News has surfaced surrounding the death of Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, founder and pastor of Lagos’ Fountain of Life Church. On Monday, at the age of 67, Odukoya passed away in the United States, though the church has yet to disclose the cause of death.
However, according to sources close to the family, Odukoya’s health had been suffering for some time due to a series of personal tragedies that he had experienced over the years, with loved ones believing he could not recover from the losses he suffered.
Ten years ago, Pastor Taiwo lost his wife, Bimbo, in the devastating Sosoliso plane crash at the age of 45. Her loss caused immense grief for pastor Taiwo and for those who knew and were close to her.
Now, in light of his passing, we pay our respects to an admirable man who dedicated his life to serving God and helping others.
The death of his beloved wife, whom he met as an undergraduate at the University of Ibadan, left Pastor emotionally shattered. Despite this devastating blow, Pastor was even more distraught by the cruel remarks hurled in his wake. Reports suggest that it took a long period of contemplation before Pastor decided to move on and find love again. Nevertheless, while he is still mourning his loss and searching for closure, he has determined to bravely carry on with life.
On November 9, 2021 death came calling again for Pastor Alfredo, claiming his beloved second wife, Pastor Nomthi. The South African was 47 years old and left behind two children with the pastor.
The loss of Pastor Nomthi was a crushing blow for Alfredo – one that seemed to knock the air out of him, incapacitating him with grief. His friends and family feared for him as they watched as he became inconsolable in the wake of her passing. Nothing they could say could ease his immense sorrow.
But this great tragedy only compounded when his twin sister passed away only a few weeks later. It appeared to be the last straw, pushing Pastor Alfredo to the limits of his capacity for emotion.
The heartbreaking loss of a beloved family member has truly taken its toll on one individual. This person, who has already suffered the heartache of losing two significant women in his life, has now had to cope with the death of someone who he shared his childhood and womb with.
A family source gave an insight into how this devastating experience affected him: “It was a personal, humbling tragedy. He typically had a good head on his shoulders, but this loss rendered him completely disinterested in all aspects of life. We could see something had changed within him, like a light went out. He tried to be strong for the church’s sake, but it was clear that he was struggling on the inside.”
The pain worsened as health problems started to arise, ultimately resulting in overseas trips seeking medical attention. Unfortunately, these trips proved fruitless as he passed away just two years later – a feat that shows immense strength of character.