...More than 50 biological and adopted children honour late cleric as Bishop Ogunbanwo challenges Christians to live with eternity in view
The life and legacy of Bishop Gideon Isaac Oladipo Olajide, a cleric remembered for his simplicity, selflessness, spiritual leadership and commitment to raising future generations of church leaders, took centre stage at a solemn Service of Songs held at the Cathedral of St James the Great, Oke Bola, Ibadan on Monday 2 November 2026.
The gathering brought together an impressive assembly of archbishops, bishops, serving and retired clergy, alongside family members, friends, spiritual protégés and well-wishers, marking the beginning of funeral ceremonies for the departed bishop. His remains are scheduled to be laid to rest in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
Beyond the solemnity of the occasion, the service offered an opportunity to reflect on a ministry that extended far beyond the pulpit, touching lives through mentorship, evangelism, generosity and an enduring commitment to the growth of the Church.
One of the most striking moments was the appearance of more than 50 of Bishop Olajide’s biological and adopted children, who wore specially designed white singlets bearing his photograph. Their presence was a poignant testament to the breadth of his fatherhood and the affection he cultivated among those who regarded him as a father, mentor and spiritual guide.
The central message of the gathering was delivered by Bishop Babatunde Ogunbanwo, PhD, of the Diocese of Ijebu South West, whose exhortation drew from Numbers 23:10: “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!”
In a deeply reflective tribute, Bishop Ogunbanwo portrayed the late Olajide as a man whose life was defined by righteousness, service and an uncommon capacity to love without discrimination.
He noted that the late bishop’s biological and adopted children were treated with equal affection, making it difficult to distinguish between them. Olajide, he said, simply referred to them as “my children and grandchildren of whom I am as his first grandson”, a description that captured the inclusiveness of his fatherhood.
According to him, Bishop Olajide’s greatest investment was not in material possessions but in human lives, particularly the younger generation of clergy whom he mentored and guided towards spiritual and professional fulfilment.
He described the departed cleric as a remarkable leader whose influence could be seen in the number of bishops and priests who emerged through the Olajide Foundation.
Mentoring young people and preparing them for positions of responsibility, he said, was not merely an aspect of Olajide’s ministry but one of his enduring passions.
His commitment to evangelism and the expansion of the Church remained unwavering, with soul-winning and spiritual development occupying a central place in his ministry until his final days.
Bishop Ogunbanwo went further, describing him as a “Bishop of bishops” whose leadership was distinguished by accessibility, humility and an uncommon concern for the welfare of fellow clergy.
He contrasted the late bishop’s modest lifestyle with what he described as the growing pursuit of material wealth among some contemporary church leaders, candidly acknowledging that he did not exempt himself from the criticism.
Olajide, he recalled, did not measure episcopal achievement by the grandeur of mansions or material possessions. His episcopal residence was accessible, particularly to priests facing difficult circumstances, including those in need of assistance.
For him, the Kingdom of God remained his priority, while the welfare of people entrusted to his spiritual care was a responsibility to be taken seriously.
Bishop Ogunbanwo said the late cleric’s life reflected a conscious decision to pursue eternal values rather than temporary worldly attractions, adding that he believed Olajide had lived a fulfilled life and was spiritually prepared for his transition into eternity.
He recalled that one biblical passage frequently cited by the deceased was Philippians 4:8, which urges believers to focus their thoughts on whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely and worthy of praise.
The passage, he suggested, offered a fitting summary of the values that shaped Olajide’s outlook on life and ministry.
Turning his attention from the departed bishop to the congregation, Ogunbanwo invoked 1 Timothy 6:7, reminding the gathering: “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
He then challenged the congregation with questions that gave the exhortation its most searching dimension.
“Are you a Christian or not? What are you living for? What legacy are you trying to leave behind? Are you living for Christ, or are you against Him?” he asked.
He warned that living without eternity in view amounted to an excessive preoccupation with temporary earthly interests at the expense of values that endure beyond physical existence.
The bishop also urged the congregation to examine the choices they make, the lives they touch and the legacy they are building, stressing that the pursuit of worldly possessions should never take precedence over a life anchored in Christ.
Returning to the biblical declaration in Numbers 23:10, he reiterated the prayer that a person should aspire to die the death of the righteous and leave behind a life worthy of emulation.
For Bishop Olajide, he concluded, that aspiration had found expression in a fulfilled life of service, spiritual leadership, generosity and mentorship.
As the funeral ceremonies move from Ibadan to Ado-Ekiti, the tributes surrounding the late bishop suggest that his most enduring monument may not be an institution or a building, but the generations of men and women whose lives he influenced.
The more than 50 children who gathered in matching white singlets, the clergy who assembled to honour him and the spiritual leaders who acknowledged his mentorship offered a powerful reminder that a life devoted to others can leave an inheritance far greater than material wealth.
In death, Bishop Gideon Isaac Oladipo Olajide is being remembered not simply for the office he occupied, but for the lives he touched and the legacy of service he leaves behind.