LATE EMMANUEL ADELEKE ADEJOBI

Apostle Emmanuel Adeleke Adejobi (1921-1991) of blessed memory was the Second Primate of “The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide”.

He was born into the Oluawo-Oba ruling house of Oshogbo in 1921, to Prince Akanni Adejobi and his wife, Mrs. Marian Omitunde Adejobi.

As a young teacher, he resigned his teaching appointment in September 1939 when he was called into the service of God in The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide. 

He arrived at Ogere-Remo on the 3rd of February 1940, to receive formal training as a Pastor, under the tutelage of his mentor, the first Primate and Founder of The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide – Most Reverend, Prophet General Dr. Josiah Olunowo Ositelu of blessed memory.

He was initiated into the service on the 14th February 1940, and became the Primate Ositelu’s warden in August of that same year and was ordained a Prophet on 22nd August 1941. 

He became the first Apostle of The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide on the 22nd August 1945. In 1948 he was joined in holy wedlock to Miss Olive Sulola John. Reverend Mother Superior Olive Sulola Adejobi (nee John) is currently an active retired Minister of the Church. 

At the Grand Finale of the Tabieorar Retreat of the 22nd August 1945, late first Primate and Founder proclaimed publicly to all and sundry on the Mount Tabieorar that Emmanuel Adeleke Adejobi would be his successor in office as revealed to him by God on the 18th August 1945. 

His mentor, late Dr. Josiah Olunowo Ositelu sent his top aides – Apostle Emmanuel Adeleke Adejobi and Apostle Samuel Omolaja Oduwole – in 1947 abroad to propagate the “Gospel of Joy” as revealed unto him earlier that the Church was not to be confined to Nigeria alone, but that other parts of the world were to benefit from the mission assigned to Prophet General J. O. Ositelu. This led to the beginning of the mission outside Nigeria. Late Apostle E. A. Adejobi was sent Sierra Leone while his compatriot, late Apostle S. O. Oduwole was sent to Liberia. As a result, the Freetown, Sierra-Leone branch and the Monrovia, Liberia branch of The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide were inaugurated on the 6th April 1947 and the 20th April 1947 respectively. 

In 1961, Adeleke Adejobi left Nigeria for further studies at the Bible Training Institute, Glasgow, Scotland in the United Kingdom after seeking permission from his leader, the first Primate and Founder. 

On the 14th November 1964 at the General Assembly of The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide, Apostle Adejobi was proclaimed the first Administrator General of The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide. 

On the 12th July 1966, Josiah Olunowo Ositelu was called to eternal glory and late Emmanuel Adeleke Adejobi stepped into his shoes and was accordingly anointed and enthroned as the second Primate of The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide, on the 7th May 1967 at the International Headquarters Cathedral, Ogere-Remo, Ogun state in Nigeria. He remained the Primate until his transition on the 17th May 1991. 

He was a great Evangelist and an achiever. He pioneered many branches of the Church in Nigeria, Sierra-Leone, Ghana and in the United Kingdom.

In 1972, the President of the Republic of Liberia, President William R. Tolbert (Jr.) decorated him with the Knighthood of the Liberian Human Order. In 1975, he was made honorary Mayor of San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A. 

His visionary leadership and ecumenical initiatives are impressive: 

1.     He established the Aladura Theological Seminary (ATS) and the Prophets & Prophetesses Training Institute (PPTI), both at Anthony-Village, Lagos in Nigeria.

2.     Through his effort, The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide became a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 1975 and the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC). The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide also became a member of the British Council of Churches in 1981, the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) in 1988.

3.     He instituted high lay offices within The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide organisation, including Deacons, Deaconesses and Reverends.

4.     He established the Armies of Jesus (AJS). He along with other Ministers of God went on a missionary tour of the United States of America (USA) in 1975.

5.     He was a prolific writer, musician, composer and a man of many talents. He initiated a revision of the old Hymn Book of The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide in 1988.

6.     He authored the tenets of the Church.

He died on the 17th May 1991.