Dr. Emmanuel O. Akognon was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He attended the Baptist Boys’ High School in Abeokuta, Western Nigeria. Emmanuel moved to British Columbia, Canada where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from the Northwest Baptist College. Dr. Akognon moved to California in 1977 and studied at Golden Gate Theological Seminary. He graduated with a Master’s Degree in Religious Education, Master’s in Divinity, Master’s in Theology and a Doctorate in Ministry. Emmanuel is listed in “Who’s Who in Religion”.

In 1980, Emmanuel founded the Southern Marin Bible Institute. This Institute was formed in response to the need for trained leadership in the local church. SMBI grants the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Religious Education, Pastoral Leadership Diploma and Christian Leadership Diploma. He believes that education should be a high priority in the lives of those who follow Christ.

Emmanuel was, for several years, president and founding member of the Marin City Project—a non-profit organization created to manage and develop the Marin City community. Emmanuel received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian of the Year Award in 1989 and 1982. In 1994, he was selected to President Bill Clinton’s Crime Bill consultation group. In 1997, the African American Community Entrustment Award was given to him in recognition of his work in Marin County, the Bay Area and around the world.

Dr. Akognon has provided leadership for the Village Baptist Church of Marin City, CA, for twenty-five years. The church building burned in October of 1999. These last five years have proven to be quite a journey as he and the congregation continue to press towards the construction of a new edifice. As pastor, he has led the church in constructing and managing a twenty-five unit senior housing complex (The Village Oduduwa Housing) in Marin City, on the church’s property. This is a prime example of where his heart is.

Dr. Akognon has been married to Alfreda Marie (Small) for over 26 years, and they have three children: Shola, Joshua, and Shonte.

Space does not permit the listing of all of Dr. Akognon’s accomplishments. His desire to see those who are less fortunate provided for, occupies much of his daily thoughts and time. He has led his congregation in the support of six clinics in Nigeria where a minimum of 85 persons are being treated for hypertension. With the help of many friends and supporters, his dream of having a hospital built in the Village of Aklampa in Africa was finally completed, and officially opened to the villagers in 2003. It has not all been smooth sailing as he struggles to get continuing support to keep the hospital running as it should.

Dr. Akognon is grateful for all of his degrees, accomplishments, and acknowledgments from many groups. But they pale in comparison to his heart’s desire to take care of the people of Africa who can’t effectively provide for themselves. If he can see the dramatic improvement of health facilities, housing, education and air quality, as a result of his hard work, then he will feel as if his life has made a real difference in the world. But until then, he continues to press forward.