The Presiding Editor

SAM FATOYINBO

Sam ‘Damisi Fatoyinbo (Presently a priest and Venerable Archdeacon in the Diocese of Lagos West, Anglican Communion) was born in the early hours of 23rd May, 1968 to the Late Chief James Alake and Chief (Mrs.) Racheal Mesolanu Fatoyinbo.

He is the first son of his father. He attended St Jude’s Anglican Primary School, Ipogun between September 1974 and June 1980. He was the Class Captain from his fourth year in the school.  He was one of the most brilliant pupils of his set.  He resumed at Ayo Grammar School, Ipogun in September 1980 after passing the entrance exams very well. His was the second set of the school.  This made it possible for him to become a School officer (Time keeper) as early as when he was in Class 3. This was due to his punctuality noticed by the school authority and staff.

In the secondary school, he was one of the smartest and most brilliant students which normally earned him prizes annually.  In fact, in the 1985 WASC Exams, he was the best student of the school.  Due to the academic course he intended to study, he had to retake the WASC Exams in 1987 at School of Basic and Remedial Courses (Continuing Education Centre), Akure, Ondo State of Nigeria.

He came out with brilliant results as he was one of the few students who passed their exams gloriously. In 1988, he started work at his Alma Mater, Ayo Grammar School, Ipogun, as Library Assistant and had certificates in Library Administration and also in Book Classification and Catalogue in 1989. He held this position until his admission into Archbishop Vining College of Theology, Akure in 1990.

At the Seminary, he continued his academic excellence as he was one of its prides. He left the theological college with Diploma in Theology of the Institution in 1993 and that of Religious Studies of the University of Ibadan in 1994. He was made a deacon on the 20th June 1993 in the Diocese of Lagos by the then bishop, Archbishop, Primate and Metropolitan of All Nigeria, The Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye.

After a thorough examination, the then Rev. Sam Fatoyinbo was ordained a priest on 26th June 1994.  Between 1997 and 2002, he studied Mass Communication at University of Lagos where he obtained a diploma and first degree (B.Sc.) in Mass Communication.

During his Anglican seminary training, he worked in the following parishes and congregations:

  1. St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Igbara Oke; All Saints’ Church, Iloro Igbara Oke; St Peter’s Church, Bolorunduro and St Peter’s Church, Owode Owena in Igbara Oke Archdeaconry of Akure Diocese (Vacation Job of 1991);
  2. St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Odode Idanre; St. Anglican Andrew’s Church, Alade Idanre; St. John’s Church, Atosin; Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Owena Idanre; St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Aponmulona and St Joseph’s Church,  Ofosu in Idanre Archdeaconry of Akure Diocese (Vacation Job of 1992).

As a clergyman, he has worked in the following parishes in Lagos:

  • St David’s Anglican Church Lekki Osoroko in Epe-Ikorodu Archdeaconry of Old Lagos Diocese (June 1993 – January 1994);
  • Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Ajegunle in Epe-Ikorodu Archdeaconry of Old Lagos Diocese (January 1994 – June 1995);
  • St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Somolu in Somolu Archdeaconry of Lagos Diocese and later Lagos West Diocese (June 1995 – June 2000);
  • Christ Anglican Church, Agege in Agege Archdeaconry of Lagos West Diocese (June 2000 – January 2002);
  • St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Ajegunle in the defunct Kosofe Archdeaconry of Lagos West Diocese (January 2002 – June 2007);
  • St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Egan-Igando in Idimu Archdeaconry of Lagos West Diocese (June 2007 – August 2010);
  • St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Maidan, Mile 12 in Ikosi Archdeaconry of Lagos West Diocese (August 2010 – February 2011;
  • Our Saviour’s Anglican Church Oto Awori in Oto Awori Archdeaconry of Lagos West Diocese (May 2014 – February 2016);
  • Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Ikorodu in Ikorodu Archdeaconry of Lagos West Diocese (February 2016 – June 2017)
  • St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Ajaguro, Ikorodu in Owutu Archdeaconry of Lagos West Diocese (June 2017  – April 2022)
  • St Paul’s Anglican Church, Ojodu Abiodun in Ojodu Archdeaconry of Lagos West Diocese (April 2022 – August 2022)
  • Director of Special Duties in Lagos West Diocese (August 2022  – February 9, 2023)
  •  Chaplain of Bemil Chapel of the Epiphany, Ojodu in Ojodu Archdeaconry (February 9, 2023 till date)

He has also been trained in some specialised areas of the church and held positions:

  1. Boys Brigade Captain of 10th Akure Company (1987 – 1993)
  2. Training as a Boys Brigade Cadet (1990 – 1993)
  3. Hospital Chaplaincy Course, Ogbomosho (1993)
  4. Boys Brigade Chaplain in all the churches he has worked since ordination
  5. Chairman of Agboyi Ketu Local Government Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) – 2002 – 2007
  6. Information Officer of Lagos West Diocese (2004 – 2006)
  7. Youth Chaplain in Somolu, Agege, defunct Kosofe Archdeaconries of Lagos West Diocese (1994 – 2007)
  8. Evangelism Chaplain in Somolu, Agege, defunct Kosofe Archdeaconries of Lagos West Diocese (1994 – 2007)
  9. Layreaders Chaplain in Idimu, Ikosi, Oto Awori and Owutu Archdeaconries of Lagos West Diocese ( 2007 – 2022)
  10. Guild of Steward Chaplain in Idimu Archdeaconry of Lagos West Diocese (2007 – 2010)
  11. Ikorodu Battalion Council Chaplain 2 and later Chaplain General (2017 – 2022)
  12. Ikeja Battalion Council Chaplain (2023 till date)
  13. Worked for Lagos State Council of the Boys’ Brigade as Chairman of the Election Committee (2024)

As a Journalist, he has worked in the following journalistic institutions:

  1. UNILAG SUN (1997 – 2002) as a student Journalist
  2. UNILAG Telescope (1997 – 2002) as a student Journalist
  3. Radio Lagos 107.5 (2001) as Student Trainee
  4. The Kerrgma Magazine of Lagos West (2000 till date) as a Columnist and Editorial Board member
  5. Diocesan Information Office of Lagos West Diocese (2004 – 2006) as the Information Officer
  6. Lagos West Diocesan News ( 2004 – 2006) as the Desk Head
  7. Tourism Flagship, Onipanu, Lagos (2011 – 2014) as the Deputy Editor and later as the Editor
  8. The Kingdom Heralds Media Ministry – KH-Media (2011 till date) as the Founding and Presiding Editor
  9. The Kingdom Pen of KH-Media (2012 till date) as the Managing and Senior Editor
  10. Lagos West Diocesan Media Team (2021 till date)
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