Mourning clouds hovered over the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) community following the death of Pastor Ifeoluwa Akindayomi, the last child of the church’s founder, Pa Josiah Akindayomi. His passing on Sunday, November 2, has left both the church and his close circle in disbelief, coming just seven months after the loss of his elder brother, Pastor Kolade Akindayomi.
Those who knew him said the 63-year-old cleric showed no signs of illness before his sudden death. A family associate revealed that he had chaired a wedding ceremony just a day before, radiating his usual calmness and cheer. “Nobody would have thought he would die barely 24 hours after he was chairman of a wedding ceremony,” the source said, expressing the shock shared by many.
Accounts from those close to the family describe his final moments as tragic and unexpected. He had gone for a morning prayer walk around the RCCG Camp, as was his routine, before returning home to prepare for Sunday service. Reports indicate that he missed a step, fell headlong, and struck his head against a sharp object. “He sustained injury from the fall and passed out. Before he could be helped to the hospital the worst had happened,” the source recounted sorrowfully.
Before his death, Pastor Ifeoluwa served as the assistant provincial pastor of RCCG Ogun Province 5. Beyond his pastoral duties, he managed a thriving printing business, combining entrepreneurship with ministry. Despite encouragement from his wife and children, who reside in Canada, he had remained in Nigeria to oversee his business and church responsibilities. “When it was clear his children and wife were not interested in coming back home, he decided lately to relocate to join them,” the source added. “I was told he just secured a permanent stay in Canada and was preparing to go and meet his family before his eventual death.”
Friends and colleagues describe him as a man of humility, grace, and quiet strength. Pastor Debo Akinyemi, a longtime friend and fellow minister, spoke fondly of their decades-long friendship. “He was not given to show and lived a very quiet life. Many people never knew him as the son of the founder,” Akinyemi said. “He was not the type that would want any attention for himself. He was just content with his business and the bit he could do in God’s vineyard.”
Memories of his simplicity and warmth echo across the RCCG community. Akinyemi further described him as “a perfect gentleman” who valued peace and mutual respect. “He did not go about bragging. As a pastor, he truly loved God. He would not fight for anything. One would have thought he would have risen to a very high position in the church, but I guess he decided to keep low and not agitate for anything. I am personally going to miss him,” he said.
Tributes continue to pour in from those who encountered him at the Redemption Camp and across Ogun State, many recalling his generosity during the annual conventions. His home, according to several accounts, often hosted worshippers and friends who came from far and near to attend the gatherings.
As news of his passing spreads, the Redeemed family mourns a man who embodied the humility and service that defined his father’s legacy. His quiet journey through life mirrored the foundational ethos of the church his father built—faith, simplicity, and service.
