Rev. Niyi Adebayo, a pastor and business executive in Ogbomoso, Oyo, is reportedly considering stepping away from active involvement in his business interests to devote more time to pastoral and evangelistic ministry.
Adebayo is the founder and director of Zoe Schools Limited, a private school group which began operations in September 2004 with 13 pupils and has since expanded to more than 3,000 pupils and students across eight centres in Ogbomoso.
A source close to the cleric and business executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Adebayo was considering a change in the leadership and ownership structure of the organisation as part of plans to focus more fully on his ministry.
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According to the source, the proposed transition is expected to preserve the standards established by Adebayo while introducing further innovation and expansion.
“With the expansion in the pastoral and evangelistic ministries of the RNA, the need to stay fully focused on the gospel work cannot be compromised.
“The businesses remain in Ogbomoso; it is only the ownership and leadership that will change. The new owners may decide to retain the RNA as a consultant to the organisation in order to continue to benefit from his wealth of experience,” the source said.
Zoe Schools has grown from its initial 13 pupils to a network with thousands of students and a workforce of about 238 staff members, according to information provided by the organisation.
The school has also participated in and received recognition in various academic and debate competitions, including programmes associated with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, UNICEF/GradePlus Africa, the National Institute of Leadership and Democratic Studies, and other organisations.
One of its major areas of development has been information and communication technology.
The organisation operates the Jacob Adebayo Afolayanka Resource Centre (JAARC), an ICT and computer-based testing centre in Ogbomoso. The facility hosts computer-based examinations and training programmes, including JAMB’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations and Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) tests, among others.
The organisation has also received recognition for its digital learning initiatives, including support through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Beyond education and business, Adebayo has been involved in community-focused initiatives, including free digital literacy programmes, educational support for vulnerable children and welfare interventions targeting widows, persons living with disabilities, youths, senior citizens and other members of the community.
He has also been associated with initiatives supporting missionaries and retired pastors.
Adebayo is a regular speaker at religious programmes and services within and outside Nigeria and has built a profile across religious, educational and community development circles.
If eventually confirmed, his proposed withdrawal from active business management would mark a significant shift for an organisation he has been closely associated with since its establishment more than two decades ago.
However, the source said details of any proposed transfer of ownership or leadership would be made public by Adebayo when the plans are finalised.
Until then, the reported transition remains subject to an official announcement from the pastor and the management of Zoe Schools Limited.