Prof. Ademola Ayeleso Stirs Catholic Men with a Spirit-Lifting Charge on Godly Manhood at Osogbo Diocese Marriage Training

Prof. Ademola Ayeleso Stirs Catholic Men with a Spirit-Lifting Charge on Godly Manhood at Osogbo Diocese Marriage Training

In a moment of spiritual intensity and scriptural enlightenment, the second phase of the Marriage, Family and Human Life Commission training of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo reached a stirring crescendo on Saturday, 19th of July, 2025, as the revered academic and Catholic lay leader, Prof. Ademola Ayeleso, took the microphone following the rich presentation delivered by his beloved wife, Dr (Mrs) Taiwo Ayeleso. The setting was the serene Saint Kizito Pastoral Centre, Ede, Osun State — a familiar ground now becoming a sacred space for family renewal and marital reawakening.

Prof. Ayeleso, a renowned academician and the charismatic Coordinator of St George Catholic Church, Ofatedo, Osun State, mounted the podium with a calm authority that immediately captivated the gathering. His entrance ignited a new spiritual fervour among the audience, particularly the men, whom he addressed directly with what would prove to be one of the most piercing and purposeful exhortations of the day.

With humility and a deep reverence for the Word of God, Prof. Ayeleso opened with a brief but reflective remark. He immediately established the tone of his lecture by quoting 1 Corinthians 11:3: “But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.” From that point forward, the atmosphere shifted — firm, expectant, and ready for transformation.

His message to the married men was centred on four core responsibilities of every husband and father within the domestic church: leadership, love, protection, and building the wife. Each point was conveyed with biblical support, real-life application, and pastoral sensitivity that revealed the depth of his spiritual maturity and experience.

1. Leadership in All Ramifications

Prof. Ayeleso began by calling on men to rise to their rightful place as visionary leaders in their homes. “We cannot claim leadership in our families if we are directionless,” he cautioned. Leadership, he insisted, is not about dominance or control, but about purpose, vision, and spiritual stewardship. He urged men to have clear goals for their families, and to lead with grace, intentionality, and wisdom.

“Don’t be a bully. Leadership is not intimidation. It is inspiration,” he declared to a room of silently reflective men. He lamented the increasing trend of women surpassing their husbands in spiritual matters, challenging the men to reclaim their God-ordained role as spiritual leaders — the priest of the home, leading in prayer, integrity, and faith.

2. Loving Your Wife as Christ Loved the Church

Turning to Ephesians 5:25 — “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” — the Professor charged the men to love their wives sacrificially and intentionally. He pressed upon them the need to give their wives not just provision, but presence.

“Give your wife your time, your attention, and your tenderness,” he urged. “If you truly love your home, you’ll look forward to returning there every day.” In his view, love must go beyond words into visible, consistent actions — actions that reflect Christ-like selflessness and commitment.

3. Be a Protector

In what was perhaps the most emotionally charged part of his message, Prof. Ayeleso addressed the protective responsibility of a husband. He admonished men who remain silent when their wives are insulted or emotionally attacked, including by members of their extended family.

“You are her shield,” he said with quiet authority. “You must ensure her emotional, psychological, and physical safety. Never allow your wife to feel unsafe in the place God has ordained to be her refuge — your home.”

He called on the men to become not only providers but defenders — men who guard the dignity and peace of their wives with holy conviction and courage.

4. Builder of Your Wife

Concluding his powerful message, Prof. Ayeleso gave one of the most rarely emphasised yet vital responsibilities of Christian husbands: developing and empowering their wives.

“Build your wife. Do not leave her stagnant,” he implored. “Support her dreams, encourage her talents, push her forward. Your greatness as a man is incomplete if your wife remains undeveloped in her own calling.”

In a society where many women have been reduced to shadows of themselves in the name of submission, this message was both liberating and deeply Catholic. The Professor drew clear distinctions between domination and servant-leadership, reminding men that a well-developed wife is a glory to her husband.

---

Throughout his delivery, Prof. Ayeleso used scripture not as a tool of religious rhetoric, but as a mirror to reflect the divine blueprint for marriage. He spoke not as one removed from the realities of marital life, but as one living it and deeply invested in restoring its sacredness.

The rapt attention and nods of silent agreement that followed each point revealed just how timely and transformative his message was. The men were not only instructed — they were challenged, encouraged, and spiritually awakened.

As he stepped down from the podium, many attendees expressed gratitude for his bold and balanced teaching. The spiritual atmosphere at the Saint Kizito Pastoral Centre had been significantly lifted by his charge, as many couples left the venue with renewed understanding and zeal to build godly homes.

The training, organised by the Marriage, Family and Human Life Commission of the Diocese of Osogbo under the guidance of Most Rev. John Akinkunmi Oyejola, continues to serve as a powerful expression of the Church’s commitment to strengthening the family as the foundational unit of society and faith.

Indeed, through the inspired voices of Prof. Ademola Ayeleso and his wife, Dr (Mrs) Taiwo Ayeleso, this second phase of the 2025 family life formation has not only educated couples but has sowed seeds of lasting transformation, which the Church hopes will yield abundant fruit in the lives of Catholic families across the diocese and beyond.