The Bishop of Woolwich writes:
BISHOP Jacob Ajetunmobi, who has died, aged 72, was the first Bishop of Ibadan South, in the Church of Nigeria.
Jacob Ademola Ajetunmobi was born in June 1948 in Ogbagi-Akoko, Western Nigeria, into a non-Christian family. His father, Chief Obanla Ajetunmobi, was a polygamist, traditional herbalist, diviner, and high priest of the Yoruba gods of the pantheon of African traditional religion; his mother was a princess from the neighbouring town. He was one of many children in the home; his mother died when he was only three.
In 1963, after his primary education, he rejected an apprenticeship and chose to go to the local secondary school, where he was top of his class. The headmaster recommended that he apply to the grammar school; so Jacob asked his assistance to convince his father to allow him to apply for a place at the grammar school. This he did, the entrance exams being paid for with money from the sale of maize from his small allotment.
His father died in 1965, and Jacob became a day student. He had excelled there, but his grades plummeted. On seeing this, the principal invited him to live in a shared house on site and became his benefactor. His success led to his studying at the School of Agriculture in Akure.
Having become a committed Christian in April 1966, at a Scripture Union Camp at Baptist Boys’ High School, Abeokuta, Jacob attended a SU meeting held in the Chapel at Akure, and responded to a call to full-time Christian ministry.
He gave up his studies and enrolled at the Igbaja Seminary, run by the Sudan Interior Mission, for a four-year degree programme. It was there that his room-mate, Ken Okeke, taught him to play the guitar, and this became an important part of his ministry. On graduating, his quest for further education motivated him to apply to the London Bible College, Northwood, to study for a three-year theology degree in two years. He returned to Nigeria to undertake his National Youth Service, as a British graduate. He later returned to London as Chaplain, and also studied at Oak Hill Theological College, Southgate for a further theology degree, as well as other institutions.
It was during his National Service that he met his future wife, Dorcas Arigbede, a nurse, who had been trained by British missionaries at Wusasa Hospital, Zaria, the oldest missionary hospital in northern Nigeria.
On 3 January 1981, after a short six-month courtship, they were married. They were blessed with three sons — Theophillus, Theodore (Barnabas), and Timothy — whom he called “the three musketeers”.
Before his ordination in 1983, he served in several posts: he was the Travelling Secretary for the SU in Akure and Benin City; and he taught in secondary schools and colleges.
He was ordained deacon and priest in the same year, by Bishop Olajide, the Bishop of Ilesha, for ministry in Church of Nigeria. He served as Chaplain to Bishop Olajide, in Ilesha, and continued to teach and serve as a school chaplain.
In 1988, he was appointed Chaplain/CMS Mission Partner to the Nigerian Chaplaincy, in London. He was the second chaplain, succeeding his former room-mate, the Revd Ken Okeke (later Bishop on the Niger). Here, he established the Nigerian Chaplaincy as a UK registered charity to ensure its sustenance in the ministry of care to Nigerians in the diaspora.
On 11 July 1999, he was consecrated bishop in Christ Church, Uwani, Enugu, and enthroned two days later at St David’s Cathedral, Kudeti, in Ibadan. He was the first Bishop of the new diocese of Ibadan South, and served in this episcopal office for 15 years until he retired in 2018.
He was affectionately known in his diocese and beyond as Bishop Ajets. He was the “People’s Bishop”, who did not allow preferment to change him. The people loved him for his simplicity and personable manner. He was easy-going, pragmatic, and approachable. He would visit his priests, carrying his acoustic guitar in tow. This was unthinkable of a bishop in a Church in which very strict ecclesiastical hierarchy was the common practice. He faced some opposition for his style and approach to episcopal ministry, but he pressed on.
In 2002, he survived a ghastly road-traffic accident in Nigeria which almost cost him his life. He lost his driver and suffered severe burns that left permanent scars.
Bishop Ajets was a very kind, generous, caring, personable, and humble man of God. He had a great sense of humour, and was always practical. He made the best of every situation, he was an optimist for Christ and a fine disciple.
Bishop Jacob Ajetunmobi passed to glory peacefully at his London home, surrounded by his loved ones and family, on 14 December. He leaves his wife of almost 40 years, Dorcas, Theo, Barny, and Tim, and five grandchildren.
