By Ayodele Abere
The Emeritus Bishop of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, His Eminence, Michael Olatunji Fagun, has admonished Nigerians to be selfless and committed to the service of God and humanity.
The Bishop Emeritus gave the admonition at his residence in Ado-Ekiti Ekiti State capital, while speaking with journalist on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
Fagun who clocked 90 on 17th April, 2025, While appreciating God for sparing his life to witness his 90th birthday noted that life is a gift of God which according to him everybody cherishes and that nobody wants to die.
In his word, “when I was a young man, I thought that if I could be sixty, that could be okay. But now I am thirty years above sixty”.
Stressing that it’s not what one has that matters, but what one is, and what one can do for others. He encouraged mankind to love one another.
Recounting how his life has been very impactful to many, the Bishop Emeritus said the nature of their life as priest in the Catholic Church is to work for the welfare of others. Adding that it’s a sacrifice on oneself for others to live in the footstep of Jesus Christ.
“Whenever the opportunity arises for anybody in need, within our capacity we do it. Anybody who came across my way in need, and am able to do whatever the person asks, is our responsibility to be helpful to others”.
The highly revered man of God therefore maintained that he would like to be remembered for his selflessness, sacrifice to God, and to love your neighbour as yourself.
Fagun, who was born to the family of Chief Theophilus Fagun Oganla and Mrs. Theresa Fakolade Fagun of blessed memories nine decades ago in Akure, Ondo State Nigeria became nonagenarian last Thursday,
As a little boy, he had his elementary education at Sacred Heart Catholic School, Akure,Ondo State, where he came in contact with the Missionary people. His interest in the religion they preached prompted him to become a Catholic despite the fact that his parents were Anglicans but later converted to Catholicism.
Through the influence of the Missionaries, he entered into the seminary which his parents were vehemently against, not because he was going to serve God but because of what it entails in Catholic Church in the celibacy.
With time, they were persuaded to accept his decision and he was ordained priest in July 4th, 1965.
Apart from the pastoral work, he had served in different capacities at different times and has many publications to his credit.
