Tolu Odukoya and her sister Tobi Odukoya have paid tribute to their father, the late Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, on what would have been his 69th birthday.
The sisters, who are daughters of the late founder of The Fountain of Life Church, shared a video montage on Instagram on Sunday, which also marked this year’s Father’s Day celebration.
“This moment from yesterday’s lecture truly captured the essence of who our father was. His legacy to us? Unshakable faith,” the post read.
“Today we celebrate what would have been his 69th birthday — honoring a life of unshakable faith and love.
Happy Father’s Day and Happy Birthday Dad ❤️”
Jimmy Odukoya also shared a post to celebrate the late clergy man. he wrote, “Happy Heavenly Birthday Pops and Happy Father’s Day too!! Double celebrations in Heaven! Miss you everyday! Your Son ❤️”
The Fountain of Life Church honoured the Taiwo Odukoya in a post which read, “Today, we celebrate the grace-filled life of our Father, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya. 69 years of purpose.
“Your faith, love, and leadership continue to guide us. Your life was a song of surrender and obedience, and today, we give God thanks for the gift of you. The seeds you planted are still flourishing.
“Your voice, teachings, and impact echo daily.
The assignment was fulfilled, and the legacy lives on.
Happy 69th Posthumous Birthday, @pastortaiwo”
The tributes come shortly after a memorial lecture was held in his honour on Saturday at the church’s auditorium in Lagos.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was present as the special guest of honour, while the immediate past vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo, delivered the keynote lecture.
Themed “The Evolving Relationship Between the Church and the Government in Nigeria”, the lecture aimed to uphold Pastor Odukoya’s legacy by fostering integrity, unity and service — values he was known to champion.
According to Pastor Jimmy, the church’s senior pastor, the memorial is designed to inspire future generations through the ideals the late preacher lived by.
Until his death, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya was married twice. His first marriage was to Bimbo Williams, whom he met at the University of Ibadan.
They got married on November 3, 1984 and co-founded The Fountain of Life Church in 1992. Their union produced three children — Tolu, Jimmy and Tobi, also known as Deborah. However, Bimbo died tragically in the December 10, 2005 Sosoliso plane crash.
Five years later, on January 5, 2010, Pastor Odukoya married again — this time to Nomthi, a South African who also served as associate pastor and was a published author of children’s books.
The couple had two sons. Sadly, Nomthi died on November 9, 2021, after a two-year battle with cancer. Just two months after her passing, Pastor Odukoya lost his twin sister, Kehinde Hassan, also to cancer.
Pastor Taiwo Odukoya died in the United States on August 7, 2023, at the age of 67. While the exact cause of death was not publicly disclosed, many close to him pointed to the heavy emotional toll of his multiple personal losses.
Following his death, leadership of The Fountain of Life Church passed on to his son Jimmy Odukoya as senior pastor and his daughter Tolu Odukoya-Ijogun as associate senior pastor.
