Brother Dotun Ewumi, who has served as the National Music Director of the Apostolic Faith Church in Nigeria for more than two decades, has retired from the position and will henceforth serve in a supportive capacity.
The announcement was made by the West and Central Africa (WECA) District Superintendent, Rev. Isaac Adigun, during the ongoing WECA 2026 Campmeeting at Faith City, Ketu Adie-Owe Road, Off Atan Agbara, Igbesa, Ogun State.
WECA DS, Rev Isaac Adigun Congratulating the Newly Appointed National Music Director, Brother Bode Odulaja
Adigun, while announcing Ewumi’s retirement, described his decades of service as a testimony to God’s saving and sustaining grace.
According to him, Ewumi was saved during the 1966 campmeeting and joined the church choir on April 12, 1968. He initially played the recorder for about two years before taking up the flute in August 1970.
He also noted that Ewumi held his first concert in August 1968 and was appointed National Music Director on October 20, 2005, a position he occupied until his retirement.
Brother Dotun Ewumi and His Wife, Lola
“God helped him to lead, direct, and have the oversight of the National Music Directorate for over 20 years,” Adigun said while announcing the retirement.
Ewumi and his wife, Sister Lola Ewumi, were honoured during the announcement with presentations of flowers, while their children and grandchildren also joined in presenting gifts to the couple.
In his response, Ewumi expressed gratitude to God for His faithfulness throughout his Christian journey and musical ministry.
“I am overwhelmed. I want to give glory to God for His keeping grace, as I am a witness that God is able to save and to keep,” he said.
Brother Dotun Ewumi and His Family
Ewumi recalled that he was brought into the gospel in 1964 and joined the choir in 1968 with his recorder before taking up the flute two years later.
He said his Christian journey had taken him from the children’s programme through the elementary and intermediate departments before becoming an adult member of the church.
“I thank God He kept me all this while. It is not by my power or might. One thing I know is that once you determine you want to follow the Lord, He is able to keep,” he said.
Reflecting on his family life, Ewumi also expressed gratitude for the wife God gave him and for the children and grandchildren with whom he has been blessed.
The Immediate Past National Music Director, Brother Dotun Ewumi, and His Successor, Brother Bode Odulaja, Embracing
“I know you will continue to pray for me that as long as I live, I will be for the Lord,” he added.
Adigun subsequently announced Brother Bode Odulaja as the new National Music Director.
He said Odulaja was saved in 1978 and joined the junior choir in 1986 before moving to the senior choir in 1987. A trumpet player, Odulaja served as a music leader in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 1996.
He later became Assistant Music Director of Oyo District between 1997 and 2001 and was appointed one of the Assistant National Music Directors in 2005, a role he held until his new appointment.
Adigun added that Odulaja assumed the position of Head of the Worship Programming Unit of the National Music Directorate in 2010.
Accepting the new responsibility, Odulaja asked the church to pray for him.
“I just want to say please pray for me. This work is bigger than me. I know the Lord who has helped Brother Dotun will also help me. Please, pray for me,” he said.
Responding, Adigun assured the new National Music Director of the church’s prayers and divine assistance.
“We will take that prayer seriously. God will help Brother Bode. The God of Brother Dotun will be his God,” he said.
The transition marks the end of Ewumi’s more than 20-year tenure at the helm of the church’s national music ministry and the beginning of a new chapter under Odulaja.
