It was an atmosphere of high praise, celebration, joy, peace, and thanksgiving on Sunday 1st December 2024 when one of Nigeria’s finest media brands, TheMediaGood Newspaper hosted its Annual STUPENDOUS LOVE Carol and Hymns Concert as well as the presentation of its prestigious Defender of the Faith (TNDFA) Award.
The Concert gathered eminent Christians in the marketplace who delivered melodious renditions of soul-lifting hymns and songs as they raised holy hands to praise the Lordship of Jesus Christ. They also relived the beauty of Christmas as they sang carols and read the nine lessons of Christmas.
The Christian event powered by one of Nigeria’s finest media brand, TheMediaGood Newspaper provided a perfect opportunity for the media organization to present its prestigious Defender of the Faith Award (TNDFA) to eminent Christians ‘who are not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ’ in their various mountains of influence. By this presentation, the eminent Christians were also inducted into the College of The Defenders of the Faith.
More importantly, the essence of giving the Defender of the Faith Award TNDFA is to induct these great minds into 1 community called the College of The Defenders of the Faith, in which they will function as a working group, a think-tank, and a spiritual powerhouse.
‘It is important to note that the awardees have been doing these things individually. But we want to respectfully plead with them that despite their busy work schedule and time constraint, they should find time to come together to make an impact corporately’, the Convener of the Annual Carol and Hymns Concert, Abayomi Oyelami pleaded.
Here is presenting to you the 16 TNDFA Award honorees
TOYIN IBIDUNNI ADESOLA
Toyin Ibidunni Adesola is the Founder/Executive Director of Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative, a health nonprofit which she founded in 2008 out of a call to comfort others with the same comfort with which you have been comforted.
Having lived with sickle cell herself for 40 years, she published a memoir detailing her harrowing experiences with sickle cell inclusive of over 100 hospital admissions, 15 surgeries among others in 2005. The book, Still Standing, became a bestseller and received immense media reviews from the likes of Funmi Iyanda’s New Dawn, Adesuwa Onyenokwe’s Every Woman among others. These personal experiences served as the bedrock upon which one of Nigeria’s foremost Sickle Cell NGOs were birthed.
Toyin Ibidunni Adesola is not just a nonprofit leader and author, she is also a confectioner and a mixed media artist known by the name Okunrin Meta given to her by his late dad, Prof. Akin Adesola. Having served for years in the famous Apapa family of the Redeemed Christian Church of God reputed for the likes of Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Pastor Tony Rapu among others, Toyin Ibidunni Adesola continues to serve the Lord as a leader at the Ecclesia Hills church led by Pastor Moses Ida Michaels.
DR. AYO OGUNSAN
Dr. Ayo Ogunsan is the Chairman/CEO of Executive Group, a multi-disciplinary business organization comprising the Executive Trainers Ltd, Executive Motors, Executive Education Consulting Ltd, and Executive Voyage and Logistics Ltd.
The super-productive business leader with years of cognate experience, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan is also well-versed in matters of safety and security nationally and globally which has led him to currently serving as the Board Member of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Chairman of Police (POCACOV) in Lagos, and Patron of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) Lagos.
His unabashed commitment to advocacy for the welfare, training, retraining, promotion, and best practices in the Nigeria Police has made him to be regarded as ‘the Civilian IGP of Police’ in many climes.
Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, who gave his life to Jesus Christ as a teenager, is a champion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as he openly professes his faith with people from different cultures in his interactions with them in his several travels both within and outside Nigeria. His constant witnessing to his father, Engr. Akinola Ogunsan led to him eventually giving his life to Jesus Christ in 2006.
Dr. Ayo Ogunsan is the Convener of the well-attended, interdenominational Ayo Ogunsan Birthday Gospel Hymns and Thanksgiving Concert which in its 6th edition, had the Governor of Lagos, Gov. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his wife, the Group Managing Director/CEO of First Bank, Mr. Segun Alebiosu; the Chairman/CEO of Gibraltar, Chief Segun Okeowo; the AIG in charge of Zone 2 Police Command (comprising Lagos and Ogun States) AIG Adegoke Fayoade; AIG Margaret Ochalla; the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, CP Olanrewaju Ishola; AIG Hakeem Odumosu (retd), Christians, and non-Christians alike. Previous editions have had the likes of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun; DIG (North-Central Zone) DIG Mohammed Ari Ali; Managing Director/CEO of Lagos Bus Service Limited, Mr. Idowu Oguntona and many other notable personalities. He uses this big platform to constantly speak to men and women about his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Alongside his siblings Abiodun, Aduke and Folorunsho, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan founded the AKEM Foundation in memory of their late parents, Engr. Akinola and Mrs. Emiola Ogunsan to fund the education of less-privileged children in the society. The organization has given donations to at least 16 schools and NGOs providing free education to underserved children in the society.
