Burning with the zeal to serve God and humanity as a missionary priest, Fr. Sylvester started his journey to the priesthood with the Society of African Missions (SMA) in 1995 at the SMA House of Formation, Bodija, Ibadan, Nigeria. After the preparatory programme, he continued with his philosophical studies at the Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Ibadan, Nigeria, from October 1995 to June 1999 and obtained his BA Philosophy.

Fr. Sylvester continued his journey to the Republic of Benin where he joined other young men like him at the SMA International Spiritual Year Centre, Calavi, for an intense discernment of his vocation, from October 1991 to June 2000. At the end of the programme, he took his first oath as a temporary member of the Society of African Missions on June 25, 2000.

In order to consolidate his decision to continue the journey to the priesthood, Fr. Sylvester was sent to Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) for a missionary experience. While there, he worked in the Parish of Borotu-Koro in the Diocese of Odienné from October 2000 to June 2001.

He was then asked to return to Nigeria to continue his formation at the same SMA House of Formation, Bodija and he did his studies in theology at the same Major Seminary.

Fr. Sylvester became a permanent member of the Society of African Missions on December 7, 2004, and was ordained to the priesthood on July 2, 2005.