Lagos Atlantic Conference

ADEJOKE O. OYEWUNMI, AND JACOB E. UMORU

Adejoke O. Oyewunmi is professor of law, University of , and legal adviser, Lagos Atlantic.

Jacob E. Umoru, Ph.D., is president of Lagos Atlantic Conference.

The Lagos Atlantic Conference is of great historical importance to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in . This is due to many reasons: its strategic geographical territory, which encompasses, among others, the Seaport and its environs. It was at this port that the ship that conveyed the first Adventist missionary to Nigeria, David Cladwell Babcock and his fellow pioneers (R. P. Dauphin and S. Morgue), berthed in March 1914.1 To all intents and purposes, therefore, Lagos Atlantic Conference has the distinction of being the territory where the Adventist missionaries first landed on arrival in Nigeria. It was from there that they made their way into the hinterland to commence their evangelistic mission before later returning to Lagos to spread the Advent message.2 Territory The Lagos Atlantic Conference field stretches across twelve out of the twenty local government areas of Lagos Atlantic Conference headquarters, Lagos, , Lagos State, while also extending to Ado-Ota Local Nigeria. Government in Ogun State. The 12 local government Photo courtesy of Jacob Umoru. areas are Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Apapa, , Lagos Mainland, Mushin, Oshodi/Isolo, , Amuwo Odofin, Ojo, Eti Osa, , and Ibeju .3 The conference is bordered in the southwestern part by the Republic of Benin and in the southeastern part by the Atlantic Ocean. The church has a presence in virtually all the local government areas covered by the conference by virtue of the various established churches and companies, as well as diverse other means through which the conference has strategically raised awareness of the Advent message among different groups, including the vulnerable and disempowered. Thus, beyond physical churches, outreaches of various types, including through literature evangelism, prison ministry, health seminars/hospital ministries, vacation Bible school, and empowerment programs have all helped to promote the visibility and enhance the impact of the church in the territories making up the Lagos Atlantic Conference. Evolution of the Conference The vision for the creation of the conference originated from the (then) North-Western Nigeria Union Mission Executive Committee headed by Pastor (Dr.) Oyeleke Owolabi. During the Union constituency meeting held at Babcock University, Ilisan on December 15--18, 2010, it was voted to reorganize the territories under the Union into smaller administrative units, with a view to promoting the growth and development of the church.4 At that time the territories comprising the Lagos Atlantic Conference were domiciled in the former West Nigeria Conference, alongside other territories in Oyo, Osun, Kwara, and Kogi state, and headed by Pastor (Dr.) Ezekiel Oyinloye. Following the 2010 constituency meeting, active steps were taken toward the implementation of the reorganization initiative, and on December 17, 2011, at a combined service held at the SDA Church, Festac, the Lagos Atlantic Administrative Unit, was inaugurated under the leadership of Pastor Jacob Umoru (director), Pastor Yussuf Imam (secretary), and Mrs. Folashade Ogungbesan (treasurer).5 The secretariat of the unit was and remains, to date, 37 Queens Street, Yaba. The conference, at the time of its inauguration, was made up of nine districts and about twenty churches, nineteen companies with a total membership of 5,549.6 It had a total of 14 ministers (twelve credentialed and two licensed); four missionaries and five pioneers.7 The pioneer district pastors who helped coordinate the nine districts were Pastor Joshua Ayinla (Ajangbadi), Pastor Adeniyi Adebara (Apapa), Pastor Ogbonna Ogechi (Badagry), Pastor A. O. Aramide (Ejigbo), Pastor Adetiloye Oloyede (Festac), Pastor Adebomi Joseph (Ilasamaja), Pastor Emmanuel Ogungbesan (Lagos Island), Pastor Yusuf Imam (Orile), and Pastor (Dr.) Jacob Umoru (Yaba).8 The journey toward attaining the status of a conference commenced immediately after inauguration. In August 2012 a West-Central Africa Division evaluation team comprising Pastor Onaolapo Ajibade, Elder Emmanuel Manu, and Pastor Daniel Opoku-Boateng visited the Lagos Atlantic Administrative Unit to assess its preparedness