AIG ADEGOKE FAYOADE
AIG Adegoke Mustapha Fayoade is a senior officer of Nigeria Police Force who currently serves as the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Police Command comprising Lagos and Ogun States.
AIG Adegoke Fayoade is a seasoned Police officer, a strategist and crime fighter who has served the Force meritoriously in various capacities since 1992 when he joined the Nigeria Police as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.
AIG Fayoade has an impeccable record of service as he shines the light of the Faith over his tenure as Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command; Commissioner of Police in charge of armament at the Force HQ, Abuja; Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of State CID Panti, Lagos State Command; DPO of Ilupeju division, among other roles.
The gentleman officer, as he is fondly called, AIG Fayoade is an advocate of a citizen-friendly, problem-solving, rule of law compliant and intelligence-based proactive policing ideal. He is a fine gentleman officer who is always willing to help, being driven by community policing ideals.
DR. MATTHEW IBADIN
Dr. Matthew Ibadin is a private security investigator and the Managing Director/CEO of Badinson Security, a security consulting firm dedicated to security management consulting, and training. The security firm is a member of the big Mattson Group, which also comprises the School of Photography and Media, Security Resource and Risk Management Academy, and Property Brokers International Magazine.
The supernumerary police officer and Chairman of PCRC in Victoria Island, Lagos, Dr. Ibadin advocates for Christians to shine the light and bring to bear their wealth of experience, expertise, and godly influence in the areas of safety and security both nationally and globally. He reiterates the fact that security is the bedrock upon which other aspects of life are built. If there is no security, nobody can go about their businesses.
Dr. Matthew Ibadin is a firm believer in education. He never agrees that education ends with a certificate or degree. This is why he is in active pursuit of learning to sharpen his cutting edge of impact with topnotch education. He has attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Jos, a school that is almost an exclusive preserve for senior military men and police officers. He holds a Master’s degree in Strategy, Security, and Administration from the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) and another Master’s degree in Intelligence Studies from University of Lagos where he had earlier bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He also holds an Executive Diploma in Private Detective Tradecraft from Elizade University and is currently studying for a PhD in Policy and Strategic Studies from the University of Abuja.
MRS. DEBBIE ABODUNRIN
Debbie Abodunrin is a leading early childhood educator with a passion for nurturing young minds and shaping the future of generations to come.
As the Head of the Future Church of the Harvesthouse Nation, Maryland, Lagos, she has been actively involved in providing godly influence and exceptional educational experiences in an environment and atmosphere that fosters spiritual growth, emotional intelligence, and academic excellence.
Mrs. Abodunrin’s expertise in early childhood education is rooted in her extensive academic background and professional certifications. She has undergone rigorous training and has obtained certifications in child psychology, education, and childcare administration. Her years of experience in the field have equipped her with a deep understanding of child development stages and how best to navigate the critical periods.
As a devout Christian, Mrs. Abodunrin’s faith plays a significant role in her approach to education and childcare. She believes that every child is a unique creation of God, endowed with inherent worth and potential. Her godly influence on children is evident in the values she instills in them, including love, kindness, respect, and compassion.
Abodunrin’s teaching philosophy is centered on biblical principles, and is making a lasting impact on the lives of children, families, and communities.
OLUDELE AINA
Oludele Aina is the Head of Training at the Punch Media Foundation, a CSR-led organization of Nigeria’s most widely read newspaper, Punch Newspaper. He is also the Founder of Right Minds Foundation and Just Jesus Foundation.
Mr. Dele Aina holds a remarkable unbroken streak of blogging about various aspects of life on a daily basis such as the Gospel, politics, economy, arts, among others everyday since 1995. For this writing ministry founded on Isaiah 50:4-5, Mr. Aina avails himself of mediums such as SMS, Facebook posts, WhatsApp messages, etc. This writing ministry has enabled him to inspire and educate countless others as well as speak truth to local, national, and global leadership on various social issues.
