Associate Senior Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, Tolu Odukoya, has opened up about the end of her marriage, describing her separation as a painful but unavoidable experience.

In a recent interview with Truthtable, shared on her YouTube channel, the 40-year-old pastor revealed that many people were unaware of her situation. “I’m separated. Most people don’t know I’m separated, and that has shaped my life. It was circumstances beyond my control,” she said.

She compared the experience to bereavement, stressing that no one enters marriage expecting it to fail. “When your marriage ends, it’s a death in its own way,” she noted.

Odukoya, however, maintained that separation does not always mean either spouse is bad. “My ex-husband is a great man, but if God hasn’t ordained a union and you force-fit yourselves, the chances of staying together are very low,” she explained.

The mother of three also reflected on a difficult season between 2021 and 2023, when she lost her stepmother, her father’s twin sister, and her father, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, who passed away in the United States on August 7, 2023.

Despite those challenges, she embraced her pastoral calling, even when she felt unworthy. “I told God, ‘You know the baggage I’m carrying, but if You’ve called me, then maybe You’ve placed something in me.’ So I just decided to keep my eyes on Jesus,” she said.

She expressed gratitude to her family for their unwavering support. “My siblings are amazing. My dad stood up for me. My family encouraged me, and that embrace rebuilt my self-esteem and self-worth,” she added.

Advising others, Odukoya cautioned against staying in troubled marriages just to avoid public criticism. “Don’t die in a place because of what people will say. People will always talk, and then they’ll move on,” she said.

Following her father’s passing, her brother, Pastor Jimmy Odukoya, now serves as Senior Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, with Tolu continuing in her role as associate pastor.