The District Superintendent of the Apostolic Faith Church, West and Central Africa (WECA), Rev. (Dr) Isaac Adigun, has recounted how he rose from a humble background and trained as a plumber to become an academic with a PhD and the leader of the church’s regional operations.
Adigun shared his life story during a celebration organised by the church on October 12, 2026, to mark his 70th birthday, which fell on October 3.
He attributed his journey to faith in God, describing his educational advancement, international academic career and eventual return to Nigeria to lead the church as evidence of divine direction.
Born into a poor family that struggled to afford secondary education, Adigun said he attended a secondary modern school before proceeding to a trade centre in Ijebu Ode, where he trained in building services, particularly plumbing.
His spiritual journey, he explained, began on December 1, 1974, when the AVS of the Apostolic Faith Church visited his training centre to preach.
Although he did not immediately experience the spiritual transformation he sought, Adigun said he later knelt alone at the back of a classroom, confessed his sins to God and experienced what he described as salvation.
“I confessed my sins to God, heaven came down and Jesus saved my soul. That was the beginning,” he recalled.
He said he subsequently located the Apostolic Faith Church at Molipa Road, Ijebu-Ode, after learning about it from another student. He recognised Brother Ayo Obatosin, one of the church members who had visited his school, and decided to make the church his place of worship.
Adigun said he had remained a member of the church for more than 50 years.
From plumbing to academic success
Recounting how he secured his first job, Adigun said he completed his training in 1976 without the financial means to acquire suitable clothing for a job interview.
However, an opportunity arose when companies visited the training centre to recruit skilled workers. Cocoa Industries Nigeria Limited selected him as one of seven plumbing students for an interview.
He said the students were expected to wear their white outfits, which they normally used for outings at the centre, allowing him to attend despite his limited resources.
According to him, the company eventually selected him as its only successful plumbing candidate.
“I didn’t have any attire suited for attending an interview, but in our trade centre, we usually wore white for outing days. So, I had no problem with what to wear,” he said.
Adigun added that he secured the job without writing an application, describing the opportunity as another instance of God’s intervention in his life.
He moved to Lagos for the job and began saving his earnings rather than spending them lavishly.
He explained that he lived in a single room and owned only a few clothes, including two suits for Sunday worship. In retrospect, he said the savings enabled him to finance his education as a private student.
How he earned a PhD without secondary school qualifications
Adigun disclosed that he did not possess the West African School Certificate when he began his working life. He later took correspondence examinations to obtain the necessary qualifications and bridge his educational gaps.
His academic journey subsequently took him to the University of Manchester, where he obtained a postgraduate diploma and a Master of Education degree, before proceeding to the University of Kent at Canterbury, where he earned his PhD.
Reflecting on his transformation from a plumber with limited formal education to a doctorate holder, he said his experience demonstrated what he believed God could accomplish in a person’s life.
“When God takes care of your life, He takes care of everything,” he said.
After obtaining his doctorate, Adigun said he applied for academic positions in Nigeria and abroad. He received invitations from Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Ibadan, as well as an appointment opportunity at Southeastern Washington University, which he said was for its offshore campus in Cyprus.
He explained that, after praying about the available opportunities, he chose the overseas appointment rather than the positions in Nigeria.
He later returned to the United Kingdom, where he taught at the University of Wales.
From academic career to church leadership
Adigun said his transition into full-time church leadership began when he was approached about succeeding a retiring church leader in London.
After discussing the opportunity with his wife, Stella, they agreed to accept the responsibility. He subsequently became pastor of the London church, during which the church’s work in Birmingham also began.
His eventual appointment as District Superintendent of WECA followed a telephone call on May 27, 2021, from Reverend Darrel Lee, the church’s former Superintendent General, who contacted him from Nigeria about the need for someone to take up the position.
Adigun said he initially raised several concerns before consulting his wife, after which they agreed to accept the assignment.
He explained that the couple’s planned holiday delayed their immediate relocation, and the installation was eventually scheduled for November.
Although he said some people in the United Kingdom expected them to remain in Nigeria for only two or three years, he attributed their continued service to the prayers and support of church members.
Faith City project driven by faith
Speaking on the development of the church’s Faith City project, Adigun said the vision gained momentum after he arrived in Nigeria and began discussions with other church leaders.
He acknowledged the contributions of fellow leaders, including Reverend Paul Ogechukwu Akazue and Rev. Emmanuel Adebayo Adeniran, while explaining that the project had progressed through faith and collective commitment.
According to him, the scale of development achieved at Faith City was not the result of a detailed personal plan made before leaving the United Kingdom.
He said the project began with a determination to act on the vision, trusting God to provide the resources needed to continue the work.
Grateful to God at 70
Adigun also reflected on his health challenges and his gratitude for reaching the age of 70.
He said that, after experiencing an illness that brought him close to death, he had prayed for God to grant him the opportunity to witness certain milestones, including the completion of key sections of the church’s building project and his 70th birthday.
He recalled that he had been particularly concerned about reaching 68 because some of his predecessors had died at that age.
“When 68 passed, I said, ‘Hallelujah.’ Sixty-nine passed, ‘Hallelujah.’ Seventy was coming, ‘Hallelujah.’ Then on the 3rd of October, 70 came,” he said.
Adigun expressed gratitude to God for preserving his life and enabling him to witness the milestones he had prayed for.
His account of his journey from poverty and vocational training to academic achievement and church leadership formed a central part of the celebration marking seven decades of his life.
