Captain Idowu Olufunmilola recently graduated from the Aviation School in Phillipines. She is the proverbial rejected stone that has now become the cornerstone. A typical grass to grace story, she shares her experience with The Podium in this interview with Ademola Akinbola.
Could you please give us a brief background into your birth, parentage and childhood?
I was born into the family of Mr (of blessed memory) and Mrs ldowu in Lagos state. I am the first of three children.
How was growing up like? Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Agege and Ikorodu, Lagos state. Growing up was tough emotionally and physically, being from a broken home. My parents left each other for other partners when I was five years old. So, my siblings and I lived with various people. My father passed on in 2006, hence the need to locate my mom at all cost because of my siblings’ school.
Which Schools did you attend?
l attended Vetland primary school at Agege and Marywood grammar school at Ebute-metta. I proceeded to Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye to study Micro-Biology and graduated in 2008. I was posted to Jos for my youth service in 2008 and I finished in 2009. In 2010, I went for my professional course at Aero Contractor Airline for my cabin crew course and was licensed to fly as cabin crew.
I had always wanted to be in the aviation sector since I was young, hence the reason for going for professional courses related to it immediately after compulsory youth service. I have been a cabin crew for five years with Max airline a year and Medview Airline for four years before proceeding to the recently concluded aviation school.
What is the name of your recent pilot qualification?
Commercial pilot license
Which aircraft are you qualified to fly?
I can fly any aircraft now as a pilot if I am type rated on the aircraft.
What was it like? Tell us in detail what you went through.
Woah!!! My pilot training was fun for me because that has always been my life dream. Even though the training was hectic and rigorous, but with God I was able to pull through all the four stages which are Private Pilot license, commercial pilot license, instrument rating license, and multi-engine license.
Were there occasions that you felt like quitting?
Sincerely, there was never a time that I felt like quitting because It was a dream come through.
What was the total cost of your training and how did you finance it?
The total cost for my pilot training was 75,000 dollars. Everything was financed by my father, my helper; my destiny changer and the most ‘dangerous’ giver I have ever met in my life, Pastor Wole Oladiyun and his wife, Pastor Mrs. Bukola Oladiyun without a kobo from me or any of my family member.
What is your next plan now after this qualification?
My next plan now is to get a job as an Airline pilot with any of the Nigeria Airlines, either private or commercial Airline in Nigeria or outside Nigeria.
What is your assessment of the Nigerian aviation sector?
Nigeria is a developing country, so I can say that the aviation sector is not doing badly. We are making progress, though the journey is still very far.
What role did CLAM and Pastor Wole Oladiyun play in you emerging a pilot today?
Pastor Wole Oladiyun did all for my pilot career to be achieved. My unreserved appreciation goes to Pastor Wole Oladiyun and Pastor Mrs Bukola Oladiyun. They are God-sent to my destiny. They do not know my source; they do not know my father, my mother, or even any member of my family before picking me up and giving my life a 360 degree turnaround without a kobo from me or any member of my family from the beginning of the training to the end.
I will boldly say to the whole world that Pastor Wole Oladiyun made me a pilot today. I was a rejected daughter from the womb all because my mother got pregnant at the age of 18 and she never wanted the pregnancy. But she was seriously warned against abortion hence the reason for the deep hatred from my mom.
In her words, she sees me as a life-time hindrance to her success and she never wanted to ever set her eyes on me till date. She thought I will never amount to anything in life but all thanks to God almighty for his faithfulness in my life and blessed be the day I stepped into CLAM CHURCH.
My immense gratitude goes to PASTOR WOLE OLADIYUN AND PASTOR MRS BUKOLA OLADIYUN for their love and support for making me a pilot. GOD BLESS THEM AND THEIR GENERATIONS FOREVER IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.
Pastor Wole Oladiyun (pictured left below) is the Senior Pastor of the Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM), Omole, Lagos. Pastor Mrs Bukola Oladiyun is the Director of Family Life and Founder, Voice of Joy and Gladness International Ministry.
Pastor Oladiyun gave God all the glory for the privilege to be an instrument God used to uplift Captain Olufunmilola. According to him, ” changing destinies and supporting people’s dreams and vision is something that gives me fulfillment”.
“My wife and I are proud of Olufunmilola’s achievement and we are trusting God that this will be the beginning of a new phase of her life where she will enjoy all-round fruitfulness and make an impact in her generation”, he added.
Thank God for the intervention by this wonderful couple and this is true meaning of emulating the work Jesus the son Mary. For her mother when you have sex without thinking what do you expect, your daughter did not tell you to go and have sex and get pregnant and thereafter blame her for your own misdeed, you better go and seek for her forgiveness and God’s too.
God bless my Pastor n his amiable wife (Pastor Wole n Pastor Bukola Oladiyin)God bless CLAM🙏🙏🙏I’m happy for u Captain Idowu Olufunmilola
Daddy oladiyun God bless you sir..we love you and mummy.. captain you are going higher in Jesus name amen
My highly esteemed Apostle Wole has challenged me to do more for mankind. Life indeed is useless without adding value to people’s lives. Apostle is blessed of God. This is awesome sir. More glorious grace.
Daddy you are destiny changer I celebrate you sir , congratulations Funmi.
