The Gubernatorial Candidate of the Peoples Democractic Party in Ogun State, Hon. (Dr) Oladipupo Adebutu has been decorated as recipient of the *KNIGHT OF JOHN WESLEY (KJW)* at Birch Freeman Methodist Church, Badagry, Lagos, by the church Prelate, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel Emeka Kanu Uche on Saturday, 24th September, 2022.
The KJW award is in honour of the first Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society Preacher in Nigeria, Rev. Thomas Birch Freeman, who dedicated his lifetime to the gospel of Thy Lord Jesus Christ and Methodist Church.
Rev. Thomas Freeman set foot on the coast of Badagry on the 24th September, 1842 and was later joined in December, 1842 by Rev. Henry Townsend. Both renowned clergymen performed the first ecumenical service of the Church in Nigeria on 24th December, 1842 and the Church spread Christianity across Nigeria via the Christian Missionary Society with the establishment of the first church at Ake, Abeokuta.
With the award, Hon. (Dr) Oladipupo Adebutu has added SIR to his titles and a Knight of the Church. The ceremony was tagged 180th/60th Anniversary of the Methodist Church Nigeria Special Award.
Hon. Adebutu also led his entourage to pay homage to His Majesty, De Wheno Aholu Toyi 1, Oba Akran of Badagry at his palace in Badagry, Lagos after the church ceremony.
