One growing trend in our Churches of today is the wealth most Pastors amass for themselves in the face of people who helped to build their churches.
Inspite of the level of poverty that have ravaged the country, Pastors continue to smile to the banks, enjoying luxury and comforts of life while the poor members pray daily to make Heaven.
We have seen churches built schools, yet the children of the members of these churches cannot afford to send their children to these schools. Many have private jets at the expense of many living in poverty and penury and one begins to wonder why.
While some argue that most churches of today have become purely commercial, others see it as blessings from God. Only God remains the true judge who has the true answer.
This post brings out The 10 richest pastors and their net worth in Nigeria.
- Bishop David Oyedepo: Is said to be richest Pastor in Nigeria.
He is the founder of Living Faith World Outreach Ministry, also known as (Winners Chapel).
This ministry which has its headquarter in Otta, Ogun State and has a population of over 100,000 worshippers at a sitting and considered one of the largest in the world. It also has over 600 branches in all the states of Nigeria and over 50 African countries including the United States, United Kingdom and Asia continent.
This highly resourceful man of God has Dominion House where all his published books are sold.
He owns private universities namely Covenant University and Landmark University and Faith Academy. He also has a private jet and large estates across the country with net worth of over $1 billion dollars.
- Pastor Enoch Adeboye: Is another renowned man of God who made the list of top 10 richest Pastor. He is the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
He is a very humble man who commands respects. He took over from Papa Akindayonu as the G.O, RCCG in 1981. His humility, dedication and meekness actually earned him that position despite the pressure for that apex position.
RCCG is also one of the largest churches in the world with branches in over 200 countries across the globe and about 20,000 churches of RCCG in Nigeria.
His mission is to build a church to cover every nook and cranny of this country and the world at large.
He has established an endowment funds for 4 Nigerian Universities and he equally has a Redeemed University.
His net worth is placed at over $500 million dollars.
- Dr. Daniel Olukoya: The General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries is also one of the richest Pastors in Nigeria.
His ministry is a do it yourself ministry which preaches holiness and is known for its violent prayers and deliverance of mankind from the torments of the wicked powers.
One unique feature about this church is its way of prayer which is violent aggressiveness. However, what people initially criticized about MFM aggressive tradition of prayer has received wide acceptance in virtually all the Pentecostal churches not only in Nigeria but beyond.
The ministry which has its headquarters in Yaba, Lagos Nigeria started about 27 years ago, is one of the largest churches in the world with branches in over 100 countries across the globe including US, Uk, Canada Europe countries and Asia continent and more than 10,000 branches of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries in Nigeria.
The church has a Prayer City where about 100,000 worshippers from Nigeria and neighbouring countries meet on a monthly programme called “Powers Must Change Hands”.
It has a University – Mountain Top University established about three years ago and currently, they are building a 50,000 capacity Deliverance stadium at the Prayer City where, when completed, deliverance prgrammes and other events can be hosted.
In addition, it has MFM TV, one of the largest African’s largest Christian TV network where the General Overseer reach out to many Christian faithful in the globe through his sound teachings.
Dr. Daniel Olukoya, a humble, talented and does not believe in publicity or showing himself in the public has written over 300 books which have turned the lives of many around positively and he has an estimated net worth of over $600 million dollars.
- Pastor Chris Oyakhilome: President of the Believers World Fellowship and the Christ Embassy Church.
He earns huge income from sales of his books and audio and video with his ministry holding meetings in UK, Us, South Africa and Canada.
Chris is rated one of the richest Pastors who preaches prosperity.
He operates an International School of Ministry which held one of its ministry network Conferences in 2016 with over 5,000 ministers in attendance from over 45 countries in Johanesbourg South Africa.
In addition, Pastor Chris is a Philanthropist helping the poor, the sick, the disposed both mentally and spiritually. Many of his Christian faithful have benefited from a lot from him through car gift and other valuables.
His mission goal which is to reach out to “every child” positively is his laudable project met for orphans and the less previledged across the globe.
