Ven. Dr. Odukoya Odubayo was born on July 22, 1945, at Odonopa, Ijebu Imusin. He 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 (now University) of Science and Technology 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 (1989 –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); and Theology, Church Administration, and Divinity from 1988 to date.
He holds a B.A. First Class (Hons), M.T.S., and D.D Cert Th. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Financial Accountants, UK; Institute of Admin Accountants, London; 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. Solution Head in the Central Accounts Department. He was also Accounts Control Head at Agip Oil Co. Ltd. from 1989 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 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 Nigerian Agip Oil Ltd. and tax agencies. As a tax expert, he was able to save the sum of N197 million for Nigerian Agip Oil 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 to pay expatriate taxes directly to Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta States, instead of through Lagos, since the expatriates were working at the locations. This put paid to the embarrassment of Nigerian Agip 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/Bursars, Bishop Crowther Memorial Secondary School, Rumuobiokani, Port Harcourt. He served as Chairman, Centralised Payment Scheme Committee from 2001 to 2007.
He was an Arch-Deacon of Nigeria Anglican Communion from 1999 to 2014. 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 at the Diocesan Choir Council and Ordinands Chaplain, DNDN (1996-2000), and at the Diocesan Chaplain 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, 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, built hostels, and purchased land for youth development in Ijebu Imusin.
In 1964, he served as President of E.B.H.S, a Yoruba cultural society. He was the Auditor of, the Ijebu Social Club (Port Harcourt Branch) from 1977 to 1979, and a Member of, the 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:
- Odukoya, S. Bayo (2014) Church Management and Administration (Revised with Chapters on Time Management). Samolizzy Publishers: Ijebu Imusin.
- Odukoya, S. Bayo (2014) Church Leadership: Spirituality, Materialism or Both? A Publication of Ikwerre Diocese, 4th BP. Elenwo Memorial Lecture.
- Odukoya, S. Bayo (2011) 20 years of Ordination and the Birth of Immanuel Anglican Church, Odonopa. Samolizzy Publishers: Odonapa, Ijebu Imusin.
- Odukoya, S. Bayo (2009) Anglicanism. Woji-Samolizzy Publishers: Odonopa, Ijebu Imusin.
He won several laurels and certificates in athletics, including 880yrds, 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. Nicolas 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.
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.
