Church leaders hail Primate Matilukuro’s enduring legacy of evangelism, education, development

Michael Olumide

Leaders of the First African Church (Worldwide) have described the retirement of His Eminence, the Most Rev. Sunday Oludare Matilukuro, as the culmination of a remarkable legacy of dedicated service, spiritual leadership and institutional development spanning more than two decades.

The tribute was contained in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the Primate Retirement Committee, Dr. Solomon Ola-Komolafe, and the Committee Secretary, Rt. Rev. Boma Williams, ahead of the Primate’s retirement in September 2026.

The church leaders said Matilukuro’s tenure had been defined by unwavering commitment to evangelism, church expansion, education, humanitarian service and the spiritual growth of the First African Church Mission.

According to Ola-Komolafe, the outgoing Primate allowed himself to be used by God to accomplish unprecedented milestones that have strengthened the church’s spiritual and physical foundations.

He listed some of the major achievements of the Primate to include the establishment of the church’s Prayer City at Omu-Ijebu in Ogun State, acquisition of land for a model primary and secondary school, completion and commencement of activities at the Bishop Jones Memorial Theological Institute in Ota, and the construction of the official Primate’s Palace.

The committee chairman also credited the church leader with introducing a bi-annual mandatory refresher training programme for ministers aimed at enhancing discipline, capacity building and effective pastoral leadership across the mission.

Williams, in his remarks, said the Primate, alongside his wife, Mercy Matilukuro, built and equipped a hostel at the Prayer City for the Christian Mothers’ Association of the church.

He further highlighted the successful recovery of church property in Ogun State and described the Primate as an accomplished scholar, administrator and mentor whose influence had shaped the lives of numerous ministers and young people within and outside the church.

“He is retiring at the end of September 2026 and, by the grace of God, will formally hand over the mantle of leadership to the next Primate of the Mission on October 4, 2026,” Williams said.

He recalled that Matilukuro began his ministerial journey over 25 years ago as a lay preacher before his induction into the Holy Order of the First African Church at St. Peter’s Parish, now Cathedral, Odi-Olowo, Mushin, Lagos, in 1998.
The Primate subsequently served at Jehovah Shalom Cathedral, Lagos, for nine years before moving to Christ Church Cathedral, Oyingbo, where he later became Fort-Holder of Lagos Diocese.

He was consecrated and translated to Rivers Diocese in 2010 and, earlier this year, was appointed the Fort-Holder of the newly inaugurated Port Harcourt Archdiocese.

Church leaders noted that his episcopal ministry witnessed the revitalisation of several parishes, including Our Saviour’s Parish, Iwaya, Emmanuel Parish, Makoko, St. Michael’s Parish, Rumuekpe, and Christ the King Parish, Ikpoama.

He also supervised the completion and dedication of the Holy Trinity Cathedral auditorium in Port Harcourt, improved the Bishop’s Court, facilitated the establishment of four new churches in Rivers Diocese and played a key role in the creation of the Port Harcourt Archdiocese.

Born on June 8, 1958, in Enugu to the late Rev. Benjamin Ajayi Matilukuro and Sister Clementinah Olayemi Matilukuro, the cleric received his early education in Lagos before obtaining a Higher National Diploma in Business Administration from Ogun State Polytechnic, now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.

He later earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Management and a Master of Business Administration from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, in addition to qualifications in Export and Shipping Management and Theology.

Matilukuro also obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Theology from the National Open University of Nigeria and a Doctor of Philosophy in Systematic Theology from Triune Biblical University Global Extension, USA.

Before entering full-time ministry, he lectured at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State Polytechnic, the Lagos outreach of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Bishop Jones Memorial Theological Institute and the Evangelical College of Theology in Port Harcourt, where he later served as Rector.

Within the First African Church, he served in several capacities, including chorister, choir warden, parish secretary, class leader, President of the Christian Unity Band of Nigeria and leader of Saint John’s Voices, the first gospel music group in the mission to produce a music album.

Beyond the First African Church, Matilukuro is currently serving his second term as Vice President of the Christian Council of Nigeria, where he continues to contribute to Christian unity and national development.

The church leaders expressed confidence that the outgoing Primate’s enduring legacy of visionary leadership, infrastructural development, ministerial mentoring and unwavering commitment to God’s work would continue to inspire generations within the First African Church Mission and the wider Christian community.(NAN)