The
President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), Rev. Supo Ayokunle, has
been re-elected President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
The results was announced on Tuesday by Bishop Matthew Kukah, Bishop of the
Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, at the Ecumenical Centre, Abuja.
Ayokunle got 59 votes to defeat the runner up, Rev. Caleb Solomon-Ahima, President, Fellowship of Christian Churches in Nigeria (TEKAN), who got 44 votes.
Ahima, according to the CAN constitution, becomes the Vice President of the organisation.
Olasupo Ayokunle was born in Oyo town in Oyo State Nigeria on January 25, 1957.
He was earlier elected CAN President on Tuesday, June 14, 2016. He attended the Oniyanrin Baptist Central Day School, Iware Road, Oyo State, graduating in 1971. Six years later, he completed secondary education, earning a West African School Leaving Certificate, Ordinary Level.
Thirsty for more education, the young Ayokunle studied further and obtained a Higher School Certificate in1979/80.
He then proceeded to the University of Ibadan in 1980 where he enrolled for undergraduate studies in Sociology. He graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Three years later, in 1986, he enrolled for a post graduate diploma in Education. He then went on to study for a Masters of divinity degree in Theology in 1992 at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomosho.
He got married on September 5, 1987 at Aatan Baptist Church, Oyo to his heartthrob, Deborah Olutoyin Abosede Ayokunle (Nee Adesipo).
Not done with acquiring degrees, Mr. Ayokunle went back to the University of Ibadan for another Masters degree, this time in Guidance and Counselling.
On graduation in 2000, he headed to Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, England for a third Masters degree in Theology and Religious Studies in 2003 and commenced his PhD at the University of Liverpool in 2004, earning a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in Theology in 2008.
During his National Youth Service between 1983 and 1984, Mr. Ayokunle worked as a teacher at Ekan Community Secondary School, Kwala, Plateau State.
After youth service, he continued work as a teacher at Baptist Secondary Grammar School, Ago Are, Oyo State, between 1985 and 1987. He then left for Fasola Grammar School, near Oyo, in 1987 where he served for two years.
Ayokunle later spent three years (1989-1992) as a public administrator at the Federal Civil Service Commission.
In 1992, he followed his life calling: to work in God’s vineyard. He was Pastor, Estate Baptist Church, Oyo State, between 1992 and 1995.
He was moderator, Ibadan East Baptist Association, from 2000 to 2003. He was equally the Treasurer of Ibadan and Environs Ministers’ Fellowship during the same period.
While studying in the United Kingdom, he was health care assistant and support worker at various health institutions between 2003 and 2007. He was also co-pastor, Pentecost Baptist Church, Kensington, Liverpool, England within the same period.
While he was Pastor, Jubilee Life Baptist Church, Ibadan, he became President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention in 2011, a position he still holds.
He is also a visitor to Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria. The University is owned by the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
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