ODUBAYO, Ven. Dr. ODUKOYA 

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF VENERABLE DR. SAMUEL ODUBAYO ODUKOYA (a.k.a. S. Bayo ODUKOYA)

Ven. Dr. Odubayo Odukoya was born on July 22, 1945, in Lagos. He hails from Odonopa, Ijebu Imusin, Ogun State, Nigeria. His parents were the Late Mr. Michael Onajobi Odukoya of Odonopa and Mrs. Janet Adetoun Odukoya of Awe, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Ven. Dr. Odukoya’s Siblings are: 

1. Mrs. Elizabeth Iyabo Martins, Jp (Nee odukoya) 

2. Mr. E. Onatoye Odukoya (Late)

3. Professor G. Onatolu Odukoya

Pa Odukoya was also married to Mrs. Alice Odukoya (of Odonopa, Ijebu Imusin), who had the following Children for him:

1. Chief Olaide Odukoya (Late)

2. Chief Olatunji Odukoya (Late) 

3. Chief T. Odutola Odukoya (Nopa) Late 

4. Ms. Abeke  Odukoya (Late) 

5. Elder Olumuyiwa Odukoya

However, Ven. Dr. Odukoya attended St. Andrew’s Anglican Primary School, Okepopo, Lagos from 1951 to 1955 and St. David’s Anglican Primary School, Lafiaji, Lagos, from 1956 until he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1959. He completed his secondary School education at Eko Boys High School, Mushin, Lagos between 1960 and 1964, earning his West African School Certificate in 1964. He proceeded to read Accounting at the Rapid Results College, London (Tuition), where he studied from 1965 to 1978.  In 1979, he went to study Accounting at Rivers State College of Science and Technology (now Rivers State University) and graduated in 1981.  He also read Accounting at the University of Lagos from 1983 to 1988. He later attended Trinity Theological College, Umuahia from 1988 –1991, Vision International University, California, USA (1999–2004), and St. Luke’s Evangelical School of Biblical Studies, Georgia, USA. Ven. Dr. Odubayo also attended professional courses in Accountancy (1965-2001), Management (1978-2014) as well as Theology, Church Administration, and Divinity from 1988 to date.

He holds Cert Th., B.A. First Class (Hons), M.T.S., D.D., and Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) in the Academic Discipline in Biblical Studies, 2017). He is a Fellow of the Institute of Financial Accountants, UK; Institute of Admin Accountants, London, and Life Member and Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered).

Ven. Odubayo started his career at Pan Electric Ltd. (a Division of U.A.C) and during the course of his career, he was rated as the best Binder Clerk in 1968 and was later promoted to the post of C.I.D. Section Head in the Central Accounts Department. He was also the Accounts Control Head at Nigerian Agip Oil Company Ltd. from 1979 to 1988. During this period, he trained many staff in the use of computer systems, prevented several attempts to defraud the company, and ensured that emoluments were paid promptly without any bribe. Between 1989 and 1993, he served as the Treasury Accountant of the company.

In 1994, he rose to become Senior Accountant/Head of Remuneration and Benefits (H/R) of the company and served in the position until 2001. At the time, he ensured that pensioners’ widows and orphans were treated with care, workers’ salaries were promptly paid, and taxes deducted were promptly remitted to the Inland Revenue. He also established a good relationship between the Nigerian Agip Oil Company Ltd. and tax agencies. As a tax expert, he was able to save the sum of One hundred and Ninety-seven Million naira (N197,000,000) for Nigerian Agip Oil Company Ltd. from payee taxes back duty charges arising from Statutory Audit for 1996, 1997, and 1998 carried out by Rivers State Tax Consultants. He persuaded Nigerian Agip Oil Company Ltd. to pay expatriate taxes directly to Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta States, instead of through Lagos, since the expatriates were working at the locations. This stopped the embarrassment of Nigerian AgipOil Company Ltd. expatriates by the tax agencies.

He served as the Zonal Auditor of the PENGASSAN Eastern Zone of Nigeria from 1986 to 1987. He was an Auditor at the Nigeria Institute of Management (Port Harcourt Branch) until 1982; a Member of the N.I.M National Committee for Human Capacity Development (2005-2006); and a Member of the N.I.M Editorial Board of Management in Nigeria Magazine in 2007.

