“An epic era of evangelical legacies just came to an end” – Olaopa
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, has said he acknowledged with humility the great works of the late Rev. S.T. Ola Akande, the third indigenous Secretary General of Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), established in 1914.
Osinbajo, represented by Pastor Seyi Malomo, the Chaplain of Aso Rock Chapel, Abuja, spoke at the at the final funeral service for the late Christian patriot held this morning at Oritamefa Baptist Church (OBC) Ibadan. The Vice President said there’s so much learn from Akande’s life and works, and prayed that Nigerians are able to emulate him.
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ph.D., GCFR, in his commendation, said Akande’s transition, has left him with a sense of loss with many dimensions. Obasanjo said he met Akande first in 1962 when the late theologian was his pastor in Owu Baptist Church, and later at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Lagos. He described Akande as an icon of the Christian faith, and expressed happiness that globally, Akande is revered as “an outstanding, dutiful and courageous preacher; just as he was a talented teacher.” He described Akande as fearless, noting Akande’s preaching and advocacy against cults and secret societies as well as his critiques of ills in government.
Obasanjo stated that Akande will be remembered for his forthrightness, doggedness, dynamism, welfarism, anti-corruption, estachological discourses, courage, commitment to ethical values, uprightness, and purposeful leadership.
Professor Tunji Olaopa, a former federal permanent secretary, who now teaches at the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), who hailed from Awe, Oyo State, as the deceased, delivered the main eulogy in line with the wishes of the deceased.
Olaopa described Akande as a reformer, a methodologically stylistic scholar, and a visionary evangelist who brought many people to Christ.
To a unanimous, roundly approval of the congregation, Olaopa described the late Akande as a great father, which is evident in the successes of his biological and spiritual children, as well as his legion of mentees and proteges. He’s also noted as an amazing husband to his wife and untiring supporter, Olalonpe.
Olaopa, in his eulogy marked by fine intellection, said Akande was not just an emeritus reverend, teacher and uncommon educationist but was equally a superhuman Nigerian patriot and statesman. He declared that the death of Akande unarguably signalled the end of an epic era of evangelical legacies.
The President of Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), who is also the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, Ph.D., who produced a 10-page pamphlet documenting the achievements of Akande, said the central message his life scripted to all of us is to use all platforms and opportunities to improve the fortunes of people and societies.
Akande was a founding father of All African Baptist Fellowship (AABF) and became its first General Secretary and Treasurer concurrently at its founding in Nairobi. The AABF is made up of 69 Conventions in 34 countries. Beyond the continental initiatives, was the face and leading light of AABF in the World Baptist Alliance. In 1987, the late Akande was central in organising a global consultative forum of Christian fellowships which met to produce The Ibadan Declaration, an agenda for redemption and expansion of Christian ministry.
He committed his energy, money and time to his Ministry and was so prolific in scholarship as he was fecund in exhortations. The Reverend Dr. Israel Akanji, lead pastor of First Baptist Church, Abuja, and a mentee of Akande, who delivered the sermon underscored Akande’s evangelical fecundity when he recalled that no one in the Baptist commission has preached at events more than Akande, and that means he wrote more sermons than any Baptist minister.
In the Vote of Thanks, delivered on behalf of the family by Akande’s son, Prof. Benjamin Akande, he recalled his father’s commitment to Kingdom stewardship and focus. He said that struck him first when his dad insisted that they will all return to Nigeria with him, after the late Akande’s doctorate in 1973, to start a new phase of his vision on Christian mission work.
Prof. Akande said his dad had an uncommon sense of constructive impatience – the ability to focus on the future right in the present. He said the late Akande was a focused person, and noted that he had his eyes on the end, THE LIFE AFTER HERE, which actually gave expression to the late Akande’s thesis which focused on Estachological practices, and particularly on the Book of Revelation.
The late Akande was interred at 4.45pm.
