Mr. Olabode Ogunlela
OLABODE AKINYELE OGUNLELA
Mr. Olabode Ogunlela was born on 22nd February, 1950 to Mr. Samuel Omoyeni Ogunlela of Oke-Ooye, Ilesa and Mrs, Mary Idowu Ogunlela (Nee Tifase) from Igbara-Oke, Ondo State. After his primary education, he attended Anglican Grammar School, Igbara-Oke for his secondary education and came out in First Division in his school certificate in 1967.
He proceeded to the University of Ibadan where he graduated with a second class honours, upper division in Agricultural Economics in June 1973. He subsequently had his post-graduate training at the Prestigious Royal Institute of Public Administration, London. He was one of the pioneer members of the then newly established National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) during which he served in the Old North- Western State (Sokoto and Minna) from 1973-1974. He joined the Federal Civil Service Administrative Cadre in 1974 where he served meritoriously for eleven (11) years before voluntarily withdrawing his service in 1985 as a substantive Under Secretary (Acting Deputy Secretary).
While at the Federal Civil Service, he served at the National Council on Establishments, Federal Ministry of Trade and Ministry of National Planning (Europe Desk). He joined the Private Sector as the Group Corporate Development Executive for Chellarams Group of Companies for some years before venturing into his own businesses.
He married Mrs. Faith Bolanle Ogunlela (Nee Bakare, now of blessed memory) in 1978 and the marriage was blessed with five beautiful children. Mr. Olabode Ogunlela has been rendering services in the Lord's vineyard in several capacities over the years; notably as Bishop's Nominee of the then Lord Bishop of the Old Diocese of Lagos and Primate of All Nigeria, Most Revd. Abiodun Adetiloye in 1994 and later as the Bishop Nominee of the Pioneer Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West, the RT. Revd. Dr. Peter Awelewa Adebiyi at the creation of the Diocese in 1999. His services culminated with his appointment as a Cathedral Warden at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos from 2012-2018.
At the home front, he is a member of the Cathedral Church of St. John, Iloro, Ilesa, belonging to Young Men Christian Association (YMCA). He had served as Bishop's Nominee of the then Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Ilesa, The Rt. Revd. Dr Samuel Olubayo Sowale and also as the Coordinator, Diocese of Ilesa Lagos harvest for ten years till date. He was conferred with the Ijesa Christians Roll of Honour and Life Achievement Award on May 13th, 2022 and was Knighted as a Knight of Saint John on 10th November 2024 by the Lord Bishop, Diocese of Ilesa, Rt, Rev. Prof. Dapo Asaju, in recognition of his God-enabled achievements in the service of God and His church as well as to humanity and Nigeria.
It has been a great honour and privilege for him to have been given the opportunity to serve in the Lord's vineyard and he is most willing to serve more.