Encomiums Pour for Odejimi at 70

Rev Odejimi and Wife flanked by guests at his shindig




By Chiemelie Ezeobi

Encomiums were recently poured on Reverend Olu Odejimi as he gracefully clocked 70. To celebrate the auspicious moment, family, friends and business associates recently hosted him at the Shell Hall of Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos. The shindig also served as his retirement party from priesthood. 

Popularly called the Doyen, Odejimi was until his retirement the Vicar, All Souls Church (Anglican Communion), Lekki Phase 1, where he served judiciously for 10 years, turning the auspicious little church which held its first service under the open heavens into the dream church. 


His foray as a priest officially started on January 8, 2008 when he was assigned the new church, All Souls to nurture to growth. A lover of hymns, Odejimi started his first service with a sound amplifier and a piano.

However, his warm spirit, calm mien  and practical approach to life soon worn him many converts in the serene area of Lekki. The scanty church although family-like grew in leaps and bounds. To cap up his achievements, the dream building that would house the church was conceived  and its foundation dug.

Prior to his foray into the world of cassocks, the Doyen was a consummate banker reaching to the pinnacle as a bank manager before he turned to stock brokerage in 1973 where he also excelled.

Corroborating, the Chairman of the occasion, former President, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Prof. Ndi Okere-Onyuike, said Odejimi was someone who had excelled in practically different spheres of life.

According to her, "At the pinnacle of the banking system as a bank manager, you would think that he would quit rather he switched to the stock exchange and that is why we call him the Doyen. 

"Again, even though he had a stock broking license in 1973 and at that time, it was given based on recognition, but when I came and said it must be based on exams like other countries, despite his age and years of experience, he took the exams and passed."

The feat, Onyiuke said accorded the venerable the title of the oldest practicing stock broker in the Nigerian Capital Market. She added, "He suddenly disappeared out of the radar without telling us and went to school to become a priest. 

"On his attaining that level, I was proud to announce in the floor of the stick exchange that we had the first seminary trained priest in the stock market. "

Also eulogising the vicar, the Chairman, Owners Association of Stock Broking, simply identified as Emeka, said a tradition was recently started in the stock exchange where the stock was opened and closed with prayers by the vicar. 

He said, "Since we started that tradition, we have seen changes in the stock exchange. His mantra which was also his motto; 'Whether you like it or not, God will bless you', always worked for us."

While commending the kind gesture, the celebrant had this to say;  "I am happy that I was honored by all these people today. I love preaching and in over 10years, I must have preached over 400 songs.

"I entered the ministry with a purpose so I did not take my eyes away from my calling. But I couldn't have done all these without the support of the parish minsters and congregation.

"To the new minister, I want to assure him of my continuous support. God will proser you in your ministry and I am sure will give you the same cooperation they gave me."

The celebrant was born on February 4, 1943, in Ogun State to a court registrar father who died in 1948, five years after he was born. After his father's death, he moved with his mother to another village to start life over again. 

He attended the Methodist High School and was introduced to Saint Jude Anglican Church  where  he rose to the position of a deacon. In his academic pursuits, he attended the Federal School of Statistics and had a Masters Degree in England in the Institute of Statistics. He is a member of so many professional bodies and is married with children and grand children.