Breaking: Fountain of Life Pastor, Odukoya, Loses Wife, Nomthi

Chiemelie Ezeobi

Pastor Rosemary Simangele Nomthi Odukoya, the wife of the Presiding Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, is dead.

According to a terse publication by the church on its Instagram handle, the deceased battled cancer for two years until she died.

Also, the widower posted on his Instagram handle that “she battled cancer for the better part of two years, she stood on the Word of God, and she fought.

“She gave me 11 beautiful years of marriage and two wonderful boys, who I know will be very significant in life. I loved her with all my heart, but who am I to fight with the will of God.

“The truth is, at one point in our lives, we all will have to say goodbye. So for now, till we meet again in glory, Goodbye Nomthi.”

The duo had been married for 11 years and they celebrated their anniversary on January 5 at the Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Lagos.

The marriage came four years after his first wife, late Pastor Bimbo Rosemary Odukoya (née Williams), died in the 2005 Sosoliso air crash.

A South African, Nomthi as she was fondly called, was living in London, where she worked as a music director before Odukoya visited for a speaking engagement.

Prior to her death, she was an associate senior pastor at Fountain of Life Church and chairperson of Fountain Initiative for Social Development and the founder.

She was also chairman of Funda Wazi Foundation, a non-profit organisation committed to providing child-friendly resources and trainings to equip children and adults to ensuring children’s safety and well-being.

Nomthi also authored several children books such as, “No! Don’t Touch Me There”, “A Bully Is Not A Hero”, “Help They Are Fighting Again”, “Boys and Girls Are Different But Equal”.