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Salesians of Don Bosco in Anglophone West Africa The Salesians of Don Bosco is a religious Order of the Catholic Church , formed by brothers and priests dedicated full time to the education and evangelisation of the youth, especially those who are the poorest of the poor. They are present in more than 150 countries in the world and in 43 African Countries. They have been present in Anglophone West Africa since the launching of the Africa Project by Fr Egidio Vigano in 1982. They are present in Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
 The feast of St John Bosco on the 31st of January this year saw the official opening of the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the arrival of Salesians in Nigeria. Representatives from the four Nigerian Communities took part in a special function in Akure, when Bishop Francis Alonge of Ondo, who had originally invited the Salesians to Nigeria, unveiled the commemorative Logo that will be used throughout the year.
Bishop Alonge told how he first met the Salesians when he was a student in Ireland. Having seen the great work that they were doing there for young people, especially through their agricultural schools, he immediately sought to bring to them to Nigeria on being appointed Bishop of Ondo.
The guest of honour was Dr E.E. Adewole, special advisor on Education to the Governor, of Ondo State, and the Governor’s representative for the occasion. He praised the sterling work done by Salesians in training young men and so helping to build up the nation. Also present were Fr Vincenzo Marrone and Br Giovanni Patrucco, two of the first Salesians to arrive in this vast country of Nigeria.
The highlight of the Anniversary Celebrations will be the visit of the Rector Major to Nigeria in October 2007. This will not be the Rector Major’s first visit to the English-Speaking West African Vice-Province, for he visited Liberia in 2004 to
honour the 25th Anniversary of the Salesian presence there.
Among special occasions that will be celebrated during the year will be the ordination to the priesthood of two Nigerian Deacons on the 26th of May in the Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, Akure, and the Perpetual Profession of two Nigerian Salesians at Onitisha on the 14th of July. The SYM. will be organising three congresses to coincide with these occasions.
The Salesians have four Communities in Nigeria, namely at Akure, Ibadan, Ondo and Onitsha and there are at present forty-four Nigerian Salesians.
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