Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has expressed sadness over the passing of the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most. Rev. (Dr) Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye.
Olumakaiye, the Lord Bishop and Missioner, Diocese of Lagos, died on Monday after a brief illness at 53. He was the first Bishop of Osun North East in 2009 before being transferred to the Diocese of Lagos in 2018.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile on Monday, Sanwo-Olu said that Bishop Olumakaiye’s death was a great loss not only to the Anglican Communion but the Diocese of Lagos and the entire Lagos State.
“In fact, Bishop Olumakaiye’s death is a personal loss to me”, Sanwo-Olu said.
The Governor also commiserated with the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most. Rev. Henry Ndukuba, bishops, clergies and the laity over the demise of the Bishop of Diocese of Lagos.
He urged the deceased family, especially the widow, Prof. Motunrayo Olumakaiye, friends, clergymen and entire members of the Diocese of Lagos and Province of Lagos to take the death of Archbishop Olumakaiye in good faith.
“On behalf of the state government, the good people of Lagos State, and my adorable wife, I sympathise with the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) on the demise of the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, who was also the Lord Bishop and Missioner of the Diocese of Lagos, Most. Rev. (Dr.) Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye.
“The death of Archbishop Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye, who I have known for many years as a fellow Anglican came to me as a rude shock. His death is a great loss to the Anglican Communion, especially the Diocese of Lagos. But we must always take solace in God that our Lord Bishop lived a good life and served humanity passionately.
“He impacted people within and outside the shores of Nigeria positively. He was the first Nigerian priest to preach at Melbourne Church, London. As an evangelist, preacher, and administrator, he served God with all his heart, using his spiritual gift to win souls for God. He was an apostle of God and remained committed to God till his death on Monday.
“The pastoral and wise counsel of Archbishop Olumakaiye will be sorely missed by his family, the House of Bishop, clergies, and the laity.
“I sympathise with his family, particularly Mama Lagos Diocese, Prof. Motunrayo Olumakaiye, and the entire Anglican Communion members. I pray that God will grant the late Archbishop Olumakaiye eternal rest and grant the family and the church the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.
Earlier, a statement co-signed by the Synod Secretary, Venerable ‘Segun Ladeinde; and the Chancellor, Justice Adedayo Oyebanji, had announced the Bishop’s transition. It said: “His Episcopal sojourn in the Diocese of Lagos and subsequently the Province was characterised by phenomenal, physical and spiritual developments, for which all of us shall remain very proud.
“We shall keep you posted, as detailed arrangements of the funeral obsequies unfold and are made public”.
Born on 28th January 1969, Olumakaiye was elected for translation into the Diocese of Lagos on 6th February 2018 and enthroned as the eighth Bishop of Lagos on Monday, 30th July 2018, at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos.
On 25th September 2021, he became the Archbishop of the Province of Lagos and was officially enthroned on 7th November 2021, at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Gwarimpa.
