Tinubu Hails Oyedepo at 72 for Faith, Education and Human Development
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, on his 72nd birthday, praising his contributions to faith, education and humanitarian service.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Bishop David Olaniyi Oyedepo, founder and presiding bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, on his 72nd birthday, praising a life devoted to faith, education and human development.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president joined Oyedepo's family, members of Living Faith Church Worldwide, the wider Christian community and admirers in celebrating the milestone. Tinubu described the bishop's decades of service as a model of leadership and integrity.
The president highlighted Oyedepo's influence in promoting values such as integrity, discipline, diligence and excellence, noting that his teachings have shaped individuals and communities in Nigeria and beyond. After more than four decades of ministry, Oyedepo has become a prominent voice on faith, leadership and human development, with his books and teachings reaching audiences across national and continental boundaries.
Tinubu also pointed to the bishop's contributions to education through institutions including Covenant University and Landmark University, describing them as platforms that support academic excellence, leadership development, entrepreneurship and innovation. The statement said Oyedepo's influence extends beyond the pulpit into education, publishing, leadership development and humanitarian service, with Living Faith Church maintaining a significant international presence across Africa and other parts of the world.
The president further recognised social-development initiatives linked to the ministry and the David Oyedepo Foundation, including schools, healthcare facilities and humanitarian support programmes. He said the bishop has devoted decades to preaching faith, promoting integrity and encouraging excellence while investing substantially in education and the development of human capacity.
Tinubu described that commitment as one that has contributed to building lives, institutions and communities while extending the ministry's reach internationally. On the occasion of the 72nd birthday, the president prayed for Oyedepo's continued wisdom, strength, good health and renewed grace as he advances what Tinubu called the causes of faith, education, morality and human development.
Oyedepo, one of Nigeria's most recognisable religious leaders, founded Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners Chapel, which has grown into a global network with branches across Africa and beyond. His institutions have become a reference point in the intersection of faith and education in Nigeria, offering a model that other religious organisations have studied and, in some cases, emulated.
The birthday message underscores the continuing public role of religious leaders in Nigeria, where churches and their founders often shape debates on morality, education and social welfare. Tinubu's tribute places Oyedepo among the figures whose influence extends from the pulpit into national life, a recognition that carries weight in a country where faith communities are central to civic and social organisation.
For Living Faith Church Worldwide, the president's words are likely to be received as affirmation of a ministry that has combined evangelism with institution-building. The mention of Covenant University and Landmark University points to a broader legacy: a network of schools and universities that has trained generations of Nigerians and contributed to the country's human capital.
The statement also draws attention to the humanitarian dimension of Oyedepo's work, including healthcare facilities and support programmes run through the David Oyedepo Foundation. Such initiatives reflect a wider trend among Nigerian megachurches, which increasingly present themselves as partners in development alongside their spiritual mission.
As Oyedepo enters his 73rd year, the president's prayer for renewed grace signals continued expectations that the bishop will remain a voice in national conversations about faith, morality and education. The tribute, released on Sunday, closes with Tinubu's hope that Oyedepo's ministry will keep advancing the causes he has championed for more than four decades.
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