for conference status. To the glory of God, the verdict was positive, and on January 19, 2013, the Lagos Atlantic Conference was officially inaugurated at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. The officers of the former Lagos Atlantic Administrative Unit, Pastor (Dr.) Jacob Umoru, Pastor Yusuf Imam, and Mrs. Folasade Ogungbesan as president, secretary and treasurer respectively, formed the kernel of the administration to continue to steer the ship of the new conference.9 Directors were also named, and the Executive Committee was duly constituted. The team worked hard to establish and grow the new conference. During the second Conference constituency in October 2016, a new secretary, Pastor Olajide, was elected to serve alongside Pastor Umoru and Mrs. Ogungbesan, who were returned as officers for the new term.10 Directors were also appointed and the Executive Committee duly reconstituted. During the first tenure of the administration, the need to have in place a befitting headquarters building for the new conference was pressing. The task of identifying a suitable location for the proposed headquarters was entrusted to a seven-member committee headed by Elder Abraham Ahutu. The committee worked hard and came up with some proposals. However, the prohibitive cost of procurement of land in the readily accessible parts of Lagos led the West- Central Africa Division (WAD) Evaluation Committee headed by Pastor (Dr.) Onaolapo Ajibade to recommend that the young conference should look inwards by developing the existing site at Queens Street. Consequently, the Conference Executive Committee at its meeting of April 14, 2013, set up an Implementation Committee headed by Elder Isaac Fatade to midwife the construction of a befitting edifice to house the conference. Other members of this committee were Elders Victor Oyenuga, Ugo Emerole, Remi Oyewunmi, Yinka Kolapo, Sola Akerele, Wilfred Oseghe, Mrs. Adebola Ajide, and Pastor J. E. Umoru (ex-officio).11 The buildings on the Queen Street premises were demolished and replaced by a modern four-story structure that currently houses the conference offices, an events hall, guest apartment, and parsonages for the three conference officers.12 Through the divine blessing and the sacrifices of an enthusiastic church, the conference secretariat project was completed well within the stipulated time frame of 16 months. During the period of construction, the secretariat was temporarily relocated to Number 56, Olorunkemi Street, Bariga, where it occupied a rent-free flat, courtesy of Elder and Mrs. Yinka Kolapo.13 The conference also successfully acquired, in 2018, a 65-acre piece of land at Epe to be used for the development of an estate (Adventist Village) comprising of the Lagos Atlantic Conference permanent campsite, worship center, residential plots for church members, as well as commercial, health, educational and recreational facilities.14 Evolution of the Districts and Some of the Pioneer Churches in Lagos Between the early 1930s when the first church in Lagos was established in Yaba and the present time, the churches in what has now become known as the Lagos Atlantic Conference territory have grown from a single church to about forty-nine worship centers comprising churches and companies spread across the conference territory. For administrative purposes, Yaba had remained the only district in Lagos State for many years. Thus, until 1996 all the churches in Lagos operated under Yaba district. However, as many churches were established in Lagos during the era of the defunct West Nigeria Conference, it was decided in 1996 to reorganize Yaba into two districts.15 At this point Apapa district was carved out and inaugurated in the month of February 1996 under the headship of Pastor J. O. Eregere. The churches made up of Apapa district then were Apapa, Badagry, Festac, Ilasamaja, Orileiganmu, Orile Company, Ejigbo, Okokomaiko, and Isheri-Osun churches. Subsequently, in 1999, Kirikiri was handed over to Apapa district by Maryland church, while another church, Olodi Church was established in the same year. Around 2001 Festac district was carved out of Apapa district. It is currently one of the biggest districts, while the Festac church auditorium is the largest in the conference. The churches under the district include Okokomaiko, Iba, and satellite churches. In 2005 Ilasamaja district was created