REV. GODWIN ABIMBOLA SAMUEL (GAS)
District Overseer, Festac District.

Rev. Godwin Abimbola Samuel was born on June 28, 1965, in IlIpare, Ilaje LGA, Ondo State. He is married to Pastor (Mrs.) Esther Omolola Samuel (since October 27, 2001), and they are blessed with four children.

Education & Professional Background

A lawyer by training and pastor by calling, GAS was the 1990 Best Graduating Law Student of Lagos State University (LL.B, Second Class Upper). He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991 and later earned an LL.M from University of Lagos. He also obtained a second B.A. in Pastoral and Biblical Studies from L.I.F.E Theological Seminary (2003).

He attended executive programs at Cranfield University School of Management (UK) and the Haggai Leadership Programme (Singapore). He is a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association, ICSAN, Institute of Directors Nigeria, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, UK Institute of Arbitrators, and BRIPAN.

Career

He practised law at Deji Sasegbon & Co and briefly lectured at Lagos State University. He retired in 2020 as Group General Counsel and Company Secretary of UAC of Nigeria PLC after 23 years of service, also serving on several corporate boards. He is currently Lead Counsel at Godwin Samuel Chambers.

Ministry & Leadership

Though he became a Christian in 1987, his discipleship deepened at Foursquare Gospel Church, where he has served extensively since 1992. He held multiple leadership roles at local, zonal, district, and national levels.

He pioneered Foursquare Gospel Church, Apena (2005), which became self-governing in 2014 and planted daughter churches. He has chaired and served on numerous district and national committees, including long-term service as Secretary of the International Conference for Ministers and Leaders (ICML).

Ordained in 2005 and elevated as Senior Minister in 2010, GAS is passionate about pastoral ministry, teaching, prayer, evangelism, and transformational leadership. He served as Missionary Zonal Superintendent, Godmon Estate Zone, before his elevation as District Overseer, Festac District.

He is strongly supported in ministry by his wife, Pastor (Mrs.) Esther Omolola Samuel, an HND (Accounting) holder, MBA, Fellow of ICAN, and Head of Audit Services at Crowe Dafinone, who has also served in various church leadership roles.