About Isokan
UI Chapter
Welcome to Isokan U.I, a thriving community of believers committed to the pursuit of spiritual growth, fellowship, and impactful service. Our journey is rooted in the unwavering foundation of faith, and we invite you to explore the essence of who we are.
C&S Unification UI's History
The University of Ibadan (UI) Campus Fellowship of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Unification Campus Fellowship is a major pillar of the Church worldwide.
It was the third chapter to be set up in Nigeria. The first chapter was at University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1980. It was followed three years later by a second chapter at Ogun State University, Ago Iwoye (now Olabisi Onabanjo University) in about September 1983
The University of Ibadan chapter was established a year later in December, 1984
How It All Started
The vision of the church (chapter) was conceived by the Cherubim & Seraphim students from the University of Ife. It was the central leadership of the church (referred to as Leaders In Council / ‘LIC’) and led by Apostle / Prophet Moses Olusegun Rufai who later became the ‘Leader In Charge’ of the church that came for the church planting in UI
During the first week of December 1984 (precisely Tuesday 4th December), the leadership of the church under the instructions of the Holy Spirit and led by Apostle/Prophet M.O Rufai came with some brethren from Ife to the University of Ibadan to mobilize the C & S students on campus to start a fellowship. The entourage included the following brothers (Peter Osunde, Revd. Ajibade Adeyemo, Akinsola, Charles & Scott)
This team from University of Ife did not have any contact on ground at the University of Ibadan. Their mission was simply to plant a fellowship and draw the attention of C & S students on campus to the mission. They deployed a strategy with the use of cardboard banners placed conspicuously in various locations on campus
Amazingly, this team from Ife also came to the University of Ibadan with some materials for the early start of the church. These included mat, altar table and incense burner which were kept with sister Anne Osunde, the immediate senior sister of bro. Peter Osunde, she was also a member of the Ife team that came to the University of Ibadan campus
The 7-man team from Ife had to personally place the banners around the campus. Fortunately, they ran into brother Kingsley Adesehinwa who saw them doing this great job. He exchanged pleasantries and interaction with the team and was also of help in advising the team on the best ways to place the banners around the campus. He also assisted to keep some of the church properties brought by the Ife church planting team at Bello Hall
Isokan UI's Past & Present
Our First Service
The first service of the fellowship was held at the Central Cafeteria, Students’ Union Building on Thursday 6th December 1984.
On Tuesday 11th December 1984, the LIC, Apostle Rufai came back to UI the campus and held a meeting with the ‘captured C & S members’ at the car park of the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Nursing. This place later became the first venue / worshivenue/worshipp center for subsequent fellowship meetings of the church.
Our First Steering Committee
On Thursday 13th December, a revival service was conducted by the LIC, Apostle Rufai. It was at this service that the first steering committee of the church was duly elected.
The service was the cynosure of all eyes, awesome and great. Such a type of revival has never been witnessed on the campus before. It was a vintage Cherubim & Seraphim Church. In the first month of the church, the fellowship had grown to over twenty members.
The elections of the steering committee members caught all new members unaware. Nobody was informed before the service commenced of this move, after the service ended and the benediction, the LIC, Apostle Rufai directed all members to wait for spiritual elections that will form the executive committee of the church.
After intense prayers by the LIC, the ballots were cast among the male members of the church present at the service.
Story Of Our Worship Center
This is a phase in the journey of the church that really showed that God of Cherubim & Seraphim (Olorun Isokan) is a faithful God. The church faced serious persecutions at the foundation stage and which was mainly attributable to the peculiarities of the church’s mode of worship characterized with drumming, heavy singing and clapping of hands
As a result of this, several queries were received from the University’s administration over the church’s ‘disturbances’ in the academic areas of the campus. The church therefore had to change its place of worship several times in four years, we were thus nicknamed as ‘mobile squatters / the roving church’.
The movement from one venue to another was not funny but we enjoyed every bit of it and we were happy to be vessels to carry the gospel far and near. It is also interesting to mention here that getting to the worship center at Ajibode required crossing a river and there was no bridge across the river and no commuter taxis as well. So, members had to ‘swim’ through the river especially when it rained heavily after our services. In most cases, our male members had to carry the female members on their backs to cross the river
The church did write several letters for permission to use many departmental facilities as our worship center but no much success recorded.
