Security on Friday was beefed up at the Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Lagos as the funeral rites of LatePastor Taiwo Odukoyacommenced with a service of songs and night of tributes.

Odukoya passed away on Tuesday, August 7, 2023, in the United States of America, at the age of 67.

He was survived by five children, and six grand-children.

At the service of songs, ocean of tributes, tears flowed freely from clerics, colleagues, mentees who praised the clergyman for the roles he performed in various lives.

His former classmates from St. Paul’s College (now known as Kufena College, Wusasa) Zaria, paid glowing tributes to Odukoya.

Mr. Ade Ogunaike who led Odukoya’s classmates said: “Death leaves a heart ache, so hard to forget. We’ve so much to be thankful for on his behalf. We consider the numerous investments he has made in the lives of many people.”

Odukoya will be laid to rest tomorrow, September 9.

On Sunday, a thanksgiving service will be held at the church to signal the end of the funeral.

Dignitaries including Dolapo, the wife of the immediate past Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, Rev. Sam Adeyemi, Peterson Okopi, others are in attendance at the service of songs.

It was observed that there was heavy security presence at the church premises Friday evening.

The preacher’s death comes less than two years after his 47-year-old South African wife, Nomthi Odukoya, died in November 2021 after a two-year battle with cancer.

They were married for 11 years and had two children.

He married Nomthi after his first wife Bimbo died in the ill-fated Sosoliso plane crash in 2005.

His union with Bimbo produced three children, including Jimmy — the star of Netflix’s ‘Woman King’ movie.

In December 2021, the pastor also lost his twin sister, Kehinde Hassan, from cancer complications.(The Nation)