The Bishop of Lagos West Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), The Rt. Rev’d James Odedeji has described the retiring Assisting Priest of All Saints’ Anglican Church, Oshodi, Lagos, The Venerable Olusiji Kolawole as an outstanding Nigerian, extremely humble servant of God and forthright.

The Bishop disclosed this in Oshodi on September 22, 2026 while delivering his sermon at the 70th Birthday Thanksgiving Service and Retirement in honour ofThe Venerable Olusiji Kolawole, who statutorily turned 70, the mandatory retirement age for Priests and Bishops in the Anglican Communion.

The cleric who fondly calls the celebrant Brother Siji, said the retiring Priest and Venerable had been of tremendous help to the church right from the day he joined the Diocese of Lagos West.

He also described Venerable Kolawole, who is also a medical doctor by profession as diligent, cool, calm and collected individual. He noted that the celebrant had served in different capacities within the Diocese including All Saints’ Anglican Church, Oshodi, as Assisting Priest, Lay Reader, and Vicar, attributing his admiration to the large number of people that attended the event including former Senator and former minister, Senator OlorunnimbeMamora, who led a team of medical doctors to the event.

“He was a staunch member of the Anglican Church of the Ascension where he received the call of God upon his life. We thank God for his life and the life of his wife, Dr. (Mrs) Olubukunola Kolawole, who could be regarded as Romeo and Juliet in their dispositions because they are always together,” Odedeji said.

Recalling one experience he had when he took his own wife to Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos, where she was having exam, the Bishop said, “I remember one particular occasion, that was 25 to 30 years ago, I drove my wife to LASU at Ojo, she was having an exam.

As I parked under the tree waiting for my wife, about 15 minutes later somebody, I don’t want to mention names, who is retiring today, also drove in to take his wife and that was how we met at the LASU field, looking for our wives. Well committed servant of God and husband of one wife and the man that we all respected in all ramifications.”

He noted that he would miss the celebrant like wise other members of the Church.

He said: “If I say I will not miss him, I’m just being economical with the truth because you are one of those we so much believe in his ability to deliver.”

The Bishop also commended Venerable Kolawole and his wife for raising their children to fear the Lord and prayed that they would make their parents proud in retirement.

Quoting Acts 20:24; 2 Corinth 12:8; Ecclesiastes 7:8, the Bishop addressed the congregation on the life of Paul the Apostle and his journey to stardom. He said Paul was one of the oldest apostles, but was nobody when he started the ministry. He described Paul as a mere churchgoer and a religious person until he had genuine encounter with Jesus Christ and thereafter, there was a turn around in the journey of his life.

Odedeji said:“The Bible recorded that he wrote about 14 epistles including the book of Philippians. If there is any apostle that suffered for Christ, Paul was one of them.”

He stressed that with all the experiences and achievements Paul recorded in life, the man of God said he came to the conclusion that none of those things moved him, but the desire to make heaven at the end of life.

He called on Christians to ensure that they finish well like Paul.

“But what is important to him is to finish well. My dear father, the celebrant of today, the Lord has been your helper in ages past. I know that He is sufficient to be your hope for years to come,” Odedeji said.

The cleric commended the celebrant for retiring from active service without blemish and scandal and urged him to thank God for every support he received from Him all these years. He said every journey in life had its ups and downs but at the end God is in charge of every journey.

Odedeji said: “What is important is your relationship with your Maker. Brother Siji, your retirement from active service is not the end of your life, or end of your ministry. The Lord has not finished with you, you are still part of the army of God in this part of eternity. It is just another phase of life.

“Retirement is not a death sentence, the work of the church is too cumbersome, too demanding, too expressive. The man of God here is a medical doctor and if you ask him he will tell you that he has always been using much of his time in the ministry than the medical profession. Life continues until the Lord returns when He returns you will not be a cast away in Jesus name and ensure that you make heaven. That is very important.”

The Venerable Kolawole while speaking with The Guardian, thanked God, especially. He said God had been so good to him and his family. He also appreciated the Bishop, Rt. Rev’d James Odedeji, saying he had been extremely good to him. He equally expressed his gratitude to everybody that came to rejoice with him and his family.

Venerable Kolawole said: “I thank the Diocesan Bishop, he has been extremely good to me. I cannot say everything now, but I think I need to write a book to appreciate him.

“I thank my Vicar, and I think the best thing my Diocesan did for me is to have given me the enablement and chance to work with my Vicar/Archdeacon, the Venerable Kelvin Tope-Tapere. I do not take it for granted. It’s a great privilege for our parts to have crossed.”

Venerable Kolawole stopped practicing medicine when he turned 60 years and retired from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH), Ikeja, so he could pay more attention to his ministry, he considered so unique.

On his next phase of life, the cleric said: “I don’t know for now. I want to rest, while resting I will know what is next.”