How We Came to Nigeria

The Delegation of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom in Nigeria was established from the Sisters' evangelical commitment to spread the light of the Gospel throughout the African continent. It also came as a response to the invitation extended by His Excellency, Msgr. Paul Tabet, the Pro-Nuncio in Nigeria, requested the presence of the missionaries to nurture, catechize the faithful, and serve at the Apostolic Nunciature during Pope John Paul II's visit to Nigeria in 1982.

 In response, the then Prioress General, Rev. Mother Maria Domenica Chilo, OP, wrote a letter to the sisters, inviting volunteers for a mission in Nigeria.

 In response to this call, on the 18th of November, 1988, three Sisters—Sr. Imelda Fortuna, OP, Sr. Laura Grigis, OP, and Sr. Margaret Hussain, OP, arrived in Lagos, Nigeria. Upon their arrival, they began their mission by serving at the Nunciature under a two-year contract. 

In 1988, Rev. Mother Imelda Fortuna, OP, Sr. Laura Grigis, OP—both Italians—and Sr. Margaret Hussain, OP, from Pakistan, were sent to Nigeria. They arrived on November 18, 1988, through the coordination of the Pro-Nuncio, Monsignor Tabet, a Lebanese national. The sisters worked with him as members of the administrative body of the Apostolic Nunciature in Nigeria.

In April 1989, Sr. M. Alessia Spinelli, OP, joined them. In addition to their administrative duties, the sisters taught catechism, assisted in preparing Masses celebrated in different languages, and cared for the poor. Their contract with the Nunciature lasted for two years. 

Notably, upon the expiration of the contract with the Nuncio and with the support of the Dominican Friars, in 1991, they moved to St. Jude Catholic Church, Mafoluku, Oshodi, where they established their first Community. Hence, they embraced the apostolate of empowering women through Home Economics until 1992 when they established a formal education with the founding of the Dominican Nursery and Primary School. They also assisted in parishes

Thanks to the many sacrifices they made in proclaiming the Good News, they soon became well-known. As a result, the first young Nigerian women—Pia Adesanya, Bernadette Duru, and Elizabeth Tadafe—were received, prepared, and sent to Rome in 1990 for their initial formation. Encouraged by the Dominican Friars, the sisters eventually opened their first community in Nigeria. 

 Like a mustard seed that metamorphosed into a gigantic tree, the Delegation continued to sprout and extend to different places with the opening of new communities.