David Oyedepo Biography, Early Life, Education, Ministry, Controversies and Legacy

David Oyedepo

David Oyedepo is a Nigerian preacher, author, and televangelist best known as the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, also called Winners’ Chapel International, and the senior pastor of Faith Tabernacle in Ota, Ogun State. He is also associated with major church-backed institutions such as Covenant University and Landmark University.

Early Life and Background

David Olaniyi Oyedepo was born on 27 September 1954. Public biographies commonly link him to Omu-Aran in Kwara State, while also noting he was raised in Osogbo in a mixed religious family. His father, Ibrahim, was described as a Muslim healer, while his mother, Dorcas Morenike Oyedepo, was linked to the Cherubim and Seraphim tradition. He was also said to have been strongly influenced by his grandmother, who introduced him to Christian devotion early in life.

Education

Oyedepo studied Architecture at Kwara State Polytechnic. The official Living Faith Church biography also says he later obtained a PhD in Human Development from Honolulu University in Hawaii.

Career Before Ministry

Before becoming widely known in ministry, Oyedepo worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Housing in Ilorin, Kwara State. He later left that path to focus fully on missionary and church work.

Ministry and Rise to Fame

According to the church’s official account, Oyedepo said he received his call to full time ministry in 1981. He began with fellowship meetings and then formally planted the church in 1983. The church later grew into one of the largest Pentecostal networks connected to Nigeria, with the official site saying it oversees over 20,000 churches across Nigeria and thousands more across other continents.

He is also closely linked with Canaanland in Ota, where the 50,000-seat Faith Tabernacle was dedicated in 1999. Public biographies describe it as one of the most famous worship centres in Africa and a major symbol of his ministry’s expansion.

Education and Institutional Influence

Oyedepo’s influence goes beyond preaching. His ministry is officially linked to educational projects including Covenant University, Landmark University, Faith Academy, and Kingdom Heritage Model School. This helped shape his image not only as a pastor, but also as a builder of institutions.

Personal Life

David Oyedepo is married to Faith Abiola Oyedepo, and public biographies list their marriage from 1982. They have four children, including David Oyedepo Jnr and Isaac Oyedepo.

Controversies and Public Criticism

Oyedepo’s public image has also drawn criticism over the years. His teachings are widely associated with the Word of Faith movement and are often described by scholars and public commentators as part of the prosperity gospel, a tradition that remains controversial because of its strong emphasis on giving, material success, and wealth. Academic analysis of prosperity churches in Nigeria says critics often question aggressive tithing expectations and the visible wealth of church leaders.

He also faced public backlash in 2020 after saying people who do not pay tithe are under a financial curse. Punch reported the statement directly from his post, and it became part of wider public debate about tithing and prosperity teaching in Nigerian churches.

His wealth and the scale of his ministry have also attracted scrutiny. Reuters reported that megachurch finances in Nigeria had become increasingly controversial, especially because churches with charity status are not required to open their books publicly. In that same report, Oyedepo defended church income by saying it is used for schools and for serving the poor. Reuters also noted that Forbes had estimated his fortune at $150 million in 2011.

Legacy

David Oyedepo remains one of the most influential Pentecostal leaders to come out of Nigeria. He is remembered for building a global church network, creating major religious and educational institutions, and shaping the language of faith, prosperity, and success for millions of followers. At the same time, debates around prosperity preaching, tithing, and church wealth remain a lasting part of his public legacy.