Olusola Ladipo‑Ajayi, the dean of the Cathedral Church of Christ in [Yewa Diocese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yewa_Diocese) of Ogun State, looks back on a 43‑year span in the insurance sector, eight years of dual service as a non‑stipendiary priest, and a forthcoming autobiography slated for launch on October 22, the day he turns 70 and retires as required by the [Anglican Communion](https://www.anglicancommunion.org/).
**Key facts**
- He entered the insurance world in 1973 as an articled clerk with [Sun Insurance](https://www.suninsurance.com.ng/).
- Over the next four decades he rose to managing director and chief executive of two firms, holding those top posts for 23 years.
- He was ordained a priest in 2008 at age 52 and became a full‑time non‑stipendiary cleric in 2016.
- His autobiography, *All the Way My Saviour Leads Me*, will be released on 22 October, coinciding with his mandatory retirement.
- He criticises political leaders for flaunting wealth while ordinary Nigerians bear the pain of the [Structural Adjustment Programme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_adjustment_programme).
**What motivated his dual vocation in insurance and the priesthood?**
Ladipo‑Ajayi explains that a promise to God guided his path: after completing a secular career, he would serve as a priest without drawing a salary. He pursued the ministry while still climbing the corporate ladder, eventually leaving the boardroom to devote himself fully to the church.
**How did his early career unfold?**
He began as an articled clerk at Sun Insurance in 1973, a time when the Nigerian insurance market was still nascent and opportunities were abundant for diligent workers. Through relentless study, passing professional exams and on‑the‑job learning, he advanced to head two insurance companies, witnessing Nigeria’s economic swing from the ability to buy a new station‑wagon for ₦2,750 in 1978 to the hardships that followed austerity and the Structural Adjustment Programme.
**What lessons does he offer young Nigerians seeking quick wealth?**
He warns that shortcuts such as cyber‑fraud undermine long‑term dignity and stability. Success, he says, is built on examinations, experience, perseverance and continuous education—values he embodied after failing an early exam and promptly re‑registering, and after returning to formal studies years after secondary school.
**Why choose Yewa Diocese over Lagos for his ministry?**
Observing a shortage of clergy in Yewa compared with a concentration in Lagos, he felt called to serve where the need was greatest. For eight years he commuted weekly from Lagos to Yewa, applying corporate skills—people management, union negotiations and conflict resolution—to church administration.
**What sustains him through ministerial challenges?**
He attributes his resilience to dependence on God, describing ministry as a spiritual battle that requires steadfast faith. He encourages congregants to cast their burdens on Jesus Christ, a theme that inspired the title of his autobiography.
**How does he view the role of a dean versus a provost?**
He clarifies that the distinction is largely constitutional: both oversee daily cathedral affairs while the bishop remains the overall head. As dean, his term is three years, renewable once, under the cathedral’s constitution.
**What is his stance on economic reforms and political leadership?**
He acknowledges the necessity of reforms to correct deep‑rooted structural flaws but insists leaders must lead by example. He likens painful adjustments to medical treatment that prevents a worse condition, urging officials to forgo extravagant lifestyles—such as owning costly bullet‑proof cars—so citizens can accept the sacrifices demanded of them.
**What advice does he give ahead of upcoming elections?**
He cautions voters not to take politicians at face value, noting that today’s opponents may become tomorrow’s allies. He urges Nigerians to exercise discernment, support candidates who demonstrate purpose and a genuine desire for change, and to remain committed to values, integrity and national development.