Rev. James Jide
Ayanda
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Rev. James Jide Ayanda
Born in Omu-Aran, Kwara State of Nigeria March 1948, Reverend Ayanda had his primary education at Saint Paul Primary School in Omu-Aran. As the ever time-conscious person he was, he held the position as the school timekeeper in his final year. It was at this private missionary school he became a Christian.
Thereafter, he went for further education at another Canadian private missionary college at the United Missionary College, Mokwa in Niger State of Nigeria. After vividly receiving the divine calling, he became a born-again Christian. He obeyed and worked hard for God throughout his student days. His motto: ‘My God and my books’; was his motivation throughout. In his final year at this college, serving as the General House Prefect, he competed and won first prize in Geography and runner up in Mathematics.
After a brief teaching experience at an Islamic primary school in Sabon Gari, Kano, he began to explore the idea of a career in banking which soon became a reality. He passed a Barclays examination and joined Barclays Bank of Nigeria Limited early 1972. Within a year, he became the Chief Cashier; He was on the ‘Waste Accounting’ committee for the decimalization of the Nigerian currency in 1973.
Reverend Ayanda’s drive to be exceptional in all he did was evident in his record completion of a three year course in 18months; a course many of his colleagues took up to five years to complete. While completing this course, he also won 1st prize for his college and 10th world prize of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, London in September 1975 with Distinctions.
He obtained his postgraduate diploma in Administrative Management in July 1976 and returned to Nigeria early November 1976; worked at Bank of the North Limited (now Unity Bank) soon after his arrival until March 1978 when he moved to Societe Generale Bank (Nigeria) Limited to Head the "Advances Department". He was promoted to Assistant Branch Manager in 1980 at Kano Branch and transferred on promotion to Apapa as Deputy Manager early 1982.
In June 1983, He was promoted to Branch Manager position and posted to head Kaduna branch where he worked until 1988 when he took off a year to complete his Master’s Degree at the premier University of Ibadan.
Early 1989, he was recalled to Head Office on promotion as Assistant General Manager Commercial. He was further promoted to Deputy General Manager in 1990. A year later, he was promoted to General Manager position at the Bank and often acted as the Managing Director on several occasions when the incumbent was away. However, a changing work culture which didn’t align with his professional ethics led him to resign his appointment in 1992. Within a week of his resignation, he was employed by Merchant Banking Corporation Limited (now part of First Bank) as Chief Executive Officer.
He managed that Bank until September 1995 when he retired to answer his calling to full-time Ministry and part-time Financial Services Consulting. He founded C&S Mount Horeb Intercontinental District Church with headquarters in London – the Church he has been shepherding since 1996 till he was called to glory on February 26, 2021.
Reverend Ayanda is a well-established author. Some of his writings include:
• The Biography of the Most Reverend S.A Abidoye (2007)
• The C&S Living Christian (2008)
• Professional Churches (2010)
• Network of Districts in the C&S Movement Church (2012)
His final book was 'The Switch' - a self-authored biography which he launched during his 70th birthday in 2018. He has served the Church in various capacities and in different cities including: Omu-Aran, Mokwa, Illorin, Kano, Bauchi, Idumagbo, Sabo-Oko Oba Lagos, Kaduna and London. He led a team of seven from the United Kingdom to represent the C&S denomination in Frankfurt Germany in the World Council of Churches in 1975.
As a British-Nigerian, JJ Ayanda engaged in community development; he volunteered and served as the chairman of the barnfield project from 2012 - 2020. He also served as the chairman of the Woolwich District Labour Party, a position he resigned from in 2020. Reverend Ayanda is survived by his lifetime sweetheart Elizabeth Ayanda, his children, and grandchildren.
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