The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has lost one of its longtime clerics following the death of The Venerable Emmanuel Olorunmola Ajayi, a retired Archdeacon whose ministry spanned more than four decades across several dioceses.
Ajayi passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Lokoja, Kogi State. He was 86 years old.
His death was confirmed by his son, Omeiza Ajayi of Vanguard, who issued a statement on behalf of the family announcing the loss. Paying tribute to his father, Omeiza described him as a devoted servant who remained steadfast throughout his life and ministry.
According to him, the late cleric was a man who “did not retreat” and “did not surrender,” but “completed his assignment and went home as a soldier goes home after a long and honourable campaign, with nothing left undone and nothing left unsaid.”
Over the course of 41 years in active ministry, Ajayi served in different parts of Nigeria and beyond. His pastoral work began in Lagos before taking him to Zambia, as well as the states of Kwara, Ondo, and Kogi.
Throughout those years, he ministered in numerous communities, taught in educational settings, and led congregations from the pulpit, according to Blueprint.
His lengthy service within the Anglican Church saw him work under seven bishops, underscoring both the duration of his ecclesiastical career and his ability to remain committed through successive periods of church leadership.
In a report published on Monday, June 8, the Nigerian Tribune described the late cleric as a respected church planter whose assignments were marked by efforts to establish new worship centres.
The publication noted that his work in various locations reflected the discipline, dedication, and sense of purpose that became hallmarks of his ministry.
Beyond his pastoral responsibilities, Ajayi also held several leadership positions within the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), serving at state, diocesan, and zonal levels during his lifetime.
An obituary posted on Omeiza’s verified Facebook account, accompanied by a photograph of the deceased, stated:
“It is with profound sorrow, yet with hearts anchored in the certain hope of resurrection, that we announce the passing of our Patriarch, my own dear father, the Venerable Emmanuel Olorunmola Ajayi.
“My beloved father, a retired Archdeacon of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), breathed his last on Thursday, 4th June, 2026, at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, Kogi state. He was 85 years old, and died just six days before what would have been his 86th birthday.”
Family sources indicated that funeral rites for the late Christian leader are scheduled to take place on Friday, June 12, 2026.
