The Diocesan Bishop

The Rt. Revd. Dr. Ifedola Senasu Gabriel Okupevi
The Diocesan Bishop

The Rt. Revd. Dr. Ifedola Senasu Gabriel Okupevi, Doctor of Philosophy and a distinguished Fellow Immanuel College Academic of Theology, was born on January 17, 1963, He hails from Ajido in the historical Badagry town of Lagos State.

The Anglican administration has no room for academic pushovers. The call and anointing must rest upon a solid intellection foundation. No wonder the Anglican altar is laced with colourful pots of intellectual flowers globally.

The reason is, therefore, not far-fetched that Okupevi who is today the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos was not in any way satisfied with a Diploma in Theology from Immanuel College of Theology (Ibadan).

His hunger for knowledge and legitimate greed for intellectual acquisition spurred him on to bag a Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Religious Studies at the Lagos State University (LASU). Not satisfied with that, the aggressive pursuer of knowledge went ahead to enrol for and in record time, pocket a Master’s degree in Christian Religious Studies from the same varsity. and even as of the time of putting this profile together, the Bishop has taken his doctoral scroll from the same LASU which is today rated the Best State University in Nigeria.

Beginning his rise to the top in the liturgical assignment, Ifedola Okupevi was ordered a Deacon at the young age of 25 on 26th June 1988 at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos, and was later ordained priest on 25th June 1989 at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Mushin, Lagos.

His long list of ministerial postings on the special calling and layers of responsibility include:

• St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Igborosun, Badagry (1988 – 1992) as Vicar
• St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Igboye, Epe (January – June 1992) as Vicar
• Our Saviour’s. Oto Awori, (June – August 1992) as Vicar
• St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Isashi, (August 1992 – 1994) as Vicar
• All Saints’ Church Agbara, (1994 – 1996) as Vicar
• St Michael’s Church Ojo (1996 – 1998) as Curate
• St. Andrew’s Anglican Church Aiyetoro, Apapa (1998 – 2002) as Vicar
• Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos (2002 – 2007) as Canon Residentiary
• Church of the Resurrection, 1004 Estate, V/I (2007 – 2019) as Vicar and Archdeacon of V/I Archdeaconry
• Our Saviour’s Church TBS (2019 – 2023) as Vicar and Archdeacon of Ikoyi Archdeaconry

He has held several posts in the past and still holds some at the moment namely:

• Canon Residentiary: Cathedral Church of Christ Marina (2002 – 2007)
• Associate Director: Directorate of Mission, Evangelism and Discipleship (2002 – 2004)
• Chairman: Cathedral Church of Christ Social Welfare Unit (2002 – 2007)
• Director: Lagos Diocesan Youth Directorate (2004 – 2015)
• Programme Director: Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos Clergy Conference (2022 till date)
• Member: Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion (CON) Joshua Generation Fund Raising Committee (2022 till date)
• Registrar: Clergy School (2004 till date)
• Co-ordinator: Clergy Retreat and Training (2004 till date)
• Lecturer of Evangelism, Christian Spirituality, Christian Theology and Homiletics: Archbishop Adetiloye Theological Seminary (formerly known as Lagos Anglican Seminary, 2003 till Date).

His achievements include the Establishment of Churches and Other Infrastructure such as:

• Church of Transfiguration, Ketu (Lagos West)
• All Saints’ Ojo Road (Apapa Archdeaconry)
• Anglican Church of the Living Souls, Oniru (V/I Archdeaconry)
• Anglican Church of Praise, Lekki (Lekki Archdeaconry)
• St. Andrew’s Church, Aiyetoro (Vicarage, Hall and Boy’s Quarters)
• Church of the Resurrection, 1004 Estate, (Church, Vicarage, Multipurpose Hall and Creche)
• Archbishop Adetiloye Comprehensive College (formerly Lagos Diocesan Multipurpose Complex), Igboye, Epe.

The scholarly cleric is the author of Christian Spirituality (2011) and Rule Your World With Prayer (2018).

Over time, he developed interfaith and ecumenical relations with other religious communities such as: the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) where he fostered dialogue, promoting understanding and seeking common ground.

He is married to Mrs Modupe Okupevi, also a cerebral human material who is currently an Assistant Director of Education. (B.Ed. Biology and Integrated Science). They both savour the bliss of having a fruitful marriage to God’s glory. They are blessed with Victoria, a Barrister at Law and Victor, an Economist.

For hobbies, Okupevi enjoys Praying and Meditating, Reading Inspirational and Church History Books, and spending quality time with family.

The Lagos Diocesan Bishop is also very much at home with peasant farming. He was once a board member of NIOMR (NIGERIAN INSTITUTE FOR OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE RESEARCH and Board member of Anglican Girl’s Grammar School.

He has been involved in some reputable global engagements such as GAFCON, Kenya. Among the Bishop’s highlights of the vision for his new role in the diocese is to ascertain spiritual growth, community transformation, and fostering a welcoming and inclusive church environment to as many as are ready to key into the vision.