His Life & Legacy

His Christian formation deepened during his time at Kajola, where Christianity was the religion practised by the inhabitants. The young teacher became a chorister, Bible reader and Evangelist.

His commitment to the faith continued throughout his life. Through his preaching and example, his traditionalist parents and siblings embraced Christianity before they died. His father was baptised as Jacob and his mother as Hannah.

After completing his Bachelor of Education degree in 1970, Joseph Adelola sought admission to the CAC Bible College at Ikirun. Following his successful examination, he was ordained as a pastor in 1971.

His work as a teacher and school administrator developed alongside Christian service. He became known as a preacher, evangelist and church leader whose ministry was closely connected with prayer, scripture and the spiritual development of people around him.

His early ministry was closely intertwined with education. At CAC Babalola Memorial Girls Grammar School, Ilesa, and later at Ife, he had a strong spiritual influence on students through prayer meetings and Christian teaching.

After returning to the newly created Ondo State in 1976, he served in schools around Owo and also as Pastor of CAC, Urowo Lisa. His organisational and administrative ability helped the church erect its cathedral within four months; the building later served as the church's Zonal Headquarters.

On returning to Akure in 1980, he joined Oke Ibukun CAC Church, Araromi, where he encouraged members to pool their resources to erect a befitting church in place of the shed they had been using for worship.

His years of Christian service were marked by preaching, administration, church development and pastoral leadership. He served at CAC Urowo Lisa in Owo and contributed to the development of Oke Ibukun CAC Church in Araromi, Akure.

In 1986, he founded St. Daniel's All Christian Assembly, also known as Oluwatosimile, with members of his nuclear family. The church began with fewer than ten members and later grew to establish branches within and outside Nigeria.

He married in 1962 and built a home blessed with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Family life reflected the same faith, discipline and service that marked his public work.

Education was one of the major channels of Apostle Adelola's service. In 1980, he was transferred to Ilara and later Akure, where he was given responsibility as foundation principal of the new CAC Adu Memorial Grammar School. Within five years, the school had a two-storey building and two blocks of classrooms and became known for discipline and academic excellence.

After his premature retirement in 1986 alongside other school principals following a strike over salary arrears, he was recalled when CAC reclaimed and reopened the school as a private institution two years later. In 1995, he established Messiah High School in Akure. Through the school, he continued his work as a teacher, administrator, proprietor and entrepreneur, with an emphasis on faith in God through Jesus Christ, hard work and discipline.

His later years continued the pattern of faith and service that shaped his life. In 2019, he travelled to London in the United Kingdom and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

On 7 February 2021, he was formally inaugurated into the office of Apostle. He was remembered as a role model and mentor whose influence extended across family, church, education and community life, and as a father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Apostle Joseph Adelola's legacy spans education, church leadership, preaching and institution-building. His life included decades as a teacher and administrator, the development of CAC Adu Memorial Grammar School, the establishment of Messiah High School, church building and the founding of St. Daniel's All Christian Assembly.

Faith in God, hard work, discipline, fearless preaching and service were central to his life. Those values, together with the family, students, congregations and institutions connected with him, form a living legacy for future generations.