Eminent Nigerian personalities led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu showered encomiums on His Eminence, Dr. Sunday Olatunji Makinde, when he turned 80 recently.
Describing Makinde, President Bola Tinubu qualified him as a man of unwavering faith, whose ministry has been characterised by a profound commitment to advancing the values of love, selflessness, and social justice as embedded in the teachings of Jesus Christ.
In the same vein, two former governors and ministers, Babatunde Raji Fashola and Segun Oni took turns to shower accolades on Dr. Makinde when his family held a thanksgiving service to celebrate the illustrious life of the prelate emeritus of the Methodist Church of Nigeria.
The ceremony, which was held at the Hoares Memorial Methodist Cathedral in Sabo area of Yaba, Lagos, had several dignitaries from all walks of life in attendance.
After the thanksgiving service, a colourful reception was organised for Dr. Makinde, his wife, family, friends and associates by his children in a hall within the church’s premises.
Most Rev. Dr. Ayo Olawuyi and Temilolu Makinde, ensured dignitaries and associates of the Prelate Emeritus are well taken care of at the reception.
Dr. Makinde was born on October 10, 1943 in the twin village of Ogunranti and Balogun Kure in Lagelu Local Government, Ibadan, Oyo State. He made his mark in the ministry when he was transferred to Abuja to establish the Diocese of Abuja in 1993. He was elevated to an Archbishop when Abuja became an Archdiocese in 1998 and was able to complete the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s House, established two Nursery and Primary Schools, established many churches, acquired lands for Methodist Church Nigeria, and put Methodist Church Nigeria on the map of Federal Capital Territory within the nine years he stayed in Abuja. He was transferred to Lagos as the Archbishop of Lagos in 2003. His achievements as the Archbishop of Lagos were enormous.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then