I was born in Shomolu, Lagos, Nigeria in May 20, 1970, to the family of Mr. & Mrs. Oyekunle.
Father: Moses Adegboyega Oyekunle (blessed memories). Mother: Esther Adetutu Oyekunle.
My beloved wife: Oluwayemisi Adebola Oyekunle. Children: Elizabeth Oyekunle, Daramola Oyekunle and more to come at God’s said time.
I am the middle-
Schools:
Mayfair Nursery and Primary School, Agbowo, Ibadan: Now a big school, but then it was only a nursery school in 1973. I still remember how I cried throughout my first day at school. I wasn’t going to let go off my grandma (of blessed memories), who kept cleaning my tears and mucus with her “Ankara” rapper. That was very funny. Poetically 45 years later, God brought me back to “my root”, the very same Agbowo, Ibadan to start the first KUM church.
Alafia College, UI, Ibadan: the primary school where my senior sisters attended. The memories left of this were the over-
Army Staff School, Zaria (now Command Children School, Zaria): I can never forget my favourite teacher (Mr. Aliu) and my very pretty class teacher in Primary II, whom I had a crush on. It started when I had a dream, where I wanted to marry her but her soldier husband came looking for me with a gun. Thank God I woke up before he got me –what am I thinking as a kid? How can I forget the very friendly Mr. Oguntoyinbo and of course the tough mathematics teacher, Mrs. Tela. A lot of things went down in Zaria, but that which I will never forget was the assassination of the Nigerian military Head of State, Gen. Muritala Mohammed. There was a failed mutiny which followed at the very military barrack where we lived. This situation brought about my first experience of what fear really means. Let’s leave it there.
Army Children School, Miyong Barrack, Yaba. What can I say? I hate mathematics and my teacher Mr. Ade. My confession: I became a truant because I hate school for my teacher’s flogging.
Baptist High school, Iwo, Osun State. For the first time, I experienced being away from the care of my biological parents. Secondary school is what I call: making a boy out of a toddler. I will not forget my Vice Principal and uncle Mr. Adebayo Obiwusi – the disciplinarian who taught me how to be brave. Niranchan Nadaraja, my friend from Sri Lankan, whose mother was my Biology teacher and Adekunle Taiwo. I shed tears with these friends. I could still paint the picture of their sad and crying faces when we had to depart. I look forward to meeting my friends again one day.
The Polytechnic, Ibadan: Studied Fine Arts. Graduated and major in Painting and Graphics. There I met Kola Obimakinde, one of my best friends who became a true brother. I remember my lecturer Mrs. Ola and her over-
National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Wudil, Kano: I still remember the para-
Work:
Policy Magazine, Lagos Nigeria: That was my opportunity into Information Technology, bringing back the memories of late Mr. Oyebanji, who gave me a letter of recommendation that helped secure the job. Then my first boss, Enitan Sanusi the CEO; Kunle Abimbola –the Editor and of course my DTP trainer, Sola Ogunyemi –Head of Graphics. I really thank God for these people because meeting them created the basis for bigger career achievements.
Goal & Ideas Advertising Agency: my first shot into an advertising agency. Even though my time with them was so short; still cannot forget my boss Mrs. Funke Ogunde. I hope we meet again.
Complete Artworks, Lagos Nigeria: my first owned company, as a graphic designer in my DTP office, popularly known in Nigeria as Business Centre. While working in my little office with the hunger to take my digital graphic skill into higher level, I challenged myself by venturing into the internet. In this era of my life, it was destiny meeting with two valuable personalities who affected me positively: my very good Muslim friend, Olajide Taiwo and Kareem Increase, a Christian – ironic.
CTO 2000: Commonwealth Telecommunication Organization 2000, was a life changing 3 days conference that opened my eyes to opportunities on the internet. The impartation of this gathering -
Chameleon World: The promises made to me in CTO 2000 became a reality. This was after I created a website with skills gathered from the Frontpage tutor (thank you Microsoft). It was an online Port Folio, on which my digital graphic designs were displayed –there were no Facebook or Intagram. Via my online port folio, I met Al Karaki, CEO, Chameleon World, South Africa, who was interested in my digital skills and got me gainfully occupied. He also motivated my migration to South Africa. To me, it was the Dawn a New Age.
