In a raw and revealing episode of her podcast, Truth Table With Toluwani, Associate Senior Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, Toluwani “Tolu” Odukoya, has confirmed long-whispered rumors about her marriage, announcing that she and husband Olumide Ijogun separated in 2021 due to “circumstances beyond my control.” The 40-year-old clergywoman, gospel artist, and daughter of late founding pastors Taiwo and Bimbo Odukoya, likened the end of their 2012 union – which produced three children – to a profound “death,” one that reshaped her faith and ministry amid a brutal string of personal losses.
“Most people don’t know that my husband and I have separated… You don’t get into a marriage thinking it will end,” Odukoya shared in the emotional YouTube clip, which has since surpassed 300,000 views and sparked an outpouring of support across social media. Speaking with unflinching grace, she detailed how the split unfolded between 2021 and 2023, colliding with the deaths of her stepmother Nomthi Odukoya (from cancer), her father’s twin sister, and her father Pastor Taiwo Odukoya – all within a harrowing 24-month window. “When your marriage is over, it is a death. In the last ten years, I’ve experienced the death of my marriage, my stepmother, my dad’s twin sister, and my father,” she reflected, her voice steady yet laced with the weight of unspoken grief.
Odukoya was careful to humanize her ex-husband, describing Olumide – a private figure away from the church spotlight – as a “great man” who treated her well. Yet, she emphasized a spiritual incompatibility: “If God doesn’t ordain you guys to be together and you force-fit yourselves, the likelihood of staying together is very low.” The couple, who welcomed their third child in 2020 amid joyful announcements, had kept the separation under wraps for years, fueling online speculation. Odukoya credited prayer and divine guidance for navigating the “force-fit” reality, revealing she and Olumide often sought God’s will for their bond – only to realize it wasn’t aligned.
The disclosure has resonated deeply in Nigeria’s faith community, where pastoral families are often pedestalized. Fans and fellow believers flooded X and Instagram with messages of solidarity, trending #ToluOdukoyaStrong under posts like, “A woman of God sharing her scars to heal others – that’s ministry.” Her brother, Senior Pastor Jimmy Odukoya – the actor-turned-clergyman who succeeded their father – has been a pillar, with family described as her “defenders” in the storm. Odukoya also opened up about embracing her pastoral calling post-separation, despite feeling “unworthy,” and how keeping her “eyes on Jesus” turned pain into purpose. As a worship leader with hits like “My Heart,” she’s channeled the trials into her music and Toluwani Unfiltered series, advocating for authentic healing over performative perfection.
This candid reveal adds another layer to the Odukoya legacy: from Bimbo’s tragic 2005 Sosoliso crash death to Taiwo’s 2023 passing, the family has weathered public scrutiny with resilience. Odukoya’s story challenges the stigma around divorce in evangelical circles, reminding listeners that “separation does not always mean the people involved are bad.” As she steps into what she calls a “new season of blossoming,” her vulnerability feels like a balm for many navigating similar shadows.
How has faith carried you through loss? Share below, and watch the full episode on Tolu’s YouTube (@ToluwaniOdukoya). Strength to the Odukoyas – and to all rewriting their chapters.