Most Revd. Francis Obafemi Adesina was born on 28th June, 1964 to Mr. and Mrs. Adesina in Wenchi, Ghana. He is a Nigerian from Oyan in Odo-Otin Local Government Area, Osun State. He began his elementary education at Saint Luke’s Anglican Primary School, Akure, Ondo State from 1970 to1976. He proceeded to Sacred Heart Minor Seminary, Akure, Ondo State for his secondary education from 1976 to 1981. With a renewed desire to become a priest, the young Francis proceeded to Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Spiritual Year Programme, Ekpoma, Edo State, now known and called Saint John of the Cross Seminary from 1981 to 1982.
He went on to Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan from 1982 to 1989 for his philosophical and theological studies which culminated in his Ordination to the Catholic Priesthood on 14th October, 1989 for the Diocese of Oyo by Most Rev. Julius Babatunde Adelakun. He later incardinated to Osogbo Diocese at its creation in 1995.
Between 1996 and 2000 the Bishop-Elect pursued his postgraduate studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome. Much later, he undertook his Doctoral studies at the Pontifical Urban University, Rome (2005-2009). In 2008, Msgr. Adesina attended the Institute of St. Anselm, Center for Religious Formation, Kent, United Kingdom for a brief formation.
Some of the academic degrees he bagged while studying include: Diploma in Religious Studies, University of Ibadan (1986); Bachelor in Sacred Theology, Pontifical Urban University, Rome (1989); Licentiate in Sacred Scripture, Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome (2000); Diploma in Human Growth and Development, Institute of St. Anselm, Center for Religious Formation, Kent, United Kingdom (2008); Doctorate in Sacred (Biblical) Theology, Pontifical Urban University, Rome (2009) and a Diploma, Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, Rome (2011).
Between 2000 and 2005 and 2009 to 2019, he rose through the ranks of the Seminary Formation Team as Lecturer in Theology Department, Dean of Seminarians’ Affairs and later became the Rector of the Seminary from 2013 until his appointment as Bishop-Elect of the Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode on 17th January 2019.
He is very proficient in English, Italian, German and Yoruba languages. However, he enjoys a reading knowledge in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, French and Spanish. He will be best described as a teacher and lecturer since he taught for a couple of years at Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan (2001- 2005); (2009 to date).