By 'Gbenga Bankole
Impactful leaders are well known and remembered not for number of years they spent at the helm of affairs, but for the unqualifiable impacts they made and lives they touched.
The incumbent Music Director of Christ Apostolic Church, Worldwide Pastor Tope Dada who marks his birthday today belongs to the generation of leaders who showed interest in lifting the youths from grass to grace.
HIS BACKGROUND
Pastor Tope Dada was born into the family of Pa Samuel and Madam Rachael Dada Akinwumi of Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State of Nigeria. He had his early life at Ibadan. After attending CAC Secondary Modern School, Efon Alaaye, he proceeded to Government Trade Centre, Oyo to study Welding and Fabrication, where he graduated in 1978. Despite his humble beginning, hardship and scorching weather in schooling, Pastor Tope Dada rose to the top by his undying spirit and special favour from God. He joined the Choir of CAC Agbokojo in 1968 from where he had a stint of music exposure with a choir singing hymns in parts with good organ accompaniment.
He had his first voyage to Akure in 1971 when he joined the Choir of CAC Oke Igan Akure through the influence of his late Uncle Chief J. O. Babafemi aka Aduralere. As a young boy, he was so committed and made remarkable difference in the choir which prompted the church under the leadership of the late Pastor COA Daramola with the approval of the council to recognize and appreciate him with a service in his honour.
ENGINEERING PROFESSION
With over 30 years of professional experience as an accomplished academia and engineer, Pastor Engr. Tope Dada has contributed to the growth of his profession in a very unique way. He built and delivered solution that support people development from strategic planning to skills acquisition and knowledge application. With his high taste for quality and perfection, he is committed to satisfaction and delivery of excellent performance. A seasoned trainer, coach & mentor with practical experience that motivates his trainee, he was noted for consistent improvement and never tired of making people to do it right.
Pastor Tope Dada as a transformative leader, has brought his professionalism to bear on his leadership style all through his work-life. He is a pace setter who weathers the storms and ensure the stability of the Technical Training Centre with direct report to 18 different managers and affected over 3,000 participants in his 21 years of service in Coca Cola Hellenic.
He attended many training and presented papers in conferences within and outside Nigeria. A management consultant, coach, trainer, assessor and counsellor, he built people to fill key positions during his service with the Coca-Cola Hellenic where he recently retired without blemish as Head of Technical Training for the Nigeria Business unit.
Recipient of the Coca-Cola Excellent Leadership Award, Pastor Tope Dada is an eminent personality, noble and a fulfilled gentleman. He is a people person who will not relent until he achieved his goals. A hard liner, he will break through any wall to get things done. A man of many feathers.
AS A MUSICAL ICON AND A MINISTER
With over 4 decades of professional experience as an accomplished musician and minister, Pastor Engr. Tope Dada has contributed to the growth of the music ministry in Christ Apostolic Church worldwide and the Christendom in general.
He built and delivered solution that support music from strategic planning to skills acquisition and knowledge application. With his high taste for quality and perfection, he is committed to audience satisfaction and delivery of excellent performance. A seasoned musician, coach and mentor with direct practical experience that motivates every of his audience, he was noted for consistent right singing and never tired choir rehearsals.
As a role model, he drives innovation, suggests and implement successful practice that support church growth and talent development. He had excellent training experience which cuts across all classes of music with modesty in performance and passion for quality.
Pastor Tope Dada as a transformative leader, has brought his professionalism to bear on his leadership style all through his work-life. He is a pace setter who weathers the storms and ensure the stability of the Technical Training Centre with direct report to 18 different managers and affected over 3,000 participants in his 21 years of service in Coca Cola Hellenic.
He attended many training and presented papers in conferences within and outside Nigeria. A management consultant, coach, trainer, assessor and counsellor, he built people to fill key positions during his service with the Coca-Cola Hellenic where he recently retired without blemish as Head of Technical Training for the Nigeria Business unit.
Recipient of the Coca-Cola Excellent Leadership Award, Pastor Tope Dada is an eminent personality, noble and a fulfilled gentleman. He is a people person who will not relent until he achieved his goals. A hard liner, he will break through any wall to get things done. A man of many feathers.