His book “Rhapsody” has continued to receive wide recognition across the globe. Pastor Chris has an estimated net worth of over $500 million dollars.
- Prophet Temitope Babatunde Joshua: widely known as T.B Joshua is one of the richest Pastors Nigeria.
He is the founder of Synagogue Church of all nations widely known in Africa and other parts of the world.
He has Emmanuel TV, one the African largest Christian network where he reaches out to his Christian fans in the world.
He has over 400,000 YouTube subscribers, over 2million fans on facebook, and he has been described as a great African Evangelist in our time.
Like any other great men, T.B. Joshua has received several awards including Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian government and Yoruba man of the decade by the Pan –Yoruba media outlet – Irohin Odua.
His net worth is well over $300 million dollars.
- Pastor Ayodele Oritsejafor: widely known as Papa is founder of World of Life Bible Church and one of the richest in Nigeria.
He was said to be born again in 1972, the year he made an oath to serve God all his life. He was then a member of All Nations for Christ Bible Institute in Benin and later set up his own church – The World of Life Bible Church.
He was President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) a position he occupied for 5 years and President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the year 2010, the highest body of all Christians in Nigeria and the first Pentecostal leader to hold the position.
He is one of the few Pastors who has a private jet and several luxurious cars and properties across Nigeria.
Pastor Ayodele Oritsejafor is known to have empowered many less priviledged in Nigeria to alleviate the sufferings of many families all over the country through a micro finance bank he set with his wife in 2005.
December 2016, he demonstrated this gesture with his ministry in conjunction with the Eagle Flight Micro Finance Bank held poverty alleviation programme in Warri.
His net worth is well over $300 million dollars.
- Bishop Mike Okonkwo: Another ranked one of the richest Pastors in Nigeria. He was said to have worked as a banker before setting up his ministry Redeemed Evangelic Mission (TREM).
Born in 1945 in Ogbunuike, in Anambra State had his primary and secondary education in Enugu and Lagos. He worked with the Nigerian Ports Authority in 1964 and later as a banker with African Continental Bank for two years.
He was born again in 1970 according to him and in 1972 became an active member of the United Church for Christ (UCC) where he served up to 1980 before setting up his church which has grown to become one of the most popular and populous church in Nigeria with over 250 branches in Nigeria and over 10 countries across the globe.
He set up an empowerment for the less priviledged – a non governmental organization aimed at alleviating poverty and hardship among orphans and widows through donations to hospitals and the establishment of free vocational schemes, enlightenment campaigns on health issues and scholarships for talented students.
His net worth is well over $300 million dollars.
- Lazarus Muoka: Is the founder and General Overseer of Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement and one of the fastest growing churches in Nigeria.
Born in Mgbidi in Imo State but had Catholic background, relocated to Lagos after his secondary education. Here in Lagos he made up his mind to serve God all his life and thereafter set up his ministry – the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement.
The church has branches all over the country and beyond with fleet of buses and he is believed to have a net worth of over $300 million dollars.
- Pastor Chris Okotie: Founder of Household of God was born inn June 16, 1958.
His church is located in Ikeja area of Lagos and is believed to own properties in the part of Lagos.
The church which started in 1987 through humble beginning now has large congregation and branches spread across the country. He was said to have attended the Grace Fellowship Bible School in Tulsa, Oklahome and returned to Nigeria to set up his own ministry.
Pastor Chris was a one time Presidential aspirant in Nigeria and his net worth is over $100 million dollars.
- Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo: Founder of Kingsway International Centre (KICC) with branches across the country and beyond.
He is one of the richest Pastors in Nigeria who earns the bulk of his wealth through Christian literature and documentaries from his media companies.
He is also one of the pastors who preach prosperity.
His winning ways programme is aired on Premier Radio (London) and FM Amsterdam and TV in Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Faith Africa (DSTV 34) and inspirational network.
His net worth is well over $100 million dollars.
In summary therefore, having seen these pastors living in affluence, it is hoped that they will come up with empowering programmes to help alleviate the suffering masses in Nigeria, who ironically contributed one way or the other in building these churches to enviable heights. The earlier the better.