Pastor Kayode Pitan has been officially appointed as the new Pastor of the City of David Parish, Lagos, under the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
This appointment follows the suspension of Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, who was previously at the helm.
Pastor Pitan’s appointment, confirmed during the RCCG’s recently concluded convention, sees him succeeding Pastor Charles Kpandei, who had been serving as the interim pastor since June. Kpandei took on this role following Iluyomade’s suspension amidst certain allegations, which have not been publicly detailed.
Despite earlier reports suggesting that Pitan had already taken over the parish, it was Kpandei who led the church through the transitional period. Church Times Nigeria has now confirmed that Pitan is the formally designated pastor, marking the end of Iluyomade’s tenure at the City of David Parish.
Before this appointment, Pastor Pitan served as the Pastor in Charge of the Tabernacle of David in Region 51 and held the position of Regional Pastor. His extensive background in banking and finance, including his tenure as the Managing Director and CEO of the Bank of Industry (BoI) from 2015 to 2023, is expected to bring a strategic edge to his leadership at the City of David Parish, particularly in managing the Trinity Tower project.
As Pastor Pitan takes over the leadership of Region 20, with City of David as its headquarters, Pastor Ben Akabueze has been appointed as the Assistant Pastor in Charge of Region 20. Meanwhile, Pastor Kpandei will return to his previous role as Pastor in Charge of Region 11 in Lekki.
Pitan, who completed his graduate studies in the United States and returned to Nigeria 37 years ago, has a rich history in the corporate world, including a notable stint at Citi Bank before venturing into entrepreneurship. His journey into deeper Christian faith was influenced by a significant financial setback in 1993 when his finance house collapsed, leading to a $3 million loss.
Pitan’s leadership at the BoI was marked by a focus on industrialization and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and he began a second term as CEO in 2022 before resigning in 2023 amid a government reshuffle under President Bola Tinubu. His appointment to the City of David Parish is seen as a significant step for the church, bringing both spiritual and strategic leadership to one of Lagos’ most prominent parishes.
