Idowu-Fearon was given a 'sympathetic' discharge by late General Hassan Katsina in Lagos so that he could begin training for the priesthood.

It was there that he was introduced to the "World of Islam," an introduction that eventually became his "passion for the Muslim as a potential child of God by adoption.

"[3] In 1976, Idowu-Fearon went to St. John's College, University of Durham in the UK for an "Honours class in Theology" that included "in-depth course on Islamic Civilisation".

[11] Later, as a bishop, Idowu-Fearon served as a research fellow at the Ahmadu Bello University in the field of "determining the influence of politics and religion on development".

[12] In 2002, Idowu-Fearon received masters and doctors degrees in Arabic and Islamic studies with special interest in Christian-Muslim relations from the University of Jordan.

[10] From his ordination to the priesthood in 1971 to 1990 when he was consecrated bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto, Idowu-Fearon worked as the General Secretary for the Evangelical Fellowship of the Anglican Communion for Nigeria, and concurrently held the post of Warden of St. Francis Theological College, Wusasa from 1981 to 1984, when he became the Provost of St. Michael's Cathedral.

[16] During that time, he served as Warden at St Francis of Assisi Theological College in Wusasa and Provost of St. Michael's Cathedral in Kaduna.

He remained in that position until he resigned to begin his work as Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council in 2015.

[21] He also served on the International Anglican Conversations on Human Sexuality appointed by former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey following the 1998 Lambeth Conference of bishops.

[22] In 2002, Idowu-Fearon was unanimously elected for a seven-year term as the first archbishop of the newly created Ecclesiastical province of Kaduna in Owerri.

[8] Idowu-Fearon served on the 2003–04 Lambeth Commission on Communion, "which considered worldwide Anglican unity in response to divisive debates on homosexuality".

[20] Idowu-Fearon attended the 2009 Georgetown University-sponsored conference "A Common Word Between Us and You: A Global Agenda for Change.

"[20] Idowu-Fearon was presented the Cross of St Augustine by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace in London on 20 June 2013.

(The Cross of St Augustine award is presented to people who have given long and exceptionally distinguished service to the Anglican Communion.

)[12] Welby highlighted Idowu-Fearon's "pivotal role in advancing understanding between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria in an effort to stem the cycle of violence and misunderstanding" and his work in the Tony Blair Faith Foundation.

In the city, "churches, mosques, homes and businesses" were burnt, with 80,000 people were made homeless, and hundreds killed.

[11] In April 2015, Idowu-Fearon was appointed as the seventh Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council, in London, UK.

[28] He was commissioned into the role on 4 September 2015 by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, at the Anglican Communion Office in London.

[29] President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria wrote this to Idowu-Fearon: "With your intellect, with great pastoral zeal and with compassion, you have over the years risen above intolerance and narrow sectarianism and built interfaith and ecumenical bridges of understanding among your countrymen.

Tom Furrer, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, Tariffville, CT has worked with Idowu-Fearon for 15 years.