghana took over at the helm of affairs.
Michael was later succeeded by Fr. François Gnonhossou, SMA (now Bishop of Dassa-Zoumé in the present Republic of Bénin), It must be noted that at that time the whole of Africa for SMA was one entity with only one Superior and his Councillors. Gradually, Africa and the number of African candidates applying to join the SMA increased fairly rapidly, and it was soon obvious that there were too many applicants for just one person to manage.

Bight of Benin District in Formation (BBDF)

Thus the need in 2008 to divide Africa into three zones, comprising Nigeria, Bénin Republic and the Central African Republic, to form what was called the Bight of Bénin District-in-Formation (BBDF). In December, 2008 Fr. Basil Soyoye, SMA became the first Superior of this new development with the headquarters at SMA House, Challenge, Ibadan. Fr. Basil was succeeded in 2011 by Fr. Reginald Nwachukwu, SMA.

Nigeria District-in-Formation (NDF)

There was further progress in the year 2016, during the SMA Plenary Council meeting in Accra, Ghana, when Nigeria was carved out of the existing BBDF and adopted the name, the Nigeria District-in-Formation (NDF) with Fr. Reginald continuing as the Superior.

Nigeria Province (NP)

Finally, at the SMA General Assembly meeting in Rome in May, 2019 it was decided that the time was ripe to raise the Nigeria District-in-Formation (NDF) to the status of a Province. During the inaugural Nigeria SMA Provincial Assembly held at SMA House, Jabi, Abuja from 11th to 22nd November, 2019 the Society elected her first Provincial Superior, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Nunayon Zinsu, SMA.

Looking back through history, SMA Nigeria Province cannot but pay tribute to the Nigerian Hierarchy, the Clergy, the religious and the generous laity, in particular members of the Family Vocation Movement (FMV) and the Mission Support Group (MSG) for the support and encouragements. Tribute is also paid to all SMA of the Irish Province, SMA Superiors in Francophone and Anglophone Africa who played their part in helping Nigeria SMA to grow into a Province. Our gratitude also goes to the Rectors and Staff at both Ss. Peter & Paul Major Seminary and in more recent times the management of the Dominican Institute in Ibadan who guide our students on their path to missionary priesthood. In the memorable words of our Founder, Msgr. de Brésillac we continue to thank you all ‘from the bottom of our hearts’.