Ace Broadcaster, Media Consultant, Mediator and Arbitrator at the Judiciary and Vice-Chairman of NSCC, Abuja Stakeholders Forum, Archdeacon of Akure Anglican Diocese, Venerable Ambassador Nelson Fadoju, displaying the plaque of his Award
By Banji Ayoola
All Saints Anglican Church, Ondo City on Sunday honoured over 100 eminent personalities as it celebrated its 120th Founders’ Day Anniversary and this year’s harvest ceremony.
The awardees included a former Commissioner for Information in Ondo State, Chief Segun Adegoke; Odunwo of Ondo Kingdom, High Chief Sir Olabanji Akingbule; Chief and Mrs B.F. Akintade, current Baba Ijo; Mr C.B. Akinsira; Sir Chief and Lady Folarinle Akinmuko; Dr and Dr Mrs F.A. Fadeyi; Chief Olusola Fawehinmi, Aogbo of Ondo Kingdom; High Chief Akinsola Olaniyan, Odofin of Ondo Kingdom; Chief Femi Akinmade, current Baba Ewe; Hon Feyi Adeboyeku, JP; Chief F.O. Oluyemi; Sir Chief Dr Ayo Akingbule, Chairman, Planning Committee; Chief J.A. Akinwumi; and Mr Felix Fadamiro. They bagged the Gold Meritorious Award.
Other awardees included an ace broadcaster, Media Consultant, Mediator and Arbitrator at the Judiciary and Vice-Chairman of NSCC, Abuja Stakeholders Forum, Archdeacon of Akure Anglican Diocese, Venerable Ambassador Nelson Fadoju; the longest serving Vicar of the Church who became a Bishop, Bishop J.O.K Olowokure; the Rt Rev’d Abraham Olaoluwa Akinlalu, PhD. and his wife; the Baba-Ijo of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Chief Steve Akinretoye, who received a Special Award; the Balogun of All Saints Anglican Church, Ondo, Sir Chief Dr. Ayo Akinrimisi; a living legend and the oldest of all the awardees, Mrs Comfort Mosekunla Ogunye who had witnessed the church’s first Founders Day Anniversary; and Vicar & Archdeacon of the Church, Ven. J.O Ese.
Those for the Hall of Fame included Engnr Andrew Sati; Mr R.K. Ogunmakin; Engr Amos Mamikuyomi; Mr D.O. Faturoti; Ven Nelson Fadoju; Chief Kingsley Olu Atere; Dr Joseph Olabisi; and Evang Ayo Akingbohungbe.
Others included Rt Rev’d Mr & Mrs Olugbemiro Fabuluje; Most Rev’d Dr H.B. & Prof Mrs M. Olumakaiye; and Late Dr Rev’d I.B.O. Akintemi who received the Levite Award.
Also, they included Mr Ife Adenodi; Mr David Ogunsegha (Beloved); Dr O. I. Akinniranye; High Chief Mrs Opeyemi Oyedele, (Adafin Lobun of Ondo); Sir Prof Dr Med Philip O. Abiodun Akinniranye; Prince Wale Adetosoye; and Mr J.A. Adejolusi among others.
The ceremony drew a large audience led by the paramount ruler of Ondoland and the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Adesimbo Kiladejo, Jilo III; and including the Osopo of Ilu-Nla in Ondo West of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Julius A. Fadoju.
In the Sermon which he delivered at the service, the Diocesan Bishop of Ondo, the Rt. Rev’d Stephen Adeniran Oni, PhD, stressed the need for people generally to change the unhealthy attitude towards acquisition and glorification of material wealth, which he described as merely ephemeral and temporary, to the detriment of spiritual life, the core purpose of an earth-life, which he said is more lasting and rewarding.
He said: “There must be a change.”
Citing the example of the dedication of Moses, who had led the children of Israel from Egypt through the Red Sea and the wilderness towards the Promised Land, who at an advanced age, looking at the Promised Land, was still unwavering in his commitment to get his people safely to their set goal.
According to Bishop Oni, “age must not be a barrier to usefulness in the church.” His words: “Don’t tell me I am 80 years, I am aged. What shall you be remembered for?”
The cleric said that material wealth that is not used to serve the Lord is useless, a curse which is undesirable.
He queried: “Ten, 20 houses, what do we use them for?”
He said: “The only building that I have today I have willed it out to the church. I have never ever slept in it. I have told my wife when I die… So when I have gone I have willed it to the church. Everything is just for a while, afowobafisile.”
