Olanipekun Urges Support For Religious Activities

Legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has said the activities of religious institutions are not a one-man show and require support from all.

The former chairman of the Body of Benchers posited that it is God’s willpower and people’s workforce that require all hands to be on deck to ensure the gospel is spread across the nation.

He spoke when he paid 14 months’ worth of salary upfront for the newly installed bishop of the Diocese of Ekiti South Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Rt. Rev’d. Francis Olanrewaju Bankole.

This gesture is a one-time payment for the new bishop, starting from November 2025 to December 2026.
Bankole was installed as the pioneer bishop of the diocese of Ekiti South Anglican Communion following the inauguration of the diocese by the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of the church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba.

Ekiti South Diocese, comprising Ikere, Uro, Ilawe, Igbara-Odo, Odo-Oja and Ogotun archdeaconries, was part of the newly created 15 dioceses in the Church of Nigeria at its last standing committee meeting, held at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Ado-Ekiti, last September.

The legal Icon presented the cheque while hosting the Bishop and his Wife, Professor Mercy Bankole, at his residence, Iyaniwura House, Moshood Road, GRA, Ikere-Ekiti.

He described his gesture as his small way of supporting the Bishop for his endurance and patience, pledging his unalloyed support for the Diocese in ensuring that the Tabernacle is adequately fortified.
Olanipekun also presented another cheque to the Bishop, which would cater for the salary of his Ministers for some months.

“We want to appreciate our God for what is happening. This is not a one-man show; it’s the mercy of God, it doesn’t belong to me but to God, and we must do everything possible to keep it going.

“That’s the way we are going to nurture it, one God, one Church, one Bible, one gospel. We are committed to providing you with 100% support.

“Going to Church is voluntary, there’s a freedom of association. We are one, let’s take ourselves as one”. He added.

Responding, Bishop Bankole expressed his delight at the gesture from the legal icon, describing Olanipekun as a Godsent who has devoted his life not only to the development of Ikere-Ekiti but also to the advancement of Nigeria at large.

Bishop Bankole posited that Ikere is a land of history for him, having been made a Deacon on 26th July 1987 at St. Luke’s Church, Ikere-Ekiti, before he was ordained as a Priest on 26th June 1988 at Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Okesha, Ado-Ekiti.