out of Festac district. In 2012 four new districts were inaugurated. These were Orile district, carved out of Apapa; Badagry and Ajangbadi districts, carved out of Festac district, and Ejigbo district carved out of Ilasamaja district. At present two new districts have been added to the nine previously in existence, to make eleven districts. These are Lekki and Zion districts, which were carved out of the existing Lagos Island and Yaba districts respectively in 2013. There are also plans afoot to create a new Ijanikin district out of the Badagry district in January 2020.16 One of the earliest converts in Lagos was N. A. Coker.17 Pastor John Ojo Adebayo and Mama Felicia Abiola Adebayo were converted in Ibadan but from the late 1930s worshiped with their children, including Pastor S. K. Adebayo at Yaba church.18 Some of the pastors that contributed to the evolution and early growth of the church in Lagos included Pastor J. M. A. Adeoye, Pastor D. K. Omoleye, Pastor J. E. Adewoye, Pastor R. P. Dolphin, Pastor J. D. Owolabi, Pastor Majolagbe, Pastor J. A. Adeniji, Pastor I. O. Adewusi, Pastor D. K. Omoleye, Pastor E. A. Akintunde, Pastor M. O. Olayemi, Pastor G. A. Solademi, Pastor J. O. Eregare, Pastor (Prof.) A. A. Alalade, Pastor (Dr.) J. A. Ola, Pastor O. Oladini, and Pastor H. O. Oyeleke. Early outreaches in the form of public evangelistic efforts by C. D. Brooks, C .D. Henri, Dr. S. A. Nagel, and later, Pastor Dave Nyekwere, to mention a few, contributed to the growth of the church in Lagos.19 A further dimension was the literature- evangelism ministry that helped to take the Advent message into private homes and offices. In this regard, the pioneering work of the first indigenous literature evangelist, Pastor Oladipo Joseph, who operated the Adventist Book Centre at Queen’s Street, deserves special mention for his contribution to this important aspect of ministry.20 One of the major steps toward having a presence in Lagos was the acquisition, sometime around 1932, of property at 37 Queens Street, which served multiple purposes as the parsonage, church office, and later, Adventist Book Centre (ABC). The first church (Yaba church) was located at No 7, Faneye Street, Old Yaba, the land having been purchased sometime around 1932, during the period of one of the pioneer pastors in Lagos, Pastor J. A. Adeoye.21 In line with the well-entrenched Adventist culture of making inroads into local communities to propagate the gospel through the provision of education and other social amenities, the old Yaba church building also housed a primary school staffed by six teachers.22 The building was used as a school on weekdays and a worship center on the Sabbath day, thereby uniquely serving the dual role of spiritual nurture center while also providing educational and social outreach to the community.23 This continued until the school was relocated to its present position at Abule Oja, which is in the Yaba district. Some of the earliest teachers who served at the school included O. Adeyomoye, T. Aborisade, Mr. Aluko, Mr. Akinola, Z. Awe, T. K. Popoola, and Mr. Faleye (the last two served as headmasters at various times between 1956 and 1966).24 The Adventist primary school at Abule-Oja has impacted the community positively as one of the earliest educational institutions with a meaningful contribution to the production of an enlightened population in its part of Lagos. A church was subsequently built to the school, and to the glory of God, the Abule-Oja church is still standing to . It is however regrettable that during the military era in the 1970s the church was divested of ownership and control of the SDA primary school, due to the then government policy of total takeover of missionary schools. The school, alongside some other missionary schools, was then run by the government, and this has been the situation for about four decades now. It is, however, gratifying that over the course of the few years, the government has, in some cases, been positively inclined toward returning some of the compulsorily acquired schools to their religious organizations/owners. The Lagos Atlantic Conference (led by its former education director, Prof. [Mrs.] G. O. Adeoye, now of blessed memory), keyed into this positive development and made overtures to the government for the release of the school. The effort, regrettably, was still ongoing when she was called to rest. The