Veteran broadcaster and National News Coordinator at Silverbird Television (STV), Seun Oyedeji, has recounted touching memories of her late father, Most Superior Evangelist Simeon Ajani Oyedeji, describing him as a loving yet disciplined man who lived a life of faith, humility, and service to humanity.
Pa Oyedeji, a revered cleric in the Celestial Church of Christ, passed away on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at the age of 91.
He was an industrious electrical contractor and devout servant of God who dedicated his life to the propagation of the gospel and community development.
Speaking with Saturday Sun, Seun described her father as “a gentleman, loving father, ‘Christianly’ fashionable and servant of God with a passion for people.”
She noted that despite his modest educational background, he was a man driven by determination, integrity, and the zeal to excel in every sphere of life.
“My dad, Pa Simeon Ajani Oyedeji, was born into a Christian family and grew up with strong values of discipline, integrity, and hard work.
“Although he had only primary and standard school education, his determination and resilience distinguished him among his peers,” she said.
The veteran journalist narrated that her father’s passion for self-improvement led him to study theology at Faith Bible College, Sango, Ogun State, while he simultaneously built a career in electrical services.
He worked briefly with the then Electrical Company of Nigeria (ECN), now known as the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), before becoming a respected licensed electrical contractor fondly known as “Ajasco.”
“He was diligent and honest in his work,” Seun recalled. “His good service delivery earned him a good reputation that made his name a household one in Sagamu where he was based.”
On his spiritual journey, Pa Oyedeji joined the Celestial Church of Christ in 1964 after serving with The Apostolic Church in Igbore, Abeokuta.
He later answered the divine call to serve as a cleric in 1968, becoming a devoted evangelist who helped establish and expand several parishes across the country.
Recounting her final moments with her father, Seun said she sensed the inevitability of his passing but was still heartbroken when it came.
“At age 91, every child would be afraid of the inevitable. Whenever I called or visited, the first thing he’d say after all pleasantries was, ‘kò ì tìì yá’ meaning, ‘it’s not yet time.”
“But that call on Friday, September 12, 2025, changed all that. My elder sister called and said dad wasn’t talking. He was taken to Redwood Hospital in GRA Abeokuta, where he breathed his last on Sunday, September 14, 2025,” she recalled emotionally.
Seun described her late father as a man who loved deeply but never compromised discipline.
“He was a loving dad who really pampered his children but never withheld the stick.”
“I can only recollect him beating me once. He’d rather ‘award the contract’ to my elder brothers or uncles, especially Uncle Coker, to do the job. Yet, he would still find a way to pull me close, explain why I had to be punished, and reaffirm his love,” she said.
She said her father’s life lessons remain a lasting guide for her and her siblings. “Love for God and humanity were his greatest virtues ”
“Our house was open to all. There was no way you’d come in hungry and leave the same way. He loved people around him and ensured all his children stayed together in love. That was his one wish till his last days that all his children would forever stay united,” she said.
Recalling her fondest memories, Seun smiled as she shared how her father found joy in bonding with his children through playful gestures.
“He would ask us to pull his toes to get the click sounds or scratch his back with our tiny fingers for rewards of candies or TUC biscuits. Little did we know then that those were deliberate efforts to bond with us,” she reminisced
She added that Pa Oyedeji was a neat and stylish man who stood out everywhere he went. “My dad was very neat, well-groomed, and classy. Whenever he entered the church, you would notice him,” she said fondly.
Speaking on what she would miss most, Seun said, “Everything. I’m officially an orphan. I lost my mum in 1998 and now my father is no more.”
Pa Simeon Ajani Oyedeji will be laid to rest on Friday, October 17, 2025, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
