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• Five years after, Pastor Ighodalo reflects on late wife, Ibidunni’s passing
By Vera Wisdom-Bassey
Pastor Ituah Ighodalo is the founder of Trinity House, a Christian ministry.
When he lost his wife, Ibidunni, in June 2020, his world was suddenly thrown into silence, a silence loud enough to shatter a man. For someone who had built a life of purpose, service, and shared dreams with a woman he called not just wife but friend, the idea of continuing without her felt unimaginable. Yet, five years later, the Senior Pastor of Trinity House Church in Lagos stands with quiet strength, a living testament to the enduring power of faith, healing, and divine guidance.
In a deeply personal interview with Saturday Sun, Pastor Ighodalo opened up about life after Ibidunni, their bond, the weight of grief, and how purpose and calling have helped him find light in the shadows of loss.
I don’t know if I’ll ever meet someone quite like her
Though time has helped dull the sharp edge of pain, Pastor Ighodalo admits that the thought of meeting someone like Ibidunni again is difficult to imagine. “I don’t know if I’ll ever meet somebody quite like her again,” he confessed. “She was unique. But I am open to remarriage, if that is what God has planned for me.”
Initially, even the idea of moving on was out of the question. “At first, I thought I would never be able to remarry. After losing Ibidunni, it was just too painful. But over time, the wound began to heal. God has been gracious, and I now find myself in a better place emotionally and spiritually.”
For Pastor Ighodalo, Ibidunni wasn’t just a partner, she was an anchor, a confidante, and a light. Her absence,, though tempered by grace, still leaves a void.
Her passing, a shock I never prepared for
Recounting the final hours before her death, Pastor Ighodalo described a scene that still lingers in his memory. “She passed away in the early hours of Sunday, June 14, 2020. We spoke the night before, Saturday the 13th, around 9 or 9:30 p.m. There was no warning, no indication. So yes, it was a shock to wake up and realize something was terribly wrong.”
Despite the emotional blow, he did not allow the pain to paralyse him. “God was gracious to me. I was able to rise from the shock quickly and focus on what needed to be done. I had to be strong, not just for myself, but for the children, the church, and everyone who looked to me for strength.”
He said instead of getting lost in the abyss of questioning, ‘Why did this happen?’ and such other questions, he said he chose to focus on the next steps. “I knew that if I dwelt too long in sorrow, it would lead to confusion and destabilise everything I had worked for. So I kept asking, ‘What do I do next?’ That focus helped keep me grounded.”
God has not put me to shame
For a man who has endured loss and walked through fire, Pastor Ighodalo remains deeply grateful. “God has not left me. He has kept me. He has not allowed me to be put to shame. He has provided for me and my household. He gave me grace and courage to face each day. It’s not about who is strong or who runs fast, it’s about the mercy and favour of God.”
In his words, his faith, tested by trials, remains unshaken. “It’s in these moments that you realise how much you depend on God. He carried me when I could not stand. He lifted me when I was too weak to walk,” he asserted.
Purpose is everything
Pastor Ighodalo emphasised the importance of purpose, an anchor that holds a man steady in life’s fiercest storms. “The most important thing in any man’s life, apart from salvation, is discovering God’s purpose for his existence,” he said.
he also had a word for ministers of God. He explained that knowing one’s purpose helps navigate even the darkest moments. “When you understand the reason God created you, and you consistently hear from Him, storms won’t break you. You won’t be swayed by public opinion or personal tragedy. You’ll stay on course.”
He cautioned that many people today are frustrated, not because life is inherently hard, but because they are misaligned. “You can’t use a fork to drink soup. It’s not designed for that. And yet, that’s how many people live, doing things they weren’t created for. That’s why life feels frustrating, unproductive, and sometimes useless.”
To those in ministry and others facing difficult seasons, he offers this encouragement: “First, know your purpose. Second, learn to hear God, clearly and consistently. Third, develop courage. As God told Joshua, ‘Be strong and courageous.’ That doesn’t mean the road will be smooth. It means you’ll have the strength to walk it.”
He added: “Be truthful with yourself. Ask God for wisdom. Align with God’s direction for your life, and walk with Him daily. That’s what sustains you.”
How would he describe his late wife? In describing Ibidunni, Pastor Ighodalo’s eyes softened. “She was intelligent, humble, and full of grace,” he noted. “She was intelligent, very smart, and incredibly hardworking. But beyond that, she had native wisdom – what you’d call common sense. She understood culture and tradition and had the grace to balance it with modern life.”
He spoke of her humility, her love for children and women, and her support in both personal and professional aspects of his life. “She accepted me as I was. She never put me under pressure. She made my life easier. We laughed together, prayed together, joked like little children. She was my friend.”
When asked what he would do if he were to meet her in heaven, he smiled gently. “If marriage were allowed in heaven, I’d choose her all over again.”
Keeping her legacy alive through her foundation
Even in death, Ibidunni’s passion for service lives on through the Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation, which provides support to couples struggling with infertility, a cause that was close to her heart.
“We’re still running the foundation,” he confirmed. “We have full-time staff, and we pay them. But I’m appealing to the general public, please continue to support this work. If something is good, then it deserves continuous support.”
He explained that the foundation isn’t just about charity; it’s about fulfilling Ibidunni’s purpose and keeping her memory alive through acts of compassion and care. “She gave so much of herself to others. The least we can do is keep that spirit alive.”
A life still unfolding
As he continues his journey, Pastor Ighodalo said he continues to live with a heart that remains open, to love, to healing, to God’s direction. Though the scars remain, he said they do not define him. In his words, they remind him of a deep love shared, of loss endured, and of the strength that comes from walking closely with God.
“I’m not the same man I was five years ago,” he said quietly. “I have grown. I have learned. I’ve been broken and remoulded. And I’m still here, not because I am strong, but because God is.”
