1989 - 31th of January
The Salesian Missionary Don Riccardo Castellino started everything when he arrived in Onitsha at the end of the Centenery of the death of Don Bosco.
Luc Van Looy, the General Counsel for the salesian missions, used to maintain the relationship with the local, civil and religious authorities (the last one under H.E. Cardinal Francis Arinze, Archbishop of Onitsha from 1967 to 1985) and with the letter of the 2nd of February 1987, that the archbishop H.E. Dr. Stephen N. Ezenya sent to Don Egidio Vignò, the Ontisha Mission started. The letter explained the need for a salesian mission oriented to children and young people that are looking for a job.

1989
So in this year starts concretely the mission with the arriving of Don Vittorio Albasini and Don Nicola Ciarapica in Onitsha. The small salesian community will stay in Onitsha until August 1991 ( Oraifite Street 53, Awada) in a flat donated by Mr. Sebastian Onyekwlu. The first pastoral experiences starts in Awada, also collaborating with the near Parish (called “Iba Pope” – the Pope Throne, because the Pope John Paul II celebrated mess in his first visit in Onitsha in 1982)

1989 – 22th of October
Don Gaetano Galbusera (during his first canonical visit) with Don Vittorio, Don Riccardo and Don Nicola conducted an investigation on the spot to control the terrain bought by the salesians. The Bishop N.Obiagba in the name of the Onitsha Archdiocese helped the salesians.

1990 - May
In this month starts the building of the Community House and a multipurpose hall with the MIcheletti company of Port Harcourt.

1991 – 29th of August
The Community moved from Awada to the suburbs of Onitsha in the new building called “Don Bosco Youth Centre”. The building is quite isolated in the middle of the bush and the fence isn’t finished yes!

1991 – 6th of July/4th os September
The Filipino Deacon Redentor Molina joins the Salesian Community and collaborates with the Mission.

1991 – 9th September/30th November
The Salesian Co-operator Salesiano Sig.Luigi Zampini after his visit in Onitsha starts collaborating on the construction of beds, tables, shelves,…

1992 – 29th April/13th June
The Salesian Co-operator Ezio e Pina Pepe collaborate on different activities with don Vittorio and don Nicola.

1992
The first organized activities in the Don Bosco Youth Centre are called Holiday Oratory. They are oriented to children living near the salesians community and the first Machine Operator Course is managed by the Filipino instructor Mr. Roberto Secosana (he lived in Onitsha tank to a project between Philippines and Nigeria).

1992 – 1st March
The State Governor of Anambra of that time, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, cuts the symbolic tape for the official inauguration of the “Don Bosco Youth Centre” and of the Don Bosco Training Centre. During the event there were the Archbishop, all the different authorities and the Awada’s friends.

1992 – 9th October
Don Redentor Molina becomes the manager for the Oratory and a possible development of a Catechetical Centre. Mr. Carlo Bacalla is the salesian Filipino Coadjutor is appointed as the Director of the Don Bosco Training Centre. So the Salesian Community is managed by four main persons: don Vittorio, don Nicola, don Redentor and Mr. Carlo.

1992 – 29th December
The High Council signs the Canonical Erection of the Salesian House of Onitsha. Don Vittorio Albasini is elected as Director now until August 2003.
The contruction of the Don Bosco Training Centre (Technical School) and of the Don Bosco Boarding House (the College) begins.

1994 - February
The new Salesian Inspector of Adriatica, don Arnaldo Scaglione, visits for the first time the Onitsha Mission. It is a good chance for planting a new tree (“Umbrella tree”).

1994 – 30th September
The community grows with another salesian missionary, don Mario Pellegrini and an electrical engineer Roberto Castiglione, who is doing a service as international volunteer in Onitsha.

1995
The Salesian Public Prosecutor’s Office of Germany assigns to the Mission a state funded project to equip the new mechanical laboratory. This allows the community to open two new female courses as secretaries and dressmakers.

1996
During the Secondary School Graduation for 110 students, there were different authorities, the Philippines Consul, the German Ambassador delegate and the General Manager della NAOC di  Port Harcourt.
After the group formed in Ondo, in Onitsha born a new association “The Don Bosco’s ex-students”. The community receives a new salesian Ambrose Anene (who was the first aspiring to the salesian life in 1993).

1997
The salesian Coadjutor Andrea Comino coming from the Philippines replaces Carlo Bacalla of the Don Bosco Training Centre for the next three years.

1998
Thanks to the first twelve religious promises in Onitsha born the association of Salesiani’s Collaborators, third branch of the salesian family.

