Wilson Badejo, a hero of faith, Says General Overseer

By Mary Nnah

The General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev. Sam Aboyeji, has described his late predecessor, Rev. Wilson Badejo, who was the leader of the church from 1999 to 2009, as a ‘hero of faith’ whose leadership expanded the gospel of Jesus Christ in Nigeria and the missionary work of the church.

Aboyeji, who addressed a press conference at the church headquarters at Yaba on yesterday to unveil the funeral activities of Late Dr. Badejo, said the church would celebrate the life and time of the former leader who passed on to glory on Saturday, August 7, 2021, with a Night of Tribute on October 6, Christian Wake Keeping on Thursday, October 7 at the church national headquarters at Alagomeji, Yaba, and a funeral service at the Jelili Omotola Multipurpose Hall of the University of Lagos, Akoka, on Friday, October 8, 2021.

He revealed that 1000 branches out of over 5000 branches of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria were planted during the leadership of Late Dr. Badejo.

The general overseer, who was flanked by former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, and Co-Chairman of the Funeral Planning Committee, Rev. Tunde Lemo, Rev. Yomi Oyinloye and South West Coordinator of the Church and Chairman of Burial Planning Committee, Rev. Adedimeji Adegbesan, also said that the church has invited dignitaries from the government, the private sector and other religious leaders to celebrate the transition onto glory of “a hero of faith with outstanding accomplishments in the service of God and humanity.”

The theme of the three-day funeral programme is “The Badejo Coronation: Chosen. Called. Crowned.”

Aboyeji said: “Rev. Dr. Wilson Badejo worked diligently to grow our church. He identified, developed, mentored and motivated men and women to great leadership and also dynamically repositioned the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, nationally and internationally. He was well-loved and admired even as his leadership style was admirable.”

Rev. Lemo added that all funeral activities would be governed by COVID-19 protocols and would be transmitted live on cable television and digital platforms.

The Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo, said that “Badejo was blessed with a rare gift of church planting as he almost took over the nation with church planting and made the church explode.”

Also, the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, described Badejo as a spiritual force, adding that “I know that Foursquare really grew under his leadership.”