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Pastor Jimmy Odukoya (born 27 April 1987) is a Nigerian actor, preacher, and musician. He is the senior pastor of the Fountain of Life Church in Ilupeju, Lagos.

Odukoya rose to international prominence for playing Oba Ade in the 2022 Hollywood epic The Woman King. He has also appeared in other films like Husbands of Lagos, Mamba’s Diamond, and The Wait.

Jimmy Odukoya
Jimmy Odukoya biography
Senior Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, Jimmy Odukoya.
Personal Details
Name:Oluwajimi Odukoya
Born:27 April 1987 (age 39 years old)
Place of birth:Lagos State
Citizenship:Nigerian
Education:Business Administration
Alma mater:Oral Roberts University
Occupation:Actor, preacher, musician
Years active:2016-date
Spouse:Oluwakemi Sade Banjoko (m. 2013)
Children:2

Early Life

Jimmy Odukoya was born on 27 April 1987, in Lagos State, Nigeria, to the late pastors Taiwo and Bimbo Odukoya. He has four siblings, including two sisters, Tolu Odukoya-Ijogun and Tobi Odukoya-Enuha, and two younger half-brothers, Jomiloju and Timilehin Odukoya.

He grew up in church and was exposed to the creative arts. He sang in choir, joined dance groups, and performed in plays and dramas.

Education

Jimmy earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Public Relations and Advertising from Oral Roberts University (ORU) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He also has an MBA from Oral Roberts University.

Career

Jimmy was ordained as a pastor in Oklahoma in 2007 and in Nigeria in 2009. He has served in many leadership roles within The Fountain of Life Church, including youth ministry. He launched The CAVE in 2019.

After his father passed in 2023, Odukoya became Senior Pastor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Fountain of Life Church. He leads the church alongside his sister, Pastor Tolu Odukoya-Ijogun, who serves as the Associate Senior Pastor.

In 2016, Jimmy launched his professional acting career, making his debut in the film Baby Shower. He has since been cast in films like Husbands of Lagos, Mamba’s Diamond, and Crazy Grannies.

In 2022, Jimmy played Oba Ade in the Hollywood film The Woman King, sharing scenes with Viola Davis and John Boyega. He has also appeared in other films like The Bling Lagosians (2019) as George, Baby Bump (2022) as Esosa, The Wait (2021) as Akin, and Faded Lines (2020) as Femi.

As an actor, he has also been nominated for several awards, including Best Actor in a Comedy at the 2018 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards and Best Newcomer Male at the 2018 Zulu African Film Academy Awards.

Pastor Jimmy Odukoya leading a prayer session.
Senior Pastor Jimmy Odukoya leading a prayer session.

Jimmy was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor of the Year at the 2019 City People Awards 2019 and Breakout Actor of the Year at the 2020 Scream Awards.

Personal Life

Jimmy Odukoya married Oluwakemi Sade Banjoko in March 2013. They share two children. He announced his engagement on 30 October 2026.

Sadly, his mother, Pastor Bimbo Odukoya, passed away in the Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 crash in 2005. His stepmother, Nomthi, died in 2021, after a two-year battle with cancer. His father, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, passed away in 2023.

Filmography

  • Husbands of Lagos (2016)
  • Tempted (2017)
  • Ordinary People (2017)
  • Baby Palaver (2018)
  • Cooked Up Love (2018)
  • The Bosslady (2019)
  • The Bling Lagosians (2019)
  • Faded Lines (2020)
  • Daydream (2020)
  • The Wait (2021)
  • Crazy Grannies (2021)
  • Mamba’s Diamond (2021)
  • I am Nazzy (2022)
  • The Woman King (2022)
  • Baby Bump (2022)
  • A Ride Too Far (2023)
  • Broken Mirror (2023)
  • Lock ‘N Keys (2023)
  • Safe (2024)

References

  1. Olaniyi Apanpa. “Meet Nollywood actor, Jimmy Odukoya, now Senior Pastor Fountain of Life Church”. Punch Newspaper.
  2. Opeyemi Kehinde. “Nominees revealed for 2018 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards”. Daily Trust.
  3. “BN Exclusive: Jimmy “Pastor J” Odukoya & His Sweetheart Oluwakemi Sade Banjoko tied the Knot Today! First Photos & Love Story”. www.bellanaija.com.
  4. Blessing Enenaite. “Jimmy Odukoya, sister installed as church leaders”. Punch Newspaper.
  5. Victoria Edeme. “We’ll miss you, Tolu, Jimmy Odukoya mourn stepmum, Nomthi”. Punch Newspaper.
  6. Linda Ikeji. “Pastor Jimmy Odukoya announces his engagement”. Linda Ikeji’s Blog.
  7. Adesola Ikulajolu. “‘Even as lead pastor, I go still dey act’ – Jimmy Odukoya”. BBC News Pidgin.
  8. Ngozi Ibe. “Pastor Jimmy Odukoya Sparks Marriage Speculation With ‘New Beginnings’ Post”. Leadership Newspapers.
  9. Anele Geqiwe. “Jimmy Odukoya nailed the role of Oba Ade in The Woman King”. GQ.