Ogbomoso's Baptist Heritage: The Seminary, the Hospital and a Century of Influence

Ask Nigerians what they know about Ogbomoso and many will mention its strong Baptist heritage. For well over a century, the city has been a centre of Baptist mission work, training and healthcare in Nigeria.

Early missionary contact

American Southern Baptist missionaries reached Yorubaland in the 1850s, and Ogbomoso was among the towns they visited. Over the following decades, churches, schools and clinics grew in and around the city, laying the foundation for institutions that still exist today.

The Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary (1898)

Established in 1898, the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso is one of the oldest theological schools in West Africa. It has trained generations of pastors, church musicians, educators and church leaders who now serve across Nigeria and beyond. Its campus remains one of the city's best-known landmarks.

The Baptist Medical Centre (1907)

On March 18, 1907, Dr George Green and his wife Lydia began medical work in Ogbomoso. Their clinic grew into the Baptist Medical Centre, now Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), which marked 119 years of service in 2026.

Schools and churches

Baptist missions also opened primary and secondary schools in Ogbomoso and its surrounding towns. Many of today's community leaders, professionals and politicians passed through these schools, and Baptist churches remain an important part of community life.

A shared heritage

Ogbomoso is also home to a large Muslim community and to traditional worshippers, and the city is known for peaceful coexistence between faiths. The Baptist story is one important thread in Ogbomoso's rich history, alongside the palace of the Soun and the town's Yoruba traditions.