conference leadership has, however, taken up the mantle, as Pastor Umoru (president) and Adejoke Oyewunmi (legal adviser) are is currently collaborating with Abule Oja’s Pastor Olajire and his team of elders Oso, Oluwumi, and Adeleye (with professional inputs from the Union education director, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluyemisi Aina) to move the process forward. The team is hopeful that the government will release this major heritage institution of the church to enable it to revert to its previous position as a top, highly sought after educational institution and an effective tool for ministry. As for the mother (Yaba) church, according to available information, some of the early worshipers in the church (from the early 1930s to the early 1970s) included the Adebayo family, Pastor Coker, Pastor Joseph, Mama Ogunrombi (late Elder Ogunrombi’s mother and the family), Elder O. Adeyomoye, Mrs. Stella Marke (who was the first female magistrate in Nigeria),25 Elder Ademoyewa, Chief Asekun-Aderinmoye, Pastor J. B. Ogunbadejo, Pastor Aderogba, Elder Oyelakin, Justice R. Olomojobi (then Miss Omoleye, daughter of one of the earliest pastors), Elder Oyelese, Pastor Olu Olomojobi, Pastor Dangana, Elder J. K. Adewunmi, Elder Olaore, Elder Afe, Elder Wigwe, Elder Akpan, Mama Khainji, Elder Osundina, Elder Nwatulegu, Elder Nmecha, Elder Nwaojigba, Elder Akwarandu, Mama Afolabi, Brother Ajanaku, and Baba Caleb (an Ngwa indigene), Pastori G. B. Fisher, among many others, who, together with their family members, were the members of the church and worked in different departments to create a vibrant church. 26 The old church building was later demolished, and members had to relocate to Abule Oja until a new structure was erected, and they returned in 1981.27 Elders O. Ogunrombi, J. W. Wigwe, T. K Popoola, U. E. Akpan, A. Afe, and others served on the Building Committee, with members contributing their quota, including Elder A. Afe who additionally provided the architectural plan.28 Elder Funmilayo (a former SDA Abule Oja headmaster), Brother Obioma Nzotta, Elder G. Ubani Ebere, and a number of others worked hard to build and grow the choir. Elder Funmilayo, alongside Elder H. Dareandlater, and Brother Femi Ogunrombi served as church organists. Pastor Olaore, Honorable Justice R. O. Olomojobi (Nee Omoleye), and others also served in the early choir while Mamas Wigwe, Akpan, Ogunrombi, Oyelakin, Dare, Olarinmoye, Nwangwu, Ukeje, Nwaojigba, and other women mobilized themselves as the Dorcas Society (precursor to the AWM) and helped to develop the association and mentor the younger women.29 Yaba church has continued to stand; its building remains in good shape up till the present time, supplemented only by additional structures to house more children’s classes. The church has also recently succeeded in acquiring the adjoining land and building at No. 5, Faneye Street. Elder (Arc) Ugo Emerole served as chairman of the committee of three that the Lord used to accomplish this feat.30 Another one of the pioneer churches in the territory currently falling within the Lagos Atlantic Conference is the Lagos Island church. The church came into being in 1957, following a successful crusade conducted by Pastor Henri and supported by Pastor Caleb Adeogun, the first indigenous president of the SDA Church in Nigeria, Pastor O. Joseph, the first literature evangelist in Lagos, and Elder James K. Adewunmi, who served as interpreter.31 One of the converts then was Pastor Ogunbadejo (though he worshiped at Yaba). The first place of worship was at Forester Hall Lodge, Odunlami Street, Lagos Island, from where the ‘church’ moved to Edward Blyden Primary School, 53 Forsythe Street, Lagos. Even though the owner of the school, who was father-in-law to one of the members (Brother Olayomi), initially charged a fee of £3 per month for the use of the classroom, subsequently he stopped collecting rent and made the premises available to the church for free. The church flourished under Pastor Joseph and other brethren who undertook evangelistic outreaches, particularly with a view to winning souls in the neighborhood. The church was organized at the Edward Blyden Primary School in 1972. Some of the early members include Elder J. K. Adewunmi, Elder Aromokeye, Elder Tunji Jegede, Elder Philip Akande and later his brother, Pastor S. B. Akande, Elder Olayanju, ASP