At its core, Wesley 100 International – WIN is a missional global non-denominational network of chosen people with one heart and passion for Jesus Christ, ‘who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God’ (1 Peter 2.9-10). The WIN Convener, Bishop Deji Okegbile, made the first WIN outreach to Nigeria between November 18 and December 4, 2024. The 6-hour British Airway flight from London to Nigeria was not without some mission contacts and sharing of the WIN vision and mission while on a flight with some co-travellers to Nigeria.

At Muritala International Airport, Lagos, Evangelist Tuonyo Kanyi, a WIN Ambassador in Nigeria, was on hand to welcome me and set up the necessary communication data for my stay and outreach in Nigeria. I must appreciate the support of my beloved father, Mr Adedeji Adeyeye, and his wife, Mummy Adebisi, who provided my transport logistics for the outreach. Special thanks to the driver, Bro Akeem, for his love and support throughout the outreach in Nigeria.

Tuesday, November 19, was a day of rest and preparation for the early morning Wednesday journey to Ibadan to attend the funeral celebration of the pioneer Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, Hon Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola, at Methodist Church, Oke Ado, Ibadan. The funeral celebration, led by the Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa, Most Rev Akinloose Akindeko and the host bishop, Rt Rev Simeon Onaleke, was witnessed by a former Nigeria President, His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Taibat Kekere-Ekun, and the Asiwaju of Ijesaland, Asiwaju Fasuyi. Justice Ayoola was laid to rest at his expansive residence in Ibadan.

Who is Hon Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola? He was born on October 27, 1933, in Ilesa, Osun State, to parents Dorcas (Longe) Ayoola and Emmanuel Olarewaju Ayoola. Justice Ayoola attended Temidire Model School from 1939 to 1943 before gaining admission to Ilesa Grammar School in 1944 for his secondary education. He obtained a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of London and a BA in Jurisprudence from Oxford University. He was called to the English Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1957. In 1958, he was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. For seventeen years, he had a private legal practice in Ibadan, Oyo State.

On January 27, 1962, he married his sweetheart, the late Mrs Elizabeth Bola Ayoola (nee Adelabu). They had six beautiful children. In 1974, Justice Ayoola became the Chairman of  Western Nigeria Housing Cooperation and the Commonwealth Africa Conference Chief Justices and Judges. In 1976, he was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Western Nigeria and, soon after, a judge of the High Court of Oyo State. He served as a Justice of the Court of Appeal of the Gambia (1980-1983) and was Chief Justice of the Gambia (1983-1992).

Justice Ayoola was Vice President of the World Judges Association in 1991. He was President of the Court of Appeal of Seychelles, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Nigeria (1992-1998), and Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (1998-2003), retiring in October 2003 at the mandatory age of 70.

He then became Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria (2003-2005) and the Working Committee on Law Revision of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria in 2000. The Secretary-General of the United Nations appointed Justice Ayoola as President of the Appeals Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (2004-2005), which was set up to try those responsible for the Sierra Leone Civil War.

Justice Ayoola was appointed Chairman of the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission in 2005 and served until 2010. He was an active member of the National Judicial Council until early 2023 and passed into glory on August 20, 2024. To God be the glory for this great and eminent African Jurist per excellence.

Thursday, the 21st, and Friday, the 22nd, were days of rest and WIN’s consultation at Ibadan with the Provost, African Church Cathedral, Ekotedo, Ibadan, Venerable Femi Taiwo, a Trustee of WIN in Nigeria. It was at Ibadan that Venerable Taiwo, a former Presiding Chaplain, Chapel of Christ the Light (Interdenominational), Alausa, Lagos, informed me about the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Chapel of Christ the Light would be held on Sunday, December 1, 2024, and the need for me to attend as the pioneer Presiding Chaplain. I also visited Sir Ezekiel Folorunso Ogunjuyigbe, a former lay President of Ilesa in Ibadan. No dull moment at all. It was an inspiring fellowship with a learned choirmaster, a local preacher who refused to wear a cassock.

It was an early morning journey to Ilesa with my beloved brother, the Very Rev Dr Biodun and his amiable wife, Mrs Adenike Ogunbeku, to attend the Funeral Thanksgiving service of the late Paramount ruler of Ijesaland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran at Methodist Cathedral, Otapete, Ilesa. A retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa, Most Rev Ayo Ladigbolu, preached a very inspiring sermon with a beautiful rendition for the Choir, Methodist Cathedral, Otapete, and the Joint Ilesa Choral Group launched during the funeral celebration.

Who is His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II CFR, LL. D, The Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesa-Land? Alayeluwa Oba Dr Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II was born on 13th October 1937 in Ilesa. He descended from the respected Bepo-Aromolaran royal lineage within the Bilayiarere Ruling house. His father, Oba Oduyomade Olanrewaju Aromolaran I, ruled as the Owa-Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland from 1920 to 1942. His mother, Olori Rachael Tinuola, belonged to the noble Adeniyi and Fadeyi families of Esa-Oke. Oba Adekunle Aromolaran started his education at Otapete Methodist School, Ilesa, followed by Agbeni Methodist School, Ibadan. He continued at Wesley College, Ibadan, where he obtained a Teacher’s Grade II Certificate. He enrolled at University College, Ibadan, to study Economics and Political Science under the scholarship of Shell—BP sponsor. He graduated with a B.Sc in Economics in 1964 and continued with a Graduate Diploma in Public Administration from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1965. He had a master’s degree in development economics from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He earned a PhD in Development Economics, working under the mentorship of Professor Samson Olayide, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. Oba Aromolaran, before ascending the throne, had an impactful career in public service and education, rising to Deputy Permanent Secretary. In 1972, he founded Aromolaran Publishing Company, which produced essential educational materials for schools across West Africa.