From 1996 to 2000, and later from 2002 to 2004, he was Member, Board of Governors/Bursar, Bishop Crowther Memorial Secondary School, Rumuobiokani, Port Harcourt. He served as Chairman, Centralized Payment Scheme Committee from 2001 to 2007.

He served as an Archdeacon of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion (1999 to 2015). He was preferred as the FIRST ARCHDEACON EMERITUS OF IJEBU ANGLICAN DIOCESE (2015). He planted many new churches in the Niger Delta province and also served as an effective Bishop’s Chaplain and Administrative Assistant to Bishops and Archbishops (including Ijebu Anglican Bishop). Between 2010 and 2014, he planted and developed Immanuel Anglican Church, Odonopa, to a Parish level. He was Chaplain of Diocesan Choir Council and Ordinands Chaplain, DNDN (1996-2000), and the Diocesan Chaplain of the Sacred Order of the Knights of St. Christopher, Good Shepherd, etc., from 2000 to 2006.  

He was District Governor (Nigeria) of the Y’s Men International, a service club of the YMCA, he was the Club Area Service Director (Africa) and later Club President (Port Harcourt).  Within this period, he trained many youths in various communities across the country, provided boreholes for water supply, built hostels, and purchased land for youth development in Ijebu Imusin.

In 1964, he served as President of E.B.H.S., Yoruba cultural society. He was the Auditor of Ijebu Social Club (Port Harcourt Branch) from 1977 to 1979, and a Member of Ijebu Imusin Planning Body from 2013 to date.  

He has written many books and is best known for religious works. Some of his writings are:

1. Odukoya, S. Bayo (2014) Church Management and Administration (Revised with Chapters on Time Management). May University Press, Publisher: Magodo, Lagos.

2. Odukoya, S. Bayo (2014) Church Leadership: Spirituality, Materialism or Both? A Publication of Ikwerre Diocese, 4th BP. Elenwo Memorial Lecture.

3. Odukoya, S. Bayo (2011) 20 years of Ordination and the Birth of Immanuel Anglican Church, Odonopa. Samolizzy Publishers: Odonopa, Ijebu Imusin.

4. Odukoya, S. Bayo (2009) Anglicanism in Woji. Samolizzy Publishers: Odonopa, Ijebu Imusin.

He won several laurels and certificates in athletics, including 880 yards, Mile & 4×100 relay (1961-1964) for E.B.H.S and Roberts House. In 2004, he received the award for the Best Church Administration Student in West Africa from Vision International University, California, U.S.A. Best Y’s Men International Club President in Northwest Africa as District Governor (Nigeria) 1998/1999; and the Y’s Men International Leadership 1990 BF Delegate Award to India. In 2010, he received the St. Nicholas Woji Centenary Award as a Teacher/Pastor. He also received the I.P.B Achievers’ Award and the Award of Excellence of St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Ijebu Imusin in 2013.

He was inducted as AREA PILLAR OF THE BIBLE SOCIETY OF NIGERIA, IJEBU/REMO AREA (18TH NOVEMBER, 2014). Patron of YMCA and ACF of St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Ijebu Imusin. Inducted as the Grand Patron of the Boys Brigade of Nigeria, Ijebu East and Ogun Water Side Group Council (18th December, 2016). 

He was honored by Ijebu Anglican Diocese with Levite Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the growth and development of Christianity as an Ijebu in the Ordained ministry (29th June, 2016).

He was honored with the HIGHEST IJEBU IMUSIN AWARD – THE PRESTIGIOUS (IJEBU IMUSIN COMMUNITY MERIT AWARD -ICMA, by HRH. Oba S. A. ONAFOWOKAN, JP, the Oloko of Ijebu Imusin (18th November, 2017). 

His hobbies include football, table tennis, singing, and writing.  He was invited as a singer to give a special rendition of the baritone solo at the burial service of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo at Ikenne, Ogun State in 1987, a performance which gained worldwide media coverage.  

He is married to Mrs. Elizabeth A. Odukoya, B.Sc. (Hons), MBA, and they are blessed with two sons and two daughters as well as many grandchildren.