Obituary: Taiwo Odukoya – the petroleum engineer who left a career in oil sector for the pulpit
On Tuesday, August 8, 2023, many Nigerians were left stunned when The Fountain of Life Church announced the passing of its Senior Pastor, Taiwo Odukoya.
The cause was not disclosed. However, a statement by the church, which he led from 1992 until his passing, mentioned that he passed away in the United States on Monday, August 7, 2023.
“The fountain of Life Church Family, in total submission to the will of God Almighty announces the passing unto greater glory of our Father, Teacher, a great servant of the Most High God, Pastor Daniel Taiwo Odukoya, Founding Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, who passed unto glory on the 7th of August 2023 in the USA,” the statement read.
His passing occurred 21 months after the death of his second wife, Nomthi, in November 2021. Additionally, it has been 16 years since Odukoya experienced the tragic loss of his first wife, Bimbo, in a Sosoliso plane crash while traveling from Abuja to Port Harcourt on December 10, 2005.
Roughly a month following Nomthi’s passing, Odukoya’s twin sister, Kehinde Hassan, also succumbed in December 2021 after a brief illness. Despite this sequence of sorrowful events, Odukoya was recognized for his ability to emanate joy.
Born on June 15, 1956, in Kaduna state in the northern part of Nigeria, Odukoya obtained a degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Ibadan, where he crossed paths with Bimbo, a History and Archaeology student at the University.
Taiwo and Bimbo Odukoya tied the knot in Lagos in 1984 and shared more than two decades of life together before Bimbo’s tragic passing in the Sosoliso plane crash in December 2005. Their marriage blessed them with three children: Tolu Ijogun, an ordained pastor and marketing and communications expert; Jimi, an ordained pastor, singer, and AMVCA nominated actor; and Tobi Enuha, who holds a doctorate degree in Psychology.
After completing university, Odukoya worked in the oil sector with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for 12 years. He made the decision to resign in 1994 and transition into full-time ministry, a move that came two years after co-founding The Fountain of Life alongside his late wife.
Tolu had shared that the bond and affection between her parents were remarkably strong. Even after Bimbo’s untimely death in 2005, her father refrained from sleeping on their marital bed for five years, up until his marriage to Nomthi, a South African, in 2010.
“When I flew back for the (Bimbo’s) burial, my dad had aged. He looked like he was 72. And from that moment he never slept on the bed anymore, he always slept on the floor, and he did that for five years till he got married. It took me some time to convince him to get married,” Tolu said in an interview in 2022.
Five years following Bimbo’s passing, in January 2010, Odukoya entered into marriage with Nomthi, a native of Durban, South Africa. Their marital bond resulted in the birth of two sons: Timilehin and Jomiloju. However, the couple’s time together was cut short as Nomthi passed away on November 9, 2021.
For more than three decades, Odukoya’s teachings centered on leadership development and the restoration of thriving relationships and businesses, topics he ardently conveyed.
With an infectious joy emanating from the pulpit, he and his wife Bimbo illuminated the way for numerous young Christians through their ministry. Situated in the Ilupeju industrial estate of Lagos, their ministry was nestled among neighbouring companies like PZ Cussons, Nestle Plc and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), among other industries.
In addition to his teachings from the pulpit, Odukoya was also involved in other social initiatives. One notable project is the Grace Springs Rehabilitation Home, a Lagos-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that provides hope and a future for the vulnerable. The organisation focuses on rehabilitating street urchins, particularly in the Oshodi area.
Furthermore, he authored several books including titles like “Unleash Your God-given Potential,” “Created for Blessings,” “Limitless,” “Home Affairs,” “The Proof,” “Get All You Want,” “The Portrait of a Champion,” “120 Days of Victory,” “121 Days of Blessings,” “125 Days of Favour,” “Glorious Legacy: The Life and Times of ‘Bimbo Odukoya,” “Women Will Rule the World,” and “Time: Where Has It Gone.”
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described Odukoya as a dear brother, friend, and a dedicated man of God whose faith and conviction in God remained unshaken despite the challenges life presented.
“He was steadfast in worship and diligent in service. He was a great preacher and teacher, whose life and ministry has continued to impact the lives of people within the Christian body and outside,” Sanwo-Olu said in a statement. “Pastor Odukoya’s demise is indeed a heart wrenching reminder that this life is indeed fleeting.”
His unwavering dedication to praise and worship served as a source of inspiration for countless young Christians, who frequently shared fragments of his worship sessions on their social media platforms.
In an interview, his son Jimi affirmed that both late Odukoya and Bimbo had a musical background, growing up singing in the choir and sharing a passion for music and dance.
President Bola Tinubu paid tribute, emphasising that Taiwo Odukoya would be remembered for his significant contributions to the nation’s progress. He highlighted Odukoya’s commitment to uplifting the vulnerable and creating opportunities for many to fulfill their aspirations through the teachings of faith.