Opara, Sis Onyinye Nwaogwugu, and a host of others, together with their families. As the church blossomed, it became a company at Maroko. A major challenge that the church in this part of the territory contended with had to do with getting a permanent place of worship. At different times the church worshiped at the home of some members, notably Pastor S. B. Akande (Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island) and Pastor J. K. Adewunmi (Razak Balogun Street, Surulere). Finally succor came through the intervention of Elder (Dr.) Deji Adeleke and Pastor S. B. Akande, both of whom God used to raise the bulk of the huge funds needed to procure land at the 5B, Beecroft Street permanent location of the Lagos Island church. Although the family that sold the land later turned around to institute action against the church, the matter was eventually settled out of court. Justice (Elder) Tunji Jegede (Rtd), then a legal practitioner in Lagos, assisted by late Elder Godwin Aghahowa, provided legal support to the church in this regard. Through the Lord’s intervention, legal ownership was finally transferred to the church in 2008. Some other churches have, over time, evolved from the Lagos Island church. These include Ajah, Lamgbasa, and Sangotedo churches. The journey for Sangotedo church in Lekki district was particularly tortuous.32 The movement toward a new church began in 1990 with Mrs. Rosaline Tossou Benoit, a Beninois, who earnestly desired to fellowship in her new environment. She was directed to the Maroko church, which, unfortunately, was demolished shortly after she found it as a result of the then Lagos State Government’s drive to clean up Moroko and its environs. Subsequently, open-air evangelism was conducted at Evans Square, Yaba, by the then Nigerian Union Mission evangelist, Pastor Dave Nyekwere. After the evangelism, a house fellowship began at Mrs. Rosaline Tossous canteen but soon grew beyond what a canteen could accommodate. The fellowship was accordingly relocated to the Flower Garden at H. F. P. staff quarters. In 1994 this fellowship center became a Sabbath School branch, and by 1997 it relocated to Ikota Estate, where it was formally organized into a company under Yaba district on April 10, 1999, with Pastor A. S. Ogunseitan and Elder Jared Ezimeze as district pastor and church elder respectively. At Ikota Housing Estate, all efforts to acquire the piece of land the church was using failed. However, to the glory of God and through the combined efforts of members, including, notably, Pastor S. B. Akande and Dr. Deji Adeleke, the church acquired and built up the two plots of land on which Sangotedo church and parsonage are located today. This occurred during the tenure of Pastor A. S Ogunseitan and Pastor Dannon Olooto, as well as the West Nigeria Conference executive led by Pastor Onaolapo Ajibade, who all gave their support toward the accomplishment of this goal. In 2003, Pastor Dannon Olooto, a former literature evangelist, became the first pastor of Sangotedo company, which was organized into a church in 2009. The church has since birthed other companies at Jakande Estate and Langbasa. Other churches in the Lekki axis include Victory sanctuary, while Otunla Sabbath School unit has recently evolved as part of the Lekki district. Victory Sanctuary church is a bit peculiar because it operates under a contemporary church model. The church had evolved as a Sabbath School branch in 1999 following an evangelistic outreach conducted by Pastor Ken Mulzach, a visiting professor at the then Adventist Seminary for West Africa (ASWA). The outreach, which was held in April 1999 at Kings College Lagos, involved collaboration between Faith of our Fathers’ Ministry and the Adventist Professionals Group. In July 1999 the church was organized into a company by then Yaba district pastor, Pastor A. Ogunseitan, and has continued to thrive under the umbrella of Lekki district. 