Our Founder

Elder (Dr) Emmanuel Olutodun Okeyemi was born on August 2nd 1931 to Mr. Jacob Okeyemi of Isale-Ago, Ijebu-Omu in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State and Madam Emily Okeyemi (Nee Erinle) daughter of the then Alase of Ijebu-Ibefun in Ogun State.

His parents were converts of the 7th Day Adventist. He had his primary education at St. Paul’s School, Omu-Ijebu. After a brief stay with his uncle (Late Rev. J. O. Osidere), who was then a school teacher at Epe, he came to Lagos in 1947 and stayed with his senior uncle, Mr. Timothy Okulaja (a thrift collector) who resided at Obalende in Lagos, where he continued his education and professional training.

Elder E. Olu Okeyemi was encouraged to join Cherubim and Seraphim by his eldest brother, late Mr. Adebayo Okeyemi, a staunch member of C & S Oke-Ayo Igbala, a branch of the Holy Order then at No. 137, Apapa Road, Ebute-Metta at the then residence of the late Prophet Onashile. He was re-baptized into the Holy Order in 1947 and ordained as Aladura in 1948 under the leadership of Apostle Theo Anjorin of the Apapa Road branch.

Baba Aladura Elder S. A. Adewunmi took a special interest in him, having spotted his spiritual gifts as a unique visioner. On one particular occasion, Baba Aladura had invited him to join other Senior Elders in a special prayer at the Mount Zion General Headquarters, 75 Ibadan Street, Ebute-Metta, during which the Elders were surprised by the accuracy of the messages revealed by God through him. This further endeared him to the Baba Aladura so much that he was prompted to ordain him as a Prophet in 1954. Elder E. Olu Okeyemi kept away from the Baba Aladura since he preferred a secular white-collar job to a spiritual job. Baba Aladura Elder S. A. Adewunmi sent for him and admonished him and challenged him to take up the work of God.

As a result of persistent requests from the Districts and other regions for spiritually-gifted church workers to sustain the spiritual development and yearning of new members, the Baba Aladura then sent him to Enugu. There he worked with Elder E. Olu Coker who was leading the Evangelistic Team of the Church in the Eastern Region. He worked as a Vineyard Worker and established new branches for the Holy Order in the Region down to Edo and Delta States, from 1950 to 1954. He was ordained as an Apostle in 1956 and was baptizing and conducting Confirmation Service for new members of the Church.

Towards the end of 1950’s, Elder E. Olu Okeyemi went on Pastoral tours to the Gold Coast (now Republic of Ghana) and in 1961 he was permanently transferred to oversee the Church in Ghana. He returned to Nigeria in 1964 and became the leader of the new Oke-Ayo Igbala Irapada branch of the Church, located at Baale Street, Orile Iganmu, Lagos.

Along with his spiritual duties, he was a Printer by Profession, which he had started at R. T. Briscoe in Accra-Ghana. He also had a brief working experience with ASORE-MASEKA PRESS in 1965, with the support of an uncle, late Mr. Ogunwo, he established QUARTO-PRINTERS LTD and purchased an Original Heidelberg Printing Machine, which was facilitated by R. T. Briscoe Nigeria.

As a result of his business acumen, he went further to establish Trans African Papers and Stationery Co. Ltd. and Okeyemi Central Enterprises. He managed these businesses along with the Church work until 1978, when as a Senior Apostle, he was spiritually chosen to lead the Mount Zion General Headquarters at 75, Ibadan Street, Ebute – Metta (East).

Before and during this period he paid regular visits to Ghana and other West African countries. By these he played a vital role in the sustenance of the development and growth of the Holy Order in the West African coast. He visited Jerusalem as a pilgrim and the various branches of the Church in Europe including United Kingdom in the 1980s.

Elder E. Olu Okeyemi is an itinerant Prophet of the Church and God has worked many miracles for this Holy Order through him. His wealth of experience and humility has endeared him to the entire membership of the Holy Order. He is recognized as a charismatic preacher and a benevolent leader.

Following the peace accord within the Holy Order in 1990, he was ordained as Deputy Baba Aladura by the late Baba Aladura Dr. G. I. M. Otubu.

After the glorious home-call of Baba Aladura Dr. G. I. M. Otubu and the funeral activities, Elder E. Olu Okeyemi was chosen by the Advisory Board in March 2005 and was inducted on 8th September 2005 as the Baba Aladura, Moses Orimolade VII of the Holy Order.

Baba Aladura Emmanuel Oludotun Okeyemi joined the Saints triumphant on 17th September 2010 and was buried at Ijebu-Omu, Ogun State on 11th December 2010. He was survived by his wife, children and grandchildren.