Tofunmi is a devoted child of God, who started her faith journey in 1978 as a teenager. She is an alumna of the University of Lagos and was an active member of the Lagos Varsity Union during her time on campus.
In 1984, she established the weekly Maranatha Children’s Book Club, a social and educational hub for children in the community. The legacy of the Maranatha Children’s Book Club continues to thrive today, more than 30 years since its inception. Many of the original members of the book club are now parents with their children as current members of the book club.
A former Senior Tutor in the Secondary School, she voluntarily retired from the Public Service of Ondo State, Nigeria in June 1996. Following her retirement, she devoted herself to full-time Ministry work in obedience to God’s call on her life, and she founded a Non-Governmental Organization called ‘The Maranatha Ambassadors’. This organization is dedicated to a life of service to humanity.
In that same year of 1996, she established the Maranatha Bookshop (now called Zoe Christian Bookshop), and Maranatha Library in Akure, Nigeria. Tofunmi is deeply passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of children and young people. She achieves this through her Children’s Book Club, the books she has authored, donation of books and other resources to schools and libraries, and various reading projects aimed at not just fostering a culture of reading among young individuals, but also building children that become upstarting adults in the community.
Tofunmi has actively participated in numerous volunteering programmes, reaching out to the less fortunate, both through financial contributions and tangible assistance. These initiatives have been carried out through her Ministry and, at times, in collaboration with other Non-Governmental Organizations.
Mrs. Akinyemi is also a dedicated advocate for mental health. She established the ‘Christ’s Abundant Life Maximized’ (CALM) initiative, which facilitates online events to sensitize and enlighten people about mental health issues. Her book, ‘Say Yes to Mental Health’, published in 2020, is a well-researched 344-page resource that melds academic knowledge with Biblical truths.
Tofunmi is married to Kola Akinyemi, and their union has been blessed with five children. She enjoys cooking, writing, reading, singing, and appreciating the beauty of nature. She also loves spending time with her grandchildren.
