The Redeemed Christian Church of God has officially appointed Kayode Pitan, as the new pastor in charge of the City of David parish.
Pitan, a former Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, steps into the role following the recent suspension of Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, who was removed due to certain undisclosed allegations.
Although initial reports suggested that Pastor Pitan had immediately replaced Pastor Iluyomade, it was actually Pastor Charles Kpandei who temporarily took charge of the parish’s affairs after the suspension in June.
Church Times Nigeria confirmed on Sunday that Pastor Pitan’s appointment was solidified during the RCCG’s recent annual convention, where the church’s governing council made the final decision.
Before his new role, Pitan was the pastor in charge of the Tabernacle of David in Region 51, where he also served as the regional pastor.
His extensive background in the corporate world, coupled with his strong leadership within the church, made him a prime candidate for overseeing the City of David parish.
With this appointment, Pitan will not only lead the City of David parish but will also serve as the Pastor in Charge of Region 20, with the City of David as its headquarters.
Pastor Ben Akabueze, another seasoned leader, has been appointed as the Assistant Pastor in Charge of Region 20.
Pastor Kpandei, who had been temporarily transferred to the City of David parish during the transitional period, has now returned to his former post as Pastor in Charge of Region 11 in Lekki.
A top RCCG source told Church Times that “the promotion and appointment of Pastor Kayode Pitan puts a closure to the reign of Pastor Idowu Iluyomade at RCCG City of David Parish.”
Pitan’s journey to his current position is one marked by significant personal and professional experiences.
Having completed his graduate studies in the United States, he returned to Nigeria approximately 37 years ago and quickly ascended the ranks in the nation’s banking and finance sector.
His career included a stint at Citi Bank before he ventured out to establish his own finance house.
Pitan’s spiritual journey, however, took a profound turn after he faced a major financial setback in 1993, losing over $3 million when his finance house collapsed.
This loss led him to deepen his commitment to Christianity, ultimately driving him to pursue theological education.
In an interview with Turning Point in 2017, Pitan recalled how he initially approached his pastor about attending seminary.
Although advised to attend the Baptist Seminary in Ogbomosho, he chose to study at the Redeemed Christian Bible College due to the distance.
After completing his studies, he joined an RCCG parish led by one of his lecturers.
Reflecting on his unexpected path to becoming a pastor in the RCCG, Pitan shared, “I felt it was a setup by God. I came out of Bible College and joined this RCCG parish. The pastor of the parish wanted me to be a pastor. I resisted the offer. But he came one day and announced my name as pastor and that after two Sundays I would take over formally from him because he had been promoted. But the thing that shook me is that he died before I took over. He went to Port Harcourt on a business trip and never came back. So my first job as a pastor was to arrange his funeral. That changed my life. I had a church given to me by a pastor who was dead. I was new to the church. They did not know what to do with me. So they had to let the G.O. know that there was a man who had just been made a pastor and that the man who made him a pastor was dead.”
Pitan’s professional achievements are equally notable. He gained widespread recognition for his strategic leadership as the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, where he served an initial five-year term before being reappointed in 2022.
However, he resigned from his role in 2023 amid the reshuffling of government appointees under President Tinubu’s administration.
Now, as the new Pastor in Charge of Region 20, Pastor Kayode Pitan is expected to bring his wealth of experience in both the corporate and religious spheres to the City of David parish, with a particular focus on managing the Trinity Tower project and advancing the mission of the RCCG.