Presidents Of The Church - First Generation
The following are the names of the past presidents of the church at this phase in the history of the church
Pastor Odeyemi Folarin: 1984 – 1988
Revd. Kingsley Adesehinwa: 1988 – 1990
Dr Abel Babalola: 1990 – 1992
Pastor Elijah Akerele: 1992 – 1993
Dr Olayinka Akinde: 1993 – 1994
First Steering Committee Members
The male members who picked the ballots and their positions are:
Pastor Michael Folarin Odeyemi: Pioneer President
Apostle Rotimi Owolabi: Vice President
Pastor Segun Okuyemi: Secretary
Apostle Harrison Adeniyi: Treasurer
Pastor Ezekiel Ibiyemi: Financial Secretary
This team was later expanded to include the following members:
Apostle Deola-Tayo Lordbanjou: Levites’ Coordinator
Pastor Kingsley Adesehinwa: Ex-Officio / Assistant Secretary
Sister Funmi: Female Leader
Worship Center Options
The varied venues within the campus and a neighbouring village are underlisted:
Department of Botany pavilion
Department / School of Nursing car park
Wildlife House (Department of Wildlife, Forestry & Fisheries)
Department of Physiology
Faculty of Pharmacology
Department of Biochemistry
Botanical Gardens
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (uncompleted building)
CAC Church, Ajibode (neighbouring village)
Abadina Community (where the church still stands today)
Church Registration / Problems Encountered
As a rule, all organizations on campus (whether religious or social) have to register with the Students’ Affairs Office indicating two staff advisers and the names of the executive committee members. The church encountered problems with the UI authority over the registration
The school authority preferred the ‘group’ to use the name C & S UI Unification Fellowship and not C & S UI Unification Church. In addition, the authority questioned why the UI Church should have its headquarters at the University of Ife
After days of prayers, the church was finally accepted for registration as proposed.
Presidents of The Church - Second Generation
The names of the presidents of the church at this phase are as indicated below:
Pastor Kayode Lotun: 1994 – 1999
Pastor Tola Odunfa: 1999 – 2002
Pastor Demola Olowolagba: 2002 – 2005
Pastor Jide Olabiyi: 2005 – 2006
Pastor Biodun Adeyemi: 2006 – 2007
Pastor Samuel Ajayi: 2007 – 2008
Pastor Mike Osho: 2008 – 2010
Pastor Dimeji Agboola: 2010 – 2012
Pastor Tobi Olubakin: 2012 – 2013
Pastor Lebi Shadrach: 2013 – 2014
Pastor Tunde Ibrahim: 2014 – 2017
Pastor Emmanuel Farinuola: 2017 – 2019
Pastor Biola Adeshile: 2019 till date
Our Covenant Song
Verse 1
Ọlọ́run tó ń gbórí ìtẹ́
Títóbi rẹ ti pọ̀ tó
Ìwọ tí o dá ọ̀run
To tún d’ohun inú rẹ̀
Ọlọ́run tó tóbi jù
Ọlọ́run alágbára
Ìwọ to dá ènìyàn
Ní àwòrán ara rẹ
Verse 2
Pápá ń jó, ìgbẹ́ kò run
Iṣẹ́ ọwọ́ rẹ mà ni
Ọlọ́run tó ti jókòó
L’órí ìtẹ́ ayérayé
Tó sì fi ayé wa yìí
Ṣe àpótí ìtìsẹ rẹ̀
Ọlọ́run tó tóbi jù
Ọlọ́run alágbára
Verse 3
Àwọn áńgẹ́l’ ń kọrin ‘yìn
Balógun ọba àwọn ọba
Kíkan làwọn Kérúbù
Àti Séráfù ń yìn ọ́
Ọlọ́run tó tóbi jù
Ọlọ́run alágbára
Ìwọ tó dá èniyàn
Ní àwòrán ara rẹ
Meet the Steering committee
Behind the vibrant and flourishing community of Isokan U.I stands a dedicated group of individuals committed to steering our fellowship toward spiritual growth, unity, and impactful service. Get to know the faces and hearts of our esteemed Steering Committee – a team of leaders passionate about guiding our community on its journey of faith.
Olaniyan Matthew Olayinka
President
Ademola Oyelusi
Vice President
Adedapo Adegbite
General Secretary
Oluwatunmise Adeyemi
Asst General Secretary
Olubanke Taiwo
Sisters’ Co-ordinator
Oluwatomisin Agboola
Financial secretary
Eniikeoluwa Adetokunboh
Publicity Secretary
Ayoku Adelaja
Choir coordinator
Kehinde Ogundeyi
Bible Study coordinator
