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With a profound sense of loss, but in total reverence to God, the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion announces the death of our dear former Primate, Archbishop, Metropolitan of our Church, father, grand and great grandfather, the Most Revd. Dr. Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye who passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Millennium house country home, Odo-Owa in Ekiti State in the early hours of Friday 14th December, 2012.
Archbishop Adetiloye died at 83 years after working actively and conscientiously as an enigma. A multi dimensional personality, an icon, a great and true disciple of Jesus Christ was born in Odo-Owa in the Ijero Area, Diocese of Ekiti West in Ekiti State on 25th December, 1929.
He lost his father at a tender age of three years but providence twisted his fate and he became a reference point for God. He is acknowledged as a rare beneficiary of God’s unique blessing with greater success stories.
After his basic primary and secondary education in Ekiti, Dr. Joseph Adetiloye was admitted to Melville Hall and was ordained a Deacon and a Priest after a successful completion of his training.
A graduate of Kings College, University of London in UK, Most Revd. Adetiloye began his ministry from a very humble beginning. He was at one time Vice Principal of the Immanuel College of Theology in Ibadan and it was from there he got appointed as the Provost of St. James’ the Great Cathedral, Oke-Bola Ibadan under the Episcopal leadership of the Rt. Revd. S.O. Odutola. He was consecrated Bishop and enthroned on the see of Ekiti in 1970 succeeding the late Bishop H.A. Osanyin. He was translated to the see of Lagos in 1985, as Bishop of Lagos.
He was elected Primate of All Nigeria and Archbishop, Metropolitan Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion and was presented in 1988.
Archbishop Adetiloye was a mentor to many. A brilliant and pragmatic evangelist, he declared a decade of evangelism in the Anglican Communion in 1990, this gave birth to the first set of Missionary Dioceses in the Communion. A beacon of hope for Nigeria, a master of God’s word, an Apostle of Evangelism, Archbishop Adetiloye was a silent reformer who gave a boost to Priesthood formation and also introduced some measures to establish good administrative structures as the Head of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria.
His memory will live with us forever.
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