Dr. Tokunboh Adeyemo died after a 3 year struggle with cancer.

Born to a Nigerian Muslim family, Tokunboh set out to become a politician.  As an avid scholar with a keen mind, he rose quickly among his peers.  At 22, his life was radically changed when he became a Christian.  Leaving politics he soon found himself at the ECWA seminary at Igbaja, Nigeria.  He continued studies both in the UK, and the USA where he earned degrees at Talbot and Dallas.  Eventually he earned his PhD from Aberdeen, Scotland.

The accomplishments of this man of God are many. Significant are his years as General Secretary of the Association of Evangelical of Africa and Madagascar, AEAM (now AEA) from 1978 until 2002.  Under his tenure he was instrumental in starting Graduate Schools of Theology both in Bangui (BEST) and in Nairobi (NEGST). He eventually became the Chancellor of NEGST.  In the last ten years, he focused his attention on the Center for Biblical Transformation which was his effort to bring transformation to African political leaders.  Perhaps he will be best remembered for being the general editor of the Africa Bible Commentary.

Tokunboh’s life was very much tied up with the vision of SIM.  His teachers at Igbaja were SIMers.  When AEAM was formed, he followed Byang Kato of ECWA and was much influenced by SIMers.  SIM has consistently been involved with BEST and NEGST was very much behind the Africa Bible Commentary. Tokunboh did much of his work on the Commentary from the SIM-Kenya offices.  The Center for Biblical Transformation became an SIM funded project. SIM was mentioned as being one of the institutions with which Tokunboh had been affiliated.

Besides these public accomplishments, it was touching to hear the family and friends of Tokunboh speak of Tokunboh the dad, Tokunboh the husband, Tokunboh the boss, Tokunboh the mentor and friend.  He was a man of prayer – rising at 4:30 every morning for his personal devotion.  His son read some notes his father had scratched in his margin of his Bible from Habakkuk. His secretary told of the letters she was given to type being like letters from the Apostle Paul.  His pastor told of how he used to be one of the most faithful at their all night vigils of prayer where he would be seen pacing the floor, "vigorously punching the air” or "falling down and lying on his face on the floor” as he cried out to God in prayer. 

There was story after story of a man who brought a needy student into his home when they had no place to live, of a man who arranged marriages, who got scholarships for people, who gave gifts of money at an appropriate moment.  He was also very human.  His friends told how he used to speak in Yoruba when he got excited – or sometimes in prayer. They told of his long sermons and how he would run away over time then say, "Now in conclusion I have only seven more points.”

The memorial service was held at his home church – Nairobi Pentecostal Church.  It was packed.  Singers sang, preachers preached, and tributes were given.  Representatives from the Nigerian Government spoke of him as their hero.  The Vice President of Kenya spoke of how Tokunboh had personally mentored him and how at one point when he was in deep distress he got a phone call from Tokunboh to say, "I am on a mountain top near Nairobi – praying for you.”  The body of Tokunboh will be flown to Nigeria and he will be buried near Ibadan. 

The two words which were repeated over and over at the memorial were "mentor” and "general.”  The "mentor” referred to all the lives he had touched. The "general” referred to the fact that he was a great Christian statesman who served and led the evangelical movement in Africa in his lifetime.  The General is with us no more – but his vision for a transformed Africa lives on.   General Tokunboh – we salute you!

by Dr. Howard Brant
SIM Kenya
23 March 2010