33 In July 2006 a group of members of Victory Sanctuary relocated to start off Potters’ Outreach at 25, MacDonald Road, . The church is currently operating from Ikoya Close, Ikoyi under the umbrella of the Lagos Island district.34 In the Apapa axis, a new church started off sometime in 1956 as a body of believers convening at the home of the Egbulefus at No. 7, Amodu Tijani Street, Olodi, Apapa.35 As the Church grew, it became expedient to relocate it to a bigger space, and so a classroom at Ajeromi Primary School, Agausa, was secured for use. The church was operating from the school compound until 1967 when the Nigerian civil war broke out and the population of the church was depleted because of the departure of all the easterners who immediately left Lagos. The church was no longer sustainable and was closed down in July 1967. At the end of the war, the returnees started a company in the home of the Oluges at the Federal Fire Service Quarters, Marine Beach, Apapa, in 1970. As the membership increased, the church once more moved to Ajeromi Primary School, where it was organized in 1972. However, as a result of government policy precluding religious gatherings in government institutions, the church was ejected from the school and had no fixed place of worship until it succeeded in acquiring a piece of land at its present location at No. 1, Layinka Sreet, Apapa, in 1978. This was accomplished under the supervision of Pastor G. A. Solademi, the then Yaba district pastor. Today Apapa district hosts three different churches, at Ajegunle, Apapa Wharf Express Road, and Kirikiri. Isolo church uniquely evolved as the outcome of the evangelistic outreach by the Adventist Women’s Ministry (AWM) in 1996.36 During the women’s convention of that year, Mrs. Elizabeth Ubani-Ebere was inspired to conduct an AWM Action Unit outreach in the home of one of the women, Mama Omotayo Wellington, at Osolo Way, Isolo. She did this successfully with a number of other women, including Mrs. D. T. Ajayi and late Mrs. Ebun Olomojobi, both of whom assisted with interpretation into the local dialect. One of the fruits of the outreach who was baptized by Pastor Eregare (then Yaba district pastor) was Pastor Wellington. The women then took the further step of going into a Christ Apostolic Church (C. A. C.) building around the area, where they met with Pastor Michael Famuyide, the owner of the C. A. C. church building, to request for permission to study the Bible with him under a mango tree close to the church. Pastor Famuyide invited them to conduct the study inside the C.A.C. church, and the women did this twice every week for several months from September through December 1996. The program ended on December 28, 1996, with a baptismal service, and one of the newly baptized was the eldest son of Pastor Famuyide, Mr. Babatunde Famuyide supported his father in the decision that the building should henceforth be used by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Worship commenced fully on January 25, 1997, with about thirty members that included the pastor and some members of the C. A. C. church who decided to become Adventists. Membership rose to over one hundred adults within a short period. Elder Gideon Ubani-Ebere was seconded by Yaba District Council as pioneer leader of the new company that was formally inaugurated on February 1, 1997, by Pastor S. O. Alofe, the Yaba district pastor. Isolo church was organized on November 11, 2000, in a service presided over by the then West Nigeria Conference president, Pastor Onaolapo Ajibade, as a church under Yaba district, then headed by Pastor Ogunseitan. Following a series of evangelistic programs, the church has grown and birthed other churches, including the Jakande church. The church building became too small for the growing church, and Pastor Famuyide willingly offered some more land to facilitate the reconstruction of the church into a bigger and more befitting edifice. During the period of reconstruction, the church temporarily relocated to the residence of the Ubani Ebere family, then at No. 16A LSDPC Housing Estate, Isolo. The permanent church building was dedicated on December 16, 2006. At Orile district, the Orile church started in 1984 at Orile Iganmu Primary School.37 To the glory of God, the church moved to its permanent location at Mechanic Village, Oko Efo, in Sari Iganmu, in 1986, after a foundation- laying ceremony conducted by Pastor D. O. Babalola, who was then the president of the West Nigeria Mission. The church has now metamorphosed into a district of four churches (at Amukoko, Coker, Orile company, and Orile church).38 Conclusion Lagos Atlantic Conference territory covers the Pioneer church, in Lagos, located at Yaba, and a number of churches scattered all over 12 local governments in Lagos. Since its inauguration, pastors in the Lagos Atlantic Conference, with the active collaboration and support of the laity, have been engaged in evangelistic outreaches in various locations. These outreaches include Lagos for Christ Evangelism (Phases 1 and 2), pulpit exchange programs, Revelation seminars, campus evangelism, women and small group evangelism, etc. Through these and other interactions with the larger society, new members have been added to the fold. By the first quarter of 2018, there were 49 worship centers comprising 22 churches and 27 companies, with a total membership of 5,783 in the conference.39

