The Salesians of Don Bosco is an international nonprofit-making, religious Congregation within the Catholic Church, founded in Italy by St. We are a community collaborating with the Church and the State in educating the youths to become responsible citizens and committed individuals. The Salesians are dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable children and youths at risk. For more than a centu
ry, we have been providing education, shelter and emotional support for at-risk young people – a mission begun in the 18th century by our founder, who made it his life’s work to support children in need. It is a mission we are living today, adapted to the unique needs of the world’s 21st century young people. Over 17,000 Salesian Fathers and Brothers are working in more than 132 countries in the world for the education, development and empowerment of the youth. In Africa, more than 1200 Salesians are working in about 46 countries; these countries are divided into Provinces. Anglophone West Africa (AFW) Province of the Salesians of Don Bosco, which comprises of Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, was created in 2004 to pursue various developmental Projects towards the development of YOUTH. These countries have in common English as the official language, and some other characteristics, but have many demographic, cultural and socio-political differences. The four countries do not share boundaries and are surrounded by French-speaking countries. Don Bosco’s presence in these four (4) countries is the fruit of Project Africa, which was launched by the 7th Successor of Don Bosco, Don Egidio Vigano in 1978. Currently, there are about (168) Salesians working in the various AFW countries for the development of youth. Salesians of Don Bosco West Africa is a registered West African NGO (Reg. The Salesian Missionaries arrived in Nigeria in 1982, sent by the ISU and INE Provinces of Piedmont. Gabriel Wade from Argentina was the first Salesian confrere to reside in the country. The Salesians made their first Presence in Akure where today they have developed the Technical Training Centre (John Bosco Technical Institute, Akure), a Youth Centre, and a Health Clinic for out-patient health services, Laboratory test and diagnosis. In Nigeria, we are presently in 8 cities spread across the geographical zones of the country; West, East and North (Ondo, Akure, Onitsha, Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja, Koko and Ijebu Ode intending to open places in Benue, Edo and Rivers States). Our Technical Schools and vocational centres are in Akure, Ondo and Onitsha. According to the guidelines of the AFW Organic Provincial Plan 2013, there is a plan to establish a Salesian Presence at Sagamu in Ogun State. In October 2015, the Rectors of the Salesian community in Nigeria and the Directors of our Technical Schools in Ondo, Akure and Onitsha agreed that the permanent site for the proposed Institute of Technology should be in Sagamu; the institution will seek to have a Tertiary Level of accreditation for Technical Education that will sharpen the skills of products/trainees from Technical Institutes across the West Africa sub-region.
