The Private Lives Of Pastor Idowu Iluyomade's Children: What We Know About The 'First Family' Of The Family Fellowship

The family of Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, a prominent figure in Nigerian Christian leadership, has been thrust back into the public eye following his highly-publicized departure from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and the launch of his new ministry, 'The Family Fellowship.' While the former Senior Pastor of the mega-parish City of David and his wife, Pastor Siju Iluyomade, have always maintained a public profile, details about their children remain notably private. As of late 2024, the identity and lives of their three children are a subject of intense curiosity, offering a stark contrast between the parents' celebrated public ministry and their closely guarded personal life. The decision to name his new ministry 'The Family Fellowship' underscores the centrality of family values to Pastor Iluyomade's mission, prompting renewed interest in the lives of the children who form the core of his own "first family." This article provides the most current, in-depth information available on the Iluyomade children, contextualized by the recent events that have reshaped their parents' spiritual and public career.

Pastor Idowu Iluyomade: A Comprehensive Biographical Profile

Pastor Idowu Olusola Iluyomade is a figure of dual influence, commanding respect in both Nigeria’s legal and religious sectors. His life's work spans four decades of professional and spiritual commitment.

• Full Name: Idowu Olusola Iluyomade
• Date of Birth: May 14, 1960
• Age (as of 2024): 64 years old
• Spouse: Pastor Siju Iluyomade (Dr. Siju Iluyomade), a lawyer, activist, and founder of the Arise Women Conference.
• Children: Three (names not publicly disclosed)
• Education: Trained as a lawyer, attending the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and the University of Ibadan.
• Career: Lawyer and Senior Pastor. He was the former Senior Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David Parish, Victoria Island, Lagos.
• Former RCCG Roles: He also served as the Special Assistant to the General Overseer (Pastor E. A. Adeboye) on Christian Social Responsibility (CSR).
• Recent Transition: Following a period of controversy in mid-2024, he was suspended by the RCCG and subsequently launched his new ministry, The Family Fellowship.

Iluyomade's career is marked by his dynamic leadership at the City of David, which became one of the RCCG's most influential and wealthiest parishes. His work in CSR, managing the church's extensive social outreach programs, cemented his reputation as a compassionate leader with a strong business acumen. The recent controversy, which involved the timing of his wife's elaborate 60th birthday celebration shortly after the tragic death of Herbert Wigwe, led to his suspension and eventual launch of a separate ministry.

The Three Children: A Deliberate Choice for Privacy

The most consistent and confirmed detail about Pastor Idowu and Pastor Siju Iluyomade’s family life is their number of children: they are parents to three children (often referred to as 'kids' in media reports). In an era where the children of prominent public figures, especially religious leaders, often follow their parents into the spotlight or build their own media presence, the Iluyomade children stand out for their profound anonymity. Their names, ages, and specific career paths are not widely published across reputable Nigerian news platforms or official church biographies. This suggests a deliberate and successful effort by the Iluyomade family to shield their children from the intense scrutiny that comes with their parents' high-profile status. This level of privacy is a significant entity in itself, particularly for a family whose ministry has been so public and whose recent transition has drawn national attention. It is highly probable that the children are adults, given their parents' long marriage of over 40 years, and are pursuing private professional careers outside the immediate glare of the church's affairs.

The Context of 'The Family Fellowship' and Its Impact on Their Children

The launch of Pastor Iluyomade’s new ministry, The Family Fellowship, in mid-2024, provides the latest and most relevant context for understanding the dynamics of his family life. The name itself, 'The Family Fellowship,' is a powerful statement, signaling a return to foundational values and perhaps a direct contrast to the institutional controversy that led to his departure from the RCCG.

The Emphasis on Family Legacy

The new ministry’s name suggests a focus on generational continuity and the importance of the nuclear family as the cornerstone of faith. For the Iluyomade children, this transition means their parents' ministry is literally centered around the concept of family. This narrative shift can be interpreted in several ways:

1. A Unifying Front: The move may serve to present the Iluyomade family—Pastor Idowu, Pastor Siju, and their three children—as a united front, moving past the public relations challenges of the past year.
2. Topical Authority: By naming the ministry after the core unit of society, it naturally attracts a congregation interested in family values, marriage counseling, and raising children in faith, thereby establishing a new topical authority for the Iluyomades.
3. A New Beginning: It signifies a fresh start where the family unit is the primary brand, moving away from the structure of a large, established denomination.

The Iluyomades have always been advocates for strong marital relationships. Pastor Idowu is known for advising couples on spicing up their marriage, while Pastor Siju’s work through the Arise Women Conference focuses on empowering women and their role within the family and society. Their children, therefore, are the living embodiment of the principles their parents have preached for decades.

The Role of Pastor Siju Iluyomade and Arise Women

No discussion of the Iluyomade family is complete without acknowledging Dr. Siju Iluyomade. A lawyer by profession and a passionate activist, she is the founder of the Arise Women Conference, a massive faith-based organization dedicated to empowering women and youth across Nigeria. Her visibility and influence, particularly the lavish 60th birthday celebration that became a focal point of the controversy, are inseparable from the family's public image. The three children have grown up with a mother who is not just a pastor's wife, but a national figure in her own right, running a significant Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). The children's private lives are therefore a deliberate sanctuary from the immense public pressure placed on both their parents.

LSI Keywords and Entities for Topical Context

To fully understand the context of the Iluyomade children's lives, it is essential to consider the network of entities and concepts that define their parents' world. This deepens the topical authority of the discussion beyond simple biographical facts. The family operates within a sphere defined by:

• RCCG (Redeemed Christian Church of God): The denomination where Pastor Idowu served for decades, a global Pentecostal powerhouse.
• Pastor E. A. Adeboye: The General Overseer of RCCG, a spiritual father figure to Pastor Iluyomade.
• City of David Parish: The high-profile, influential mega-church in Victoria Island, Lagos, that he led.
• Christian Social Responsibility (CSR): Iluyomade's key portfolio, emphasizing social impact.
• Herbert Wigwe: The tragic death of the Access Bank CEO which cast a shadow over the timing of Pastor Siju's birthday celebration, triggering the controversy.
• Arise Women Conference: Pastor Siju's successful platform for women's empowerment.
• The Family Fellowship: The new independent ministry launched post-RCCG, emphasizing family values.

In conclusion, while the names and detailed profiles of Pastor Idowu Iluyomade’s three children remain a mystery to the public, their existence is central to the narrative of the family. They are the 'first family' of the newly formed 'The Family Fellowship,' a ministry whose name is a testament to the values they embody. Their continued privacy, despite their parents' very public lives and recent controversies, speaks volumes about the boundaries the Iluyomades have successfully maintained.