The Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode was created on May 29, 1969, by His Holiness, Pope Paul VI. It was carved out of the Archdiocese of Lagos. At the creation of the Diocese in 1969, Most Rev. Anthony Saliu Sanusi was announced as the first Bishop of the Diocese and was consecrated by Pope Paul VI in Kampala, Uganda with 11 others.

The Diocese covers the entire Ogun East Senetorial districts, with nine local governments areas (Ijebu-Ode. Ijebu-East, Ijebu-North, Ogun Waterside, Odogbolu, Sagamu, Remo North, Ikenne and Ijebu North-East) which comprises majorly of the Ijebu and Remo divisions of Ogun State. The other division in the state being the Egbas and Yewa Awori people is under the care of Abeokuta Diocese. Thus, there are two dioceses in Ogun State: Ijebu-Ode and Abeokuta. The total landmass of the state (16,369.40 sq. km) is shared by the two dioceses with Abeokuta taking the larger share and Ijebu-Ode diocese with 5,690.02 sq. km.

The history of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Ijebu-Ode is largely intertwined with the wider history of missionary works of the Fathers of the Society of African Missions (SMA) which started as back as 1856 with the French Bishop, Most Rev. Marion Bresillac, SMA. The first mass on Ijebu soil was celebrated on 28^th May, 1864 by Rev. Fr. Francis Borghero, SMA, who travelled through the creeks and landed at Itasin Imobi to celebrate the first mass with few persons in attendance.

There are in the diocese approximately 80,000 Catholics presently distributed into 36 parishes and 4 independent stations administered by a total number of 63 Priests incardinated into the diocese and 42 Male religious Priests working in the Diocese. The Diocese in the past 51 years has witnessed a rapid growth from 5 parishes in 1969 to what we have now. The pastoral strategy employed over the years has been the formation of Basic Christian Communities with specific attention to the youths who are the future of tomorrow.

The Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode shares boundary with 4 dioceses in the country namely: Archdiocese of Lagos, Archdiocese of Ibadan, Abeokuta Diocese and Ondo Diocese. Due to its proximity to Lagos, the business hub of the country, Ijebu-Ode diocese enjoys large presence of people from different ethnic groups within the country. Among which are: the Igbos, Igedes, Idomas, Efiks, Hausas and many others.

The Diocese is largely dominated by Islamic Religion and people of other Christian denomination. Yet, there is a peaceful co-existence among the religious groups in the diocese as there is a cordial relationship with each other.

There is a huge presence of Missionary groups in the diocese who assist in the primary evangelization. Among them are: the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM), the Holy Ghost Congregation (CSSp), the Missionary Society of St. Paul (MSP), the Claretians Missionaries (CMF), the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate (FI), the Vincentians (CM), St. Patrick Missionaries (SPS), the Vocationists (SDV) and the Salesians of Don Bosco. The female religious groups working in the Diocese include Our Lady of Apostles Sisters, (OLA), the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Sisters (EHJ), Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy (DMMM), Handmaid of Holy Child Jesus Sisters(HHCJ), Sisters of St. Louis (SSL),  Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate (FI), Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (OSF), Sisters of Jesus the Saviour (SJS), Holy Family Sisters of the Needy (HFSN), Passionist Sisters of St. Paul of the Cross (CP), the Sisters of St. Michael the Archangel (SSMA), Poor Clare Sisters and the Trinitarian Missionaries of Merciful Love (TMML). They all work together to bring the gospel message to Ijebu land.

In areas of education, the six secondary schools and the forty-six primary schools owned by the Church had been taken over by the government without compensation, leaving the Diocese with seven private Nursery/Primary Schools and four private Secondary Schools. The Diocese has about 8 health institutions functioning well.