PRIEST'S TRANSFER: ST. JAMES' ANGLICAN CHURCH, IPERU BIDS FAREWELL TO VICAR, VENERABLE SHADRACH OLANIYI AJILEYE

Extol's his contributions to church's growth

By: Temitope OYEKAN

St. James' Anglican Church, Iperu Remo, Ogun State, is set to bid farewell to its outgoing Vicar and Archdeacon, Iperu Archdeaconry, The Venerable Shadrach Olaniyi AJILEYE, as he proceeds to his new station at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State.

Venerable AJILEYE's tenure according to a statement from the Secretary to the Parish Church Council, Mr. Emmanuel FADERO, was marked by significant contributions to the physical and spiritual growth of the church, despite challenges encountered, leaving a lasting impact on the congregation.

The church is therefore organizing a befitting farewell to appreciate his dedication and service to the church, as he departs for his new station on Tuesday, 15th July 2025, the statement further said.

The longest serving priest of the church, Ven. AJILEYE was posted to Iperu on the 30th September, 2013, when he took over from. Ven. Francis Oladele OLOJEDE.

His recent transfer came via the directive of the Bishop of Remo Anglican Diocese, Most Rev. Michael Olusina FAPE, and was approved by the Diocesan Appointment and Selection Board, at its meeting held on 27th June, 2025

This was contained in a Letter of Transfer signed by the Diocesan Clerical Secretary and Administrative Assistant to the Bishop, Ven. S.O. ENIKE.

The church wishes Venerable AJILEYE God's guidance and blessings as he takes up his new assignment, while it also warmly welcome into its fold, his successor, Ven. Tolu AKINWANDE, from the St. John's Anglican Church, Ijoku, Sagamu.

A very pro-active, forward-looking, progress-driven, and result-oriented priest; AJILEYE, a native of Oke Igbo, Ondo State, and Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, was born on the 19th of September, 1963 into the family of Late Pa Samson Oladipupo AJILEYE, and Madam Onikepe AJILEYE, both of blessed memory.

He attended the St. Peter’s Primary School, Iremo, Ile Ife, for his primary education, between 1970 and 1975, and the Oduduwa College, also in Ile Ife, for his secondary education, from 1976 to 1981.

Thereafter, he moved to Lagos, where he worked as a Clerk at the Lagos State Secretariat School. While in Lagos, he enrolled at the Baptist Academy, Obanikoro, and obtained his Higher School Certificate (HSC) in 1984.

Ven. AJILEYE proceeded to the Immanuel College of Theology, Ibadan, and studied between the years 1987 and 1990, and obtained the Diploma in Theology (Dip. Th.); and Diploma in Religious Studies (Dip. RS) from the theological institution.

He also obtained the Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies, and Master of Arts in Religious Studies from the Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University), and the University of Ibadan in the years 1996 and 2001, respectively.

In the year 1990, he was made a Deacon at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Sagamu, by the late Rt. Rev. Elijah Oluremi OGUNDANA, and was later ordained as a priest in 1991.

He started his priesthood career at the St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Ilisan Remo in 1991, and afterwards, was appointed the Bishop’s Chaplain, and served in same capacity from 1991 to 1993.

He had a brief stint at Lagos, serving at the Emmanuel Anglican Church, Ketu, Lagos, in 1996. He returned to Remo Diocese in 1997, and was promoted a Canon in 1999, and preferred as an Archdeacon in year 2001, both promotions he got while serving as the Vicar of the Christ Anglican Church, Ogere Remo.

With a post-ordination experience of over 30 years, Ven. AJILEYE has served in many churches across Remoland before he was transfered to Iperu Archdeaconry in September 2013.

It is instructive to state that under his leadership, the entire Iperu Archdeaconry, and St. James’ Anglican Church in particular, grown in leaps and bounds.

The Iperu East Archdeaconry with seat at the Oba Omosanya Akinyemi Memorial Anglican Church, was created out of the existing archdeaconry, while the St. Silas Anglican Church, Ode Road, Iperu, and the Anglican Church, Alafia Quarters, along Sagamu Road, Iperu, were also birthed out of the mother church, St. James’; under the church planting vision of the Remo Diocese.