Bimbo Odukoya


Abimbola Rosemary "Bimbo" Odukoya was a Nigerian pastor and televangelist who was married to the founder of the Fountain of Life Church, Taiwo Odukoya.
Odukoya, often called "Pastor Bims," was a receiver of over 60 national and international awards for her contributions to nation building, the development of her country, Nigeria, and the West Africa sub region, and for leadership as a woman of high moral standards and a role model to many. A writer, popular televangelist, highly sought conference speaker, youth mentor and marriage counsellor, she was one of several individuals chosen by Samsung to represent Nigeria in carrying the Olympic Torch in Athens, Greece at the 2004 Olympic Games. She died as a result of the Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 crash.

Life

Odukoya studied History and Archaeology at the University of Ibadan where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
She then began her career at the National Theatre in Lagos. She soon resigned to minister full-time and from 1987 to 1999, she served as the head of the counselling department at the TREM under the direction of Bishop Mike Okonkwo. Pastor Bimbo married the founding pastor of the Fountain of Life Church, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, and they had three children Tolu Odukoya, Jimmy Odukoya and Tobi Odukoya.
At the time of her death, she was the associate senior pastor of The Fountain of Life Church and the President of Discovery for Women.
She was the host of Single and Married, a television program broadcast locally and internationally that deals with practical issues people face in marriages and relationships. The content was generally guided by biblical principles. She was a well-known conference speaker within Nigeria and in some instances internationally.

Death

Bimbo Odukoya boarded Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145, bound for Port Harcourt from Abuja. On 10 December 2005 the airliner crashed during landing at Port Harcourt International Airport; Bimbo survived the initial impact and died from injuries on 11 December 2005.
Her mission church program continues in the management of her son Othniel Jimmy Odukoya.

Books written