Mnet (Don’t Look Down), Johannesburg, South Africa. Working at New Media, DStv, Randburg as a graphic designer and content creator was the height of my carrier in IT. It was also an eye opener into the world of entertainment. At New Media, I participated in many of the biggest shows in Africa entertainment industry; like BB (Big Brother) Nigeria, BB Africa II, BB Revolution, BB All Stars, Idols South Africa, Idols West Africa, Idols East Africa and much more. While working at New Media, many South African (Whites) were finding it difficult to pronounce my name “Tayo.” They say it like “toyo” or “taya”. So to make it comfortable for all, with one syllable, I became Tay. Met with my bosses Glenn Loggerenburg and Robin Kelly. Also worked with friends like Greg Bowes, Lisa Cohn, Jennifer Reynards, Femi Oshin, Temi Olofinshawo. Working at Don’t Look Down was pivotal to successes in my career and professional independence.
iCon Magazine, Africa: In-
Church and Stewardship:
Christ Apostolic Church (CAC): I was born and christened at CAC. Though I was toddler but I still have (in my mind) the pictures of those night vigils and heavy claps we call “Isoji” (night vigil). One spiritual icon in this ministry that I can never forget is Late Prophet Obadare, the blind one who see more than those that could see.
Seventh Day Adventist Church: My mum was born an Adventist. I attended Irefin and Oke-
Celestial Church of Christ (CCC): my parents became members of CCC. I never like the idea of uniforms and walking bare footed. But someone about CCC that I would never forget is my beloved uncle, late Prophet Samuel Akinlolu Adewole of Opopo Igbala Parish, Ipaja, Lagos. I will forever miss him.
St. Catholic Church (Our Lady of Perpetual), Egbeda, Lagos: All my life, I had wanted to be Catholic. Reason: I love the sanity and highly formal concept of their worships, but God has other plans for me. My worship at this church was fulfilling. I adopted the name Martins, of my love for the Catholic Church. Now you know how I became Tay Martins.
St. Anglican Church, Shasha, Lagos: To say the truth: I became a member of this church because it was similar in doctrine to the catholic church and then, I could take advantage of the early morning mass of one hour. By the time others are just preparing to go to their churches, you are back at home and no one would have to accuse you of not going to church. Those were my days of being a “church going” Christian.
The Vine Ministries, Pretoria, South Africa: where I actually gave my life to Christ. South Africa changed my perception about church-
Love Assembly Ministries, Pretoria, came out of Mountain of Fire and Miracle. There I have the privilege of serving as an usher. My most memorable event at Love Assembly was meeting the Prophetess who saw in me what I do not see in myself –The Journey to a Making. I also met with Missionary Andrew Strom. What I took from that church is the humble and selfless nature of Pastor Israel Afolayan.
Redeemed Christian Church of God, Mount Zion Parish, Pretoria: My time at RCCG was very quiet. I discovered how more of benefit: to sit at the back, where you could see the entire church and what goes round than gunning for a space in the front –where you think you would be noticed. I have never admired any man of God like Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the G.O of RCCG. I have studied him through my inner man and there is something about him I hunger for; his humility and simplicity. It takes special grace to be humble and remain so. I pray for his kind of grace.
Winners’ Chapel Int’l, Pretoria: I will confess it as the most significant of all the churches, relating to my calling. There I related with God on another level. There I met with Pastor Joseph Ajakaye, my spiritual father and mentor, a God sent, who groomed me to realize and actualise my purpose. I went to Bible College and achieved appointment of leadership role. One thing I will take along with me from WCI is discipline and the solid organisational structure. Kudos to Bishop David Oyedepo.
Christ Embassy (CE), Randburg II, South Africa: I took up a job that kept me engaged in Northgate, Johannesburg. My first Sunday: I mysteriously found myself at Christ Embassy, after a mysterious dream in which I was told to go out and would be directed to a church. In my dream I saw a prophet asking me to come; but he spoke in the voice of woman. So I questioned: my prophet is a man, but why speak in the voice of a woman. I went out and found myself in CE, Randburg II. I never knew it exist. Only knew of CE Randburg I, located on the popular Hendrick Vervoed Road. On joining the service at Randburg II, I saw Ose Oyakhilome. The Pastor of Randburg II was actually a woman. There I took notes of events as I saw a mega church in action. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has been of great inspiration to me since the late 1990s (when I was a skeptic of many men of God), as one of the first who took proper advantage of the television and the media.
Under Tree Church, Pretoria: In lack of transport fee to my main church, I was on my way to a nearby church one Sunday morning in April 2013 when I saw a gathering as I walked beside the park. I saw a man of Asian origin preaching to a multitude of less privileged and destitute. I was moved and as I watched, I heard the voice of God telling me “this is where I want you to come”. So I joined in the service and later got to know Pastor Jeoung and his wife are missionaries from South Korean. With them I experienced what a true outreach ministry is all about. It was truly a training opportunity for me.
If you’ve come this far in life and you think you owe nobody; how can your perception be described except of arrogance? No man owns a thing except that which he is given. My “About me” is actually about recognising the people and organizations that were impactful while I crossed their path in my journey of life. To them and very many that were not mentioned, I say a very big THANK YOU.
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