SOURCES 2016 Lagos Atlantic Conference Constituency Minutes. Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. Agboola, David T. The Seventh-day Adventists in Yoruba Land 1914-1964. Ibadan: Daystar Press, 1987. Alalade, A. A. Limiting Factors to the Success of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Africa. Ibadan. Agbo Areg Publishers, 2008. Alao, D. Ninety years of Adventism in Nigeria 1914–-2004: Compendium. Lagos: Communication and PARL Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nigeria, 2004. Babalola, David O. On Becoming a Conference, The Story of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yorubaland 1914—2002. Ibadan: OSB Design Ltd, 2002. Babalola, David O. Sweet Memories of our Pioneers. Lagos: Emaphine Reprographics Ltd., 2001. Executive Committee Minutes of the Lagos Atlantic Conference of October 22, 2019. On file at the Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. Lagos Atlantic Conference Inauguration Programme, booklet of January 19, 201, on file at the Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat archives, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. Lagos Atlantic Conference Executive Committee Minutes of April 14, 2013. On file at the Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat archives, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria President’s Report presented by Pastor (Dr.) J. E. Umoru to the First Quadrennial Constituency Session, January 2013. Unpublished report on file at the Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat archives, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. Proposal for Atlantic Conference Evaluation (2012), on file at the Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat archives, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. West-Central Africa Division Statistical Report for First Quarter, 2018. West-Central Africa Division Archives, Lot, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

NOTES 1. David Agboola, A History of Christianity in Nigeria: The Seventh-Day Adventists in Yorubaland 1914--1964 (Ibadan: Daystar Press, 1987), 2; as well as David O. Babalola, Sweet Memories of our Pioneers (Emaphine Reprographics Ltd, 2001), 28.? 2. Ibid.? 3. Proposal for Atlantic Conference Evaluation (2012), on file at the Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat archives, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. Medina and Ishaga churches under Badagry district are in Ado Odo Ota, Ogun State.? 4. North Western Nigeria Union 2nd Quinquennial Constituency Report, 2010, action 14.? 5. Proposal for Atlantic Conference Evaluation (2012), on file at the Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat archives, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.? 6. Ibid.? 7. Ibid.? 8. President’s Report presented by Pastor (Dr.) J. E. Umoru to the First Quadrennial Constituency Session, January 2013, unpublished report on file at the Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat archives, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.? 9. Lagos Atlantic Conference Inauguration Programme, booklet of January 19, 201, on file at the Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat archives, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.? 10. 2016 Lagos Atlantic Conference Constituency Minutes, Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.? 11. Lagos Atlantic Conference Executive Committee Minutes of April 14, 2013, on file at the Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat archives, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.? 12. Year-end Report of Pastor (Dr.) J. E. Umoru, Lagos Atlantic Conference president, presented to Western Nigeria Union Conference, 2016, on file at the Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.? 