Due to Oba Peter Agunlejika II’s transition in 1981, Oba Aromolaran II was officially crowned on May 15, 1982, in a coronation ceremony presided over by Chief Bola Ige, then Governor of Oyo State. Oba Aromolaran II’s extensive 42-year reign in Ijesaland witnessed many developments that transformed its infrastructure, healthcare, and education. His legacies abide.

At Ilesa, I shared the vision of WIN with several people, including His Grace, Most Rev Ayo Ladigbolu, and the Rt Rev Professor Dapo Asaju, the Lord Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ilesa. The two fathers, in faith, blessed and prayed over WIN.

With the Ogunbekus, we retired to Osu on Sunday, November 24, 2024, to attend the 2024 Adult Harvest of our home church, Methodist Church, Oke Oja, Osu. The Harvest celebration was a special celebration and family reunion, coupled with the 70th birthday Thanksgiving celebration of my beloved mummy, Deaconess Sola Oni. Mummy Oni has remained a mission partner since my return to Osu from Ikire in 1981.

We returned to Ibadan to prepare the ground for the retirement and 60th birthday celebration of our sister, virtuous wife and mother, Adenike Ogunbeku. To the glory of God, the Pen-down retirement ceremony of my beloved sister, Mrs Adenike Ogunbeku, was held on Wednesday, November 27, at Basorun High School, Basorun, Ibadan. The colourful and testimony-laden ceremony allowed me to minister to the school community. It was an open outreach and prayer time for the celebrant, the school, Oyo State, and Nigeria.

Thursday, the 28th, was Mrs Adenike Ogunbeku’s 60th birthday celebration, to the glory of God. The Thanksgiving service was held at Methodist Church, Akobo, Ibadan, with the Rt Rev Dr Olu Akinola, Methodist bishop of Osogbo, the host bishop, Rt Rev Simeon Onaleke, and other ministers in attendance. The reception followed at Faith Joe Event Centre, Alegongo, Ibadan, under the Chairmanship of Sir Col. Bola Ogunsanwo KJW.

I returned to Lagos to hold consultations and meetings with WIN friends and partners, including Elder Sayo and Ayo Olusetire, Dame Oluwafumilayo Ayodeji Agbato, Sir Engr Lana and Lady Ranti Odutola, Sir Tolu Omoniyi, Sir and Lady Baiyewu, and Mr and Mrs Johnson, Liham School, Lagos. The meeting with my beloved brother, Mr Olumide Fusika, (SAN) of Citipoint, was very helpful and inspiring for the future of WIN in Nigeria.

My visit in the company of Sir Engr Ayodeji Aderibigbe to Sir Demola and Very Rev Mrs Titi Aladekomo turned out to be a testimony and prayer of thanksgiving. Sir Aladekomo shared the testimony of how God delivered him, his wife and other occupants in their vehicle that somersaulted five times before landing in a ditch along Ondo/Ore Road due to a busted tyre. Sir Aladekomo, his wife and others were returning from Ondo after delivering a keynote address at the Convocation ceremony at Wesley University, Ondo. Indeed, God watched over His workers, neither sleep nor slumber. We praise God and pray for Sir Aladekomo as he celebrates his birthday on December 31, 2024; the rest of his years shall be the best in Jesus’ mighty name.

It was a homecoming and fellowship reunion for me on Sunday, December 1 2024, as the Presiding Chaplain, Chapel of Christ the Light, Interdenominational, Alausa, Ikeja, Rev Dr Dele Ajayi welcomed me to the Chapel. The 25th Anniversary celebration and 2024 Harvest celebration of the Chapel were well attended by past Presiding Chaplains and Chaplains. At the service, I was honoured to dedicate the altar marble seats. My successor, Archbishop Funso Awe, dedicated the new choir gown donated by one of the Chapel members to celebrate her 60th birthday and retirement from the Lagos State Civil Service. My dear brother, the Rt Rev Dr Stephen Adegbite, Methodist Bishop of Ikeja and the Executive Secretary of the National Christian Pilgrim Commission, who was also in attendance, dedicated the new Sunday school facility.

At the Chapel celebration, I used the opportunity to appreciate the Chapel leadership, the congregation and the legacy of the Lagos State Civil Christian Fellowship leadership, especially those who supervised the construction of the building – Very Rev Kayode Cadmus, Pastor Dansu, Mrs Taire, Mrs Aiyelokun, Mr Lamidi, Mr Seye Ogunlewe, and many others.

To God be the glory of a very impactful first WIN outreach to Nigeria. I safely returned to the United Kingdom in December 2024.