From 2019 to present, he has fed the mentally challenged in the city of Ibadan at Christmastime. This year, his ‘Right Minds Foundation’ fed its target community throughout the entire 31 days of December. This overwhelming love is fuelled by his belief that the mentally challenged are also deserving of the love of Jesus Christ, especially in the special season, despite their medical condition. ‘We Pray, and Hope, that every mentally challenged person in this city, and country, shall someday, soon, be restored to their RIGHT MINDS, like that mad man of Gadara (Mark 5:1-20)’, he declares.
Mr. Dele Aina regularly supports and actively champions the efforts of many Christian missionary organizations including the CAPRO, Christian Missionary Foundation (CMF), Gospel of Grace Missions (GGM), Grace Foundation, Fullstature Missions, FOLMO, SIM, ORA (of Baptist), WorldHope, GOFAMINT, Great Commission Movement, Christian Network for African Missions (CNAM) among others.
BARR. CHARLES AJIBOYE
Charles Olawale Ajiboye is a commercial, real estate, technology startup, and creative economy lawyer and the Executive Partner at The Penthouse Law, a dynamic law firm in Nigeria.
The Knight of Saint Mulumba (KSM) of the Catholic Church, Charles Ajiboye is dedicated to sharing the principles and values of the Christian Faith as he practically lives the life with forthrightness, humility, and excellence which is kingdom standards. As he is involved in the practice of the law practice, he is also involved in the politics of the law. He was the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) between 2022-2024, a role in which he performed credibly and with credibility.
To nestle the Judeo-Christian cum African culture of humility and respect for authority with corporate excellence while also promoting inclusion, Barr. Ajiboye devised the unique ‘initials’ name calling system as a perfect go-between for the age-old honorific ‘Mr, Sir, Madam’ and the recent, corporate ‘first name’ calling system. So everyone down the hierarchy at Penthouse Law is known and recognized by their initials. CA will be your passcode when you visit Penthouse Law.
DCP AKINBAYO OLASOJI
DCP (Operations) Enugu State Police Command
Known as Mr. Projects in the Nigeria Police Force circles, DCP (Operations) Enugu State, DCP Akinbayo Olasoji is reputed for leaving everywhere he has served better than he met it by bringing facelift to infrastructure in all the commands and units where he has served. His most recent intervention in his current place of assignment is his renovation of the female Police hostel in the NYSC orientation camp in Awgu Enugu State which has been left in a state of disrepair and dilapidation for years.
At the Area B Command, Apapa where he once served before his deployment to the INTERPOL, Abuja late 2021, he facilitated the building of new office buildings, conference hall, recreation hall, among other facilities.
During the commissioning of the Apapa facility attended by the then IGP Usman Alkali Baba (retd) as represented by AIG in charge of Zone 2 Police Command, AIG Ahmed Iliyasu (retd), DCP Akinbayo Olasoji was quoted: ‘I do not see anything wrong in improving the environment where I work. What you are seeing here was also done when I was DPO Ikeja and the Area Commander in Ikeja’.
Not just in physical infrastructure does he shine the light, DCP Akinbayo is a spiritual giant in the Nigeria Police Force. It is almost impossible for anyone to meet DCP Olasoji in and outside the police uniform and not know that he is a Christian – in his words, actions, approach to life, and perspective in the line of duty.
It is worthy of note that he earned his previous rank, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) because of his commitment to godly values. This was when Olasoji turned down a whopping NGN 26-million bribe from some questionable characters who wanted him to quash their crimes.
The super cop, DCP Olasoji always describes himself as an ambassador of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries (MFM) in the Police Force. He believes that his strong moral upbringing and strong Christian orientation were his primary guides in discharging his duties as a police officer.
Born on October 27, 1968 in Lagos Island to a mixed parentage of a Yoruba father and an Igbo mother, DCP Akinbayo Olasoji affirms that he is called to make a difference wherever he finds himself. He is a proud holder of a B.Sc (Hons) Degree in Economics Education from the Lagos State University LASU in 1998 and a M.Sc Economics from Ekiti State University Ado Ekiti in 2017.