Rev. Dr. Ezra Jakko, General Overseer of Gospel Believers Mission, has died at 62, with his Service of Songs beginning in Abuja on September 21.
Rev. Dr. Ezra Jakko, General Overseer of Gospel Believers Mission, has died at the age of 62, with the mission beginning funeral activities in Abuja on Monday, September 21, following the announcement of his passing by the church’s leadership.
The Gospel Believers Mission (GBM) announced Jakko’s death on Sunday, September 20, through Pastor Dominic Omokaro, the church’s Senior Special Adviser on Media and Strategy. According to the statement made available to journalists in Abuja, Jakko died on September 10 after serving as the mission’s General Overseer since 2019.
The announcement came from the Board of Trustees of the Gospel Believers Mission in consultation with the Council of Ministers and the late cleric’s family.
Rev. Dr. Ezra Jakko’s Service of Songs Begins in Abuja
The first Service of Songs for Rev. Dr. Ezra Jakko is scheduled for September 21 at his residence at 15 Freetown Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.
The programme will be followed by an interdenominational Service of Songs on September 22 at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre in Abuja. The funeral service is scheduled for September 23 at All Saints Military Church, Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro.
According to the burial arrangements released by the church, interment will take place immediately after the funeral service at the National Military Cemetery on Airport Road, Abuja.
The church said members of the Christian community, the Gospel Believers Mission, the Nigerian Army family and members of the public are invited to participate in the ceremonies marking the end of Jakko’s life and ministry.
From Nigerian Army Major General to Gospel Believers Mission Leader
Jakko’s life brought together two very different areas of public service: the Nigerian military and Christian ministry.
Before becoming a full-time church leader, he spent more than 34 years in the Nigerian Army and rose to the rank of Major General in the Nigerian Army Finance Corps. He held senior financial positions, including Chief of Accounts and Budget at both the Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters.
The Nigerian Army Finance Corporation’s official records also confirm Jakko’s place in the organisation’s history. He served as its Director-General from October 2022 until July 2023, making him the first officer listed in its official chronology of Directors-General.
Jakko retired from the Nigerian Army in 2023, after which his public profile remained closely associated with his work in Christian ministry and humanitarian activities.
Rev. Dr. Ezra Jakko’s Leadership of GBM
Jakko became General Overseer of the Gospel Believers Mission in 2019, following the transition of the mission’s founding General Superintendent.
According to Pastor Omokaro, his years as General Overseer were marked by increased visibility for the mission as well as expanded spiritual, organisational and humanitarian activities.
One of the areas highlighted by the church was Jakko’s concern for people facing hardship. His commitment to supporting vulnerable members of society led to the establishment of the Gospel Believers Mission Hand of Mercy Outreach and Foundation, through which humanitarian assistance was provided.
The church’s description of his work places his ministry beyond the pulpit, presenting him as a leader whose activities included religious service and humanitarian engagement.
His Work Beyond the Church
Jakko was also involved in business and agriculture.
According to the statement released by the Gospel Believers Mission, he was the Founder and Chairman of Golden Finger Farms and Ranches Ltd, with agricultural interests extending across Abuja, Nasarawa, Adamawa and Ogun states.
His business activities added another dimension to a career that had already included military service and church leadership. Corporate records available online also identify Ezra Jahadi Jakko as a person with significant control in Golden Finger Farms and Ranches Limited.
His death has therefore drawn attention from several communities connected to his life, including the Gospel Believers Mission, the wider Christian community, former colleagues in the Nigerian Army and people associated with his agricultural and humanitarian activities.
A Legacy Spanning Military Service and Ministry
The Gospel Believers Mission described Jakko as a servant of God, military officer, administrator, leader and philanthropist.
Tributes published following his death have similarly focused on the different stages of his public life.
One tribute described him as a former Chief of Budget and Accounts and recalled his involvement in the ministry’s annual convention, while highlighting his personal interactions with people.
Such tributes reflect the range of relationships he built during his military, religious and community service.
For the Gospel Believers Mission, the immediate focus is now on the funeral programme and the transition that follows the death of its General Overseer.
The Service of Songs on September 21 marks the beginning of the publicly announced funeral programme. It will be followed by the interdenominational service on September 22 and the final funeral service and interment on September 23.
As members of the mission, the Nigerian Army community, relatives, friends and other mourners gather in Abuja, the ceremonies will provide an opportunity to remember a man whose career moved from senior military financial administration to Christian leadership and humanitarian work.
The church has also appealed for prayers for Jakko’s family and the Gospel Believers Mission as they mourn his death and prepare for the final rites.