Pastor Wole and Pastor (Mrs) Bukola Oladiyun, God bless you sir and ma, the oil of God over your lives will never run dry in Jesus name. I love you with the love of God (Clamite can relate)
This is a challenge to all of us to do more for others that are less privileged without looking back. God bless pastor wole and pastor mrs Bukonla Oladiyun in jesus name.
Many thanks to Pastor Wole and his wife for allowing yourself to be used of God bear all the cost for the training of this newly licenced female pilot.
You have taught us (men & women of God) Practical Christianity Ministry by this action of love, faith and sacrifice and l pray that God will pour upon you, your wife and ministry GREATER GRACE to do more. My God will meet all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Congratulations to Funmi the latest Nigerian female pilot. The Lord will open doors of employment for you in one of the best airline in the world in Jesus name. Amen.
God bless you daddy and mummy. Indeed your generation is blessed.Aded
Oluwaseun Funmi Idowu has been my friend since secondary school days in Agege, and I can tell from that point that she destined for greatness because of the motherly care and role she assumed in those was second to none. Congratulations friend mi
This can only be from Almighty God
God bless you our grandfather and grandmother in the Lord,it’s a great privilege that we do not take for granted. Congrats captain funmilayo…
Now, this is a good testimony about the church in Nigeria. I pray church leaders will learn from these couple that they are called, appointed, ordained and selected to “feed my sheep”, and not to take advantage of your members and followers to amass wealth for yourselves. And again, you are raised to build men and not buildings. Dont let us forget that God will audit every of our works. May we all receive a warm “welcome, good and faithful servant” on the last day in Jesus!
Pastors Wole and Bukola Oladiyun, May God bless you and increase your capacity and anointing for even more greater works in Jesus name. Bro Gbengz Nigeria
God will always use people as Angels to fulfil good dreams for those that put their trust in the Lord
A true positive story
God bless this man of God and his wife. You both will never ever lack the favour of God in your lives in Jesus name.
Thank God for these great vessels of God, Pst & Pst(Mrs) Oladiyun. I pray for more of such achievement in our days! To Captain Funmi, having been blessed, bless others and together we can all make the world a better place! Congratulations.
God bless you both Daddy and Mummy Oladiyun. The Couple after God’s Heart! You are indeed an example to be emulated by any true servant of God. Your selflessness is mind blowing!!!. Thank you very much!. Congratulations Funmi keep moving upwards and forward in Jesus Name and Congratulations to CLAM !!!
The devils incarnate will not see this write and speak the good side of men of God.
All they will say is to attack the men of God.
God bless PST Wole Oladiyun.
This is the kind of story we should be hearing about men of God. God bless the Pastor and his wife. Congrats to the child of destiny. You are never a mistake. God has a purpose for your life.
More Grace Daddy /Mummy Oladiyun. The Lord will continue to keep you for this generation in Jesus Name!
Our pilot (Funmi), i pray for profitable airline and God will lift you up the more in Jesus Name!
God bless Snr Pastor Wole Oladiyun and Pastor Mrs Bukola Oladiyun.
Nigeria needs more of such people.
Thank God for her life and I say whatever will be will be no one can change destiny in one life ,as God has program and those he used as instruments you all we end well in Jesus name Amen,pls forgive your mum because she his ignorance of God
This is the kind of stories we want to hear about our Pastor. More Grace sir
Daddy and Mummy may the Lord almighty bless you and your generations for the labour of love in Jesus name amen
Thank God for her story. It is also important that the pastor with his wife leads her to repentance-she must forgive her mum.
It is really not how wealthy a man is that makes him a successful person, but the number of lives he or she has impacted positively. Biblically, Jesus said by feeding his brethren when they are hungry or by clothing them when they are naked, we have fed and clothed him. This rare feat demonstrated by our Daddy and our Mother in the Lord – Pastor & Pastor (Mrs.) Oldiyun is a raw demonstration of agape love and sacrificial giving. In the circular world, we can say a demonstration of corporate social responsibility by CLAM. But honestly, this is beyond corporate responsibility. It is just a raw demonstration of the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ to take care of the children of God (the needy). I’m impressed. This is wonderful. This is unbelievable. This is awesome. I pray that God Almighty shall continually remember our Daddy and our mummy Oladiyun in His divine agenda and give them the grace to continue to do more for the down-trodden in Jesus name. Weldone Daddy & Mummy. May your shadows grow no less in Jesus name.
Where are those “pastors” who sleep with girls, claiming they are helping them? To pastor OLADIYUN and his wife, I pray that this singular testimony shall open door for you to enter the kingdom of God.
Immense thanks to the couple for being the solid rock behind the captain, that God used. More blessings and more anointing sir&ma.
God bless baba and mama Oladiyun.God bless Clam.
God bless Pastor Wole and Pastor Mrs Bukola Oladiyun.Congats to you dear pilot.
Thank you so much daddy and mummy Oladiyun, you are such an amazing father, I am a beneficiary of your kindness, daddy launched my first journal and dedicated it without previously knowing me in person. He will break your vision down to the most simplest form and that mountain will be made low. I can brag to the whole world that CLAM is blessed with the best Pastor God created, a very selfless man of God, an intentional shepherd. We live you dad. May your oil never run dry.
Congratulations Captain Funmilola, the sky is your beginning in Jesus name. Let’s emulate our parents in the Lord by representing Jesus wherever we find ourselves… Success is about the number of lives we are able to impact positively. We can’t afford to be self-centered, who will we resemble?😀 I celebrate you sis.