Bishop Oni commended all past founders, vicars, sons and daughters of All Saints Anglican Church, Ogbonkowo, Ondo who he said laboured much since the church was established in 1902 to date.
He said though evangelization that time was tough as the first Church in Ondo Town was burnt to create fear in Christian or Bible believers, yet, the founders continued without relenting and the Lord was with them till date that the congregation is celebrating the 120 years of the existence of the Church.
He stressed that All Saints Church, Ogbonkowo, Ondo was not born out of rebellion but for Evangelism when the Town, Gown and Evangelism came together.
In his goodwill message, Ven. Ambassador Nelson Fadoju traced the history of All Saints Anglican Church, Ogbonkowo, Ondo, which he said was founded in 1902.
According to him, the founders laboured much carrying logs on their heads from Agbabu now in Irele Local Government Area of the state, over 40 kilometres away to the church’s fearful forest Igbo awo or Igbo eru site at Ogbonkowo.
He said that like a mustard seed, the church germinated and grew to a big fruitful tree for which today the congregation is celebrating for responding to the commission “Go ye therefore, and teach all nation’s, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” – Mathew 28:19 (KJV).
In his words: “The gospel preached 120 years ago became salt and light for all believers from which we now have “a good inheritance because the lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places” and All Saints Church, Ogbonkowo lives to her good name.
“One can’t but go down memory lane when we started following our fathers to the Church in late 1950s to 1960s when I joined the Choir and AYF and became the Cross – bearer and General Secretary of both and later Sunday School Teacher, Evangelist and Diocesan Lay reader.
“I was teaching at All Saints School, Ondo before my marriage in the Church to a Chorister MrscHelen Ibironke Fadoju (JP). We took the baton from our father of Egbe Iwa Mimo and mother of Egbe Irapada.”
He charged members of the church to “look inward to forge ahead in all good spiritual and physical things that will promote love, equity, justice and the welfare of humanity in the areas of higher education, health institution, foundation for charity to win souls for Christ.”
While expressing gratitude to the Lord, he appreciated “our founding fathers heroes of faith, All Saints clergy sons, the choir, members of AYF which metamorphosed into ACF – Anglican Church than Fellowship, other societies, vicars, PCC, chiefs, congregation, Archbishops, Bishops, up to the present Ven J. Ese and the Diocesan Bishop – Rt Rev’d S. A. Oni PhD for this joyous 120th Founders Day Anniversary.”
He said: “All Saints Church, Ogbonkowo has been the pride of Anglican Communion in spiritual and physical activities”
“It is therefore a thing of joy to me today to be called upon to write a goodwill message as one of the awardees to be enrolled into the first Hall of Fame of this great Church.”
Fadoju (JP), a Broadcast Journalist, Media Consultant/CEO, Law/Mediation Practitioner served the Church and Ondo Diocese as a Teacher/Broadcaster as Choir and AYF Secretary from early 1960s/1970s. He was an Evangelist, Diocesan Lay reader, Sunday School Teacher and member of PCC from 1980 and till now as a Distant Member after his Ordination in 1990 by Bishop Dr. Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi.
He contributed to the writing of Fiyin Foluwa Anthem Pamphlet in 1976 being the General Secretary and wrote a Play titled Olorun Koseunti, which was taken from Mark 10:27 to dedicate the Venerable and later Bishop J.O.K Olowokure Hall during the Church’s 80th Anniversary in 1982. He donated a Trophy for Society Bible Quiz and Award for the Choir in 1990s.
Fadoju has contributed to the growth of Christianity in Ondo State and Nigeria having served in various capacities as one of the founding Officer of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, at the National and Ondo State levels as first Treasurer; PRO; General Secretary; Deputy Chairman; First General Secretary of CAN, Southern Nigeria with 17 States; and Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of South-West, CAN.
He once served as a member and State PRO of NIREC comprising of Christian and Muslim Leaders in Ondo State and a member/PRO of Ondo State Christian Welfare Board to Jerusalem and Rome. He baptized more than 1000 Black and White Pilgrims at River Jordan to win many Awards in Ondo State and Israel.
Paramount Ruler and Osemawe of Ondoland, Oba Adesimbo Kiladejo, Jilo 111 and his Olori
His Royal Highness Oba Julius A. Fadoju, the Osopo of Ilu-Nla in Ondo West of Ondo Kingdom was in attendance.