13. Lagos Atlantic Conference Executive Committee Minutes of October 6, 2013.? 14. The Committee members were Elder Isaac Fatade (chairman), Elder Anthony Egbulefu, Mrs M. F. Adeogun, Elder G. O. Ubani Ebere, Elder Dipo Oso, Elder Abraham Ahutu, Prof. (Mrs.) Adejoke Oyewunmi, Elder (Surv) Dayo Abiodun (secretary), and Pastor J. E. Umoru (ex officio).? 15. Elder J. A. Folorunso, former first elder of Yaba church through telephone interview on June 28, 2019.? 16. See Executive Committee Minutes of the Lagos Atlantic Conference of October 22, 2019, on file at the Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.? 17. David O. Babalola, above at 228.? 18. See S. K. Adebayo, Pioneer Church of the Seventh-day Adventists in Lagos, Unpublished Memoirs on file at Seventh-day Adventist Church, Yaba.? 19. Ibid. See also the Proposal for the Lagos Atlantic Conference Evaluation (2011), on file at the Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria, and interviews with Elder O. Adeyomoye, an early settler in the 1950s, Honorable Justice R .O. Olomojobi (Rtd.) daughter of late Pastor Omoleye, one of the pioneer pastors, as well as Mrs. Chidi Temple Ubani (Nee Wigwe), Mrs. Mfon Ofoegbu (Nee Akpan), and Brother Femi Ogunrombi during the period from September 2018 through January 2020.? 20. Ibid. The author had interacted and worshiped with Pastor Joseph at the Lagos Island church as a student at the Nigerian Law School in 1988-- 89, during which time she resided with the family of Mrs. Falilat A. Ejide, members of Lagos Island church.? 21. David O. Babalola above.? 22. Elder O. Adeyomoye, interview by the author at Yaba Chuch on September 8, 2018.? 23. Ibid.? 24. Ibid.? 25. Honorable Justice R. O. Olomojobi (Rtd), interview by the author. See also online at https://womenafrica.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-stella- thomas-the-first-woman-magistrate-in-nigeria, accessed January 2020.? 26. Interviews with Elder O. Adeyomoye, Honorable Justice R.O. Olomojobi (Rtd.), Mrs. Temple Ubani (Nee Wigwe), Mrs. Mfon Ofoegbu (Nee Akpan), and Brother Femi Ogunrombi.? 27. Ibid.? 28. Ibid. The author also sighted, as a former clerk of the SDA church at Yaba, a letter from Elder Afe declining his professional fees for the design and contributing it to the church purse (Yaba SDA Church).? 29. Ibid.? 30. Members that served on the committee were Elder (Arc) Remi Oyewunmi and Deacon Justice Atuloma, while Pastor Umoru served as ex officio member.? 31. Pastor D. O. Olooto et al., History of Lagos Island District (Unpublished Record) Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat. Other contributors include Honorable Justice (Elder) Tunji Jegede (Rtd.), Mrs. O. Nwaogwugwu, Pastor S. B. Akande, and Elder Ezimeze. The author also interviewed Elder Jegede on several occasions. The last of the interviews was in January 2020, via telephone.? 32. Pastor D. O. Olooto et al., History of Lagos Sangotedo District (unpublished record) Lagos Atlantic Conference Secretariat. Other contributors include Elder and Mrs. F. Tossou, Elder and Mrs. J. Esan, Elder and Mrs. A. Okorie, Elders Asamoa, Boateng, Njokwu, Nwogu, Ezerioha, Nwachukwu, as well as Mrs. Onwumelu, Mrs. James, and Sister B. Nwokolo.? 33. Information about Victory Sanctuary was derived from personal knowledge, as well as telephone interviews with Pastor A. S. Ogunseitan, Pastor Olugbenga Efuntade, Mrs. Jumoke Akinwunmi, and Pastor Bukola Ajide between January 2019 and January 2020.? 34. The author interviewed the leader of the Potter’s Outreach, Elder Seyi Wright, on June 27, 2019.? 35. Oral interview and follow-up email communication between the author and Elder Anthony Egbulefu, a pioneer member of Apapa church, dated October 5, 2018.? 36. Oral interview and follow-up email communication between the author and Elder and Mrs. G. O. Ubani Ebere, a pioneer family tasked with the leadership of the new church at Isolo, dated October 3, 2018.? 37. Oral (telephone) interviews of Elder Olanrewaju and Elder Mathew Awolowo, pioneer members of Orile on October 20, 2018 and June 28, 2019.? 38. Confirmed by Pastor O. Ogungbesan, district pastor of Orile via telephone interaction with the author.? 39. West-Central Africa Division Statistical Report for First Quarter, 2018, West-Central Africa Division Archives, Lot, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.?

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