1999 - July
The Don Bosco Training Centre obtains the Accreditation at National level by the NBTE (National Board for Technical Education) of Kaduna.
It is the first Private Technical School that receives this acknowledgement in Nigeria (the Anambra State had already recognized the school in 1998)
The NABTEB (Nigerian Business and Technical Examination Board) acknowledges the School as Exam Centre. So our students can receive the National Certificate for Technicians granted by Nigeria.
Don Bosco Boarding House is the new project to give more space to the students. The aim of the project is to expand the college lengthening and adding a floor to the pre-existent structure. So the college could host 100 students. It is also possible for the girls to rent an apartment near the Salesian Mission.

2001
Inauguration of the new chapel built after the restoration of the college. The new chapel is bigger then the other one in the House of the Salesian Community.

2002
The Onitsha Archbishop H.E. Dr. Albert K.Obiefuna blesses the new Don Bosco Training Centre Building. It has got 3 floors, teaching rooms, computer rooms, a library, chemistry and  physics laboratories and a new laboratory for additional development of the Technical School.

2002 - May
The first salesian of the tribe Igbo, don Ambrose Anene become priest. 

2003
Ordination of don Roberto Castiglione and don Charles Uzoeto.
Don Vittorio Albasini leaves the Salesian Community of Nairobi (Kenia) and Don Nicola Ciarapica becomes the Director of the Salesian Community of Onitsha.
Mr. Carlo Bacalla, who came back to Philippines in 2001, become Director of the Professional Centre of Onto. He will be replaced by don Roberto Castiglione who is going to be the Director of the Training Centre
Don Ambrose Anene becomes curate in Sunyani (Ghana) and leaves the assignment to the new priest don Charles Uzoeto.

2004
In January the Mission becomes part of the Salesian Anglophone Ispettoria West Africa (AFW) together with the other Salesian Community of Nigeria, of Ghana, of Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Perpetual Profession of the salesian Coadjutor Samuel Job (one of the first student in the Don Bosco Training Centre in 1992) and ordination of the salesian don Chukwudi Akubueze (salesian aspirant Igb in Onitsha in 1994).

2005 - January
Inauguration of the “Attilio Giordani” House for the guests and the volunteers that want to know Onitsha.
Internet arrives in the Community through the installation of a parabolic antenna. For young people and teachers will be opened a Cyber-Cafè.

2006 - May
In Onitsha born the Salesians Collaborators and Devouts Auxiliary Mary Association (ADMA).

2006 - August
Don Roberto Castiglione leaves the assignment of Director of the Don Bosco Training Centre to go to a Phulosophy course in Rome. He will be replaced by Samuel Job.
The Salesian Community is characterised by the presence of the volunteers and the guests that want to help the Mission. In particular Laura Marchetti works at the Mission for two years as International Volunteer (for the organization VIS International Voluntary) Her job is to teach maths to the female “Business Studies” Course of the Don Bosco Training Centre. Italia-Nigeria establishes twin-towns between the students of Ancona (Italy) and the students of the Don Bosco Training Centre.

2006 – September
The new Salesian Educational Project is approved and also the Educational Community is acknowledged through a Council. 

2007 - May
Ordination of don Markanthony Okpalla (salesian aspirant Igbo in Onitsha in 1996).

2007 – July
After four years of training we have the first Volunteer with Don Bosco (C.D.B.) of Nigeria and of Africa.
Many boys and girls want to enrol to the new Secondary School of Don Bosco in Onitsha.

2007 - 2008
The Salesian Community is formed by don Nicola Ciarapica (the Director), don Charles Uzoeto (bursar and in charge of the Oratory), don Mario Pellegrini (salesian with 46 years of missionary life), Charles Obinezu (second year of internship and Director of the Don Bosco Secondary School), Donatus Ikeanyibie (First year of internship and Director of the Don Bosco Training Centre), Philip Avuleteh (First year of internship and Technical Director for the laboratories of the Don Bosco Training Centre) and Nicodemus Nebigue (First year of internship, Secondary School’s teacher and responsible for the scholar afternoon activities that belong to the UBE Program).
The Educational Salesian Community is composed by co-operators, ex-students, teachers, parents and volunteers.
Nowadays the Salesian Mission gave a job to more then 750 students, took 25 boys to the ordination which 4 are priest and 3 are salesian coadjutors. Also two boys of the Mission are now part of Focolare Movement, other 2 become part of the Order of Cistercians and 3 girls are nuns.