é Biography of The Revd (Hon.) Jonathan Adeyemi Asogba (JP) - 1932-2015 íOn the seventh day of November in the year Nineteen Thirty-Two, members of the then small village of Aseko in the then Egbado South Local Government Area, now Ipokia Local Government of Ogun State (south-west Nigeria), characteristically rejoiced with the family of Chief Daniel Asogba Awunu & Mrs Elizabeth Jeegbe Asogba whom the Creator blessed with a bouncing baby boy - their first fruit. He was named Adeyemi; christened Jonathan. For a number of reasons which included the fact that schools were few and not easily accessible distance-wise, it was not uncommon then to have teenagers in primary schools. So, Jonathan Adeyemi Asogba had to be strong enough to be able to trek a no-mean distance to and fro school in search of formal education. At nineteen - 1949 to be precise - he was enrolled at Methodist School Bode-Ase in Egbado South L.G.A., Ogun State. He however completed this elementary journey at Methodist School Ijofin where he obtained the First School Leaving Certificate in 1954. The popular late Jeremiah 'Wanyon Dotonu (otherwise known as 77 Super) was one of his school mates. His secondary school education took him to the ancient and historically interesting town of Badagry in Lagos State where he obtained his Secondary Modern School Certificate in 1958, from the Methodist Modern School. His passion for teaching as an opportunity to touch lives positively drove him to attend the prestigious Wesley College Ibadan between 1968 and 1970 where he obtained the Teacher's Grade Two Certificate. It was at that college that he met with the immediate past Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence (Dr) Sunday Ola Makinde CON who was his senior. In fact, it is on record that the late Revd J.A. Asogba was His Eminence's immediate successor as the college's Chapel Prefect. Whether by providence or sheer coincidence, that meeting of theirs, which must have been flavoured by good relationship, played out significantly in The Revd J.A. Asogba's only son's dramatic meeting in Abuja (sometime in 2001) with His Eminence (Dr) Sunday Ola Makinde CON (then an Archbishop). Whilst already a Head Teacher III, The Revd J.A. Asogba further improved on his teaching qualification by attending Project Time Institute of Moral Education, affiliated to the prestigious University of Ibadan. This was between June 1981 and June 1982. There he obtained the Associated Certificate in Education (A.C.E.). The need to act the Creator's script for him as a clergyman obliged him to consider further pursuit of higher education along that line. The Revd Jonathan Adeyemi Asogba therefore enrolled for the part time training at Immanuel College Ibadan from 1978 to 1982. This qualified him for a Diploma in Theology. Still, the thirst to professionally improve on his teaching career was kept alive. Hence, through the distance learning system of the National Teachers' Institute (N.T.I.), he enrolled on a programme which led to his being awarded the Nigerian Certificate in Education (N.C.E.). That programme ran for four years - 1990 through 1993. The Revd Jonathan Adeyemi Asogba's fulfilling teaching career began with Methodist School, Agada where he taught for six years - from January 1, 1971 to March 31, 1976. Thereafter, he served as head teacher in the following schools:
In his days in the teaching profession, The Revd Jonathan Adeyemi Asogba was a member of the Board of Governors of the famous Iko-Gateway Grammar School, Idiroko between 1982 and 1988. He was also a member of Investigation Panel on Teachers' Indiscipline, Ipokia Area - 1986-1989; Member, School Improvement Programme Committee, Ministry of Education, Ilaro - 1987-1989; Secretary, Ipokia Area of Egbado South COPSHON - 1985-1989 and Chairman, Ipokia Branch of Nigeria Union of Teachers (N.U.T.) - 1991-1993. Of course, The Revd Jonathan Adeyemi Asogba's biography would anger history if references to his worthwhile contributions, ultimately to his Heavenly Father's kingdom, were excluded. He began this as an Evangelist at Methodist Church Agada from 1962 to December 1964. His evangelistic journey still saw him to Freeman Methodist Church Badagry from 1964 to 1968. It was after being an evangelist that he started his teaching profession. Nevertheless, his apostolic journey continued even with more vigour for evidences abound to substantiate that he performed creditably well. He was commissioned a Methodist Minister of Religion at Methodist Conference held at Jos in 1977. (He had earlier been a member of Synod of Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Lagos from 1974 to 1976). Five years later, he was ordained a Priest at the Methodist Church Nigeria Conference held at Ijokun Methodist Church, Shagamu in 1982. That same year, he began to head the chairmanship position of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ibatefin and Area. He was also the Chairman - Bible Auxiliary of Nigeria, Ibatefin Area in 1989, as well as the Vice Chairman - Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ipokia Local Government Area. It is pertinent to note that he was a Tent Making Minister all through. As it were, it was therefore a case of providential orchestration when he was installed as the Acting Presbyter of Agada Circuit in 2005 by the Right Reverend M. O. Akinwale, the then Bishop Diocese of Badagry. The Revd J.A. Asogba maintained this status till 2007 - his most elevated status with the Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Badagry. He contributed in no small measure to the stability and growth of most of the local churches in Agada Circuit. Testimonies abound for his work at Methodist Church Aseko - his home church; the development of the church right from its former site to its present status speaks volume of his virtue. The late Revd J.A. Asogba loved farming but to him, it was more of a hobby than it being considered a 'big deal'. He however recorded no-little success in farming which earned him an award as the Best Farmer in Ogun State in 2003, in terms of production/loan utilization/repayment and adoption of good farming practices, awarded by Agricultural Credit and Guarantee Scheme Fund. He did win a number of other awards which include:
The Revd (Hon.) J.A. Asogba's sojourn here on earth was not without another worthwhile contribution to his fatherland; this time, in the capacity of the number two man in his local government. Of a certainty, it was not unconnected with the Creator's script for him because there was never a time he had a political ambition; he was never a politician. There was need for someone from his part of the local government and he was recommended as the available person who met required criteria for that exalted position at the third tier level of government. He served as the Vice Chairman of Ipokia Local Government from 2008 to 2010, during which he singlehandedly carried out the electrification of his community. The Revd J. A. Asogba, had voracious appetite for reading. Little wonder he maintained a rich private library. The Revd (Hon) Jonathan Adeyemi Asogba (JP), "Hopoelo" as he was fondly called, was a disciplinarian, a man of integrity, truthful, firm, kind and hardworking. He is survived by his wife - Mrs Abigail Aboeyonhu Asogba; Children, Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, Brothers and Sisters. May his soul rest in peace. |