The Most Rev.
He was born on August 27, 1938 in Ogere-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria to the Late Prophet General Dr. Josiah Olunowo Ositelu, the Founder and first Primate of the Church of the Lord (Payer Fellowship) Worldwide and Late Spiritual Mother Superior Dorcas Olutayo Ositelu.
Not only was he the first born, he was special and a Nazarene. His hair was not cut until his seventh birthday in obedience to divine messages. He became the youngest member of The Church of the Lord (Prayer Fellowship) Worldwide to be baptised, awarded the cross (as cross-bearer), and to be awarded the rod (staff of office). He attended St. Peter’s Primary School, Ake, Abeokuta and Abeokuta Grammar School in Igbein, Abeokuta. After graduating from Abeokuta Grammar School he went to the United Kingdom to study Animal Science.
Late Gabriel Olusegun Ositelu
The Most Rev.
Olusegun Ositelu graduated with BSc (Hons) in Agriculture at the University of North Wales, Bangor in 1965, and earned a Master Degree in Animal Science at the University of McGill, Canada between 1969 and 1971. Before his University career, he had started a career in Agriculture as a Trainee-Agriculture Assistant (1958-59) at the School of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Ibadan (1958-61) and pre-University Advanced Level at Paddington Technical College, London (1960-61).
Gabriel Olusegun Ositelu’s impeccable credentials in Agriculture were, however, continuously interrupted by a consistent “still small voice” that constantly challenged him to stop feeding livestock and become a shepherd feeding the people of God with the “Word” as his father had devoted his life to doing.
On August 22, 1986, at the Grand-Finale of The Church of the Lord (Prayer Fellowship) Worldwide, the biggest annual spiritual event, MOUNT TABIEORAR RETREAT, he had been asked by the then incumbent Primate (Adejobi) to preach the Sermon. It was the first time he (Adejobi) would be delegating that assignment. It was also the first time Olusegun Ositelu would be delivering the Word to such a mammoth crowd.
None, not the least Olusegun Ositelu or even Adeleke Adejobi himself realised the scene was a prophetic one, and that it may have represented the “Passing of the torch”. Exactly one year later, at the same event and venue, late Primate Adeleke Adejobi publicly announced to the whole world, saying: “God has revealed to me that the person who will lead His flock after my stewardship is over, is GABRIEL OLUSEGUN OSITELU. I am the GBOLAHAN, he will be the GBOLABO of our Church.”
Late Primate Gabriel Olusegun Ositelu (People’s Primate) presided over the Church for seven years. It was seven years of great achievements. He left indelible marks on the sand of time. He was a very dynamic and energetic servant of God. He was a man of vision. He was a lover of God and Humanity. He was full of life. He died on Sunday, April 26, 1998.