Pastor Tope Dada has served in various capacities in the church which include:
# Choir Master Scripture Union Fellowship, GTC Oyo. 1975 to 1978.
# Choir Master CAC Oke Igbala, Awe Oyo State in 1976.
# He was the founding President CAC Students’ Association Ondo State Polytechnic Owo from 1979 to 1981.
#He was the National Music Director, CAC Students’ Association 1980-1993
Co-facilitator of the Ondo State Annual Christmas Carol for 12 consecutive years, being the only choir leader from any mission to participate uninterrupted for that long till date.
# Music Trainer CAC Akure DCC 1980-1993
# Music Trainer CAC Oke Igbala Owo – 1985-1993
# Music Director, CAC Oke Igan Akure – 1989-1998
# Ordained Minister in Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide – 1995
# Pioneer Assembly minister, CAC Victory Land, GRA Ikeja, Lagos – 2001-2005
# Member, United Association of CAC Choirs 1988-1993
# Member, Christ Apostolic Church Hymn Book Committee – 1996-2015
# Member, Mission’s Board, Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide – 2001
# Secretary, Christ Apostolic Church Revenue Mobilization Committee – 2001-2003
# Member, Christ Apostolic Church Evangelism Committee- 2002-2009.
# District Superintendent, CAC Lord’s Authority District, Lagos. 2006-2009.
# He was the first to introduce classical music to the choir in Akure and became the best in all areas of music rendition in the then Ondo State.
# During the Choir’s 25th Anniversary, in 1995, part of his move as Music Director was to commence the 1st CAC English Assembly in the then Ondo State which the church under the leadership of Pastor J. O. Oyebanji magnanimously approved, took over, sponsored and nurtured (Now Mike Tayo Ojo Memorial Assembly).
# He has mentored and produced seasoned Choirmasters and music leaders who are soaring high in the church of God across the globe.
Among whom are Late Pastor Ayo Adeusi; Pastor Mathew Ibitoye; Pastor Deola Amudipe, Pastor Ben Oyebanji, Elder Ayo Fagbe, Elder Segun Alabi, Elder Sesan Adegbola, Pastor Amos Ologunleko, Pastor Titus Oluwadare and several others.
#. He was a Member, Millennium Committee, Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide. 1999-2012
Coordinator & Music Director -5,000-member CAC Millennium Choir -2000-2001 (the largest gathering of any single denominational choir and orchestra).
#. Choir Coordinator, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Lagos State 2003-2005
#. Assistant General Superintendent, Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide in year 2004.
# Pastor Tope Dada is a grand musicologist, a veteran conductor and a superb composer with several music and lyrics to his credit. Some of his arrangements include: Emi yio gbe oju mi si oke wonni, Mary’s boy child, Jesu nikan l’oba, Mo moore Jesu se, Gbeke re le Jesu, Eku odun gbogbo eyin onigbagbo; Awon to gbeke won le Oluwa; Korin si Oluwa; Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) Anthem; several hymn medleys and descants.
#. A hardliner in choir matters, he had a record of training the choir of CAC Oke Igan Akure over 980 music/songs during his ten-year tenure as Music Director.
#. In conjunction with his faithful and very beloved son Pastor Deola Amudipe, a maestro on the Organ, he has written and arranged several classic lyrics, hymns, and psalms.
#. He is the founding Choir Master, CAC Pastors’ Choir in 1995, the first in the history of any Christian denomination.
#. A distinguished brother, faithful friend noble and a fulfilled gentleman. Pastor Tope Dada gave his life to Christ during a crusade organized by the CAC Light of the World Society in September 1973 after a message from Hosea 10:12 titled “Break up your fallow ground” by Pastor Mathew Adediran.
#. Pastor Tope Dada is currently the Senior Pastor, CAC New Covenant Assembly, Lagos, and a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants. He is a seasoned engineer, Member, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Certified coach, mentor, and capability developer.
#. He is life member of many choirs and a veteran in church music.
He is happily married to his sweetheart, Christie, the marriage is blessed with glorious children and gracious grandchildren.
He is a staunch minister with godly messages laced with grace and truth. A responsible father and faithful husband. A personality with pure heart and distinct character. He is a musician of repute, a veteran conductor and excellent composer
Pastor Tope Dada is currently the Music Director, Christ Apostolic Church and the Senior Pastor, CAC New Covenant Assembly, Lagos. He is a Member, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Fellow of the prestigious Institute of Management Consultants. He is happily married to his sweetheart, beautiful Christie whom he fondly calls “my Chris” and blessed with glorious children and gracious grandchildren.