Chris Oyakhilome Biography, Early Life, Education, Ministry, Controversies and Legacy

Chris Oyakhilome

Chris Oyakhilome is a Nigerian pastor, televangelist, author, and healing minister best known as the founder of LoveWorld Incorporated, also known as Christ Embassy. He became one of the most recognized Pentecostal church leaders from Nigeria through his preaching, large media ministry, and global church network.

Early Life and Background

Chris Oyakhilome, whose full name is Christian Oyakhilome, was born on 7 December 1963 in Edo State, Nigeria. Public biographies describe him as coming from a Christian family and later growing into one of the most visible religious figures in Africa.

Education

Chris Oyakhilome attended Edo College and later studied Architecture at what is now Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, then known as Bendel State University. It was during his university years that his ministry journey began to take shape.

Beginning of Ministry

While still a student, he started a youth fellowship known as Youth for Christ, which later grew strongly on campus. After graduating in 1987, he established Christ Embassy in Lagos, and from there the ministry expanded steadily within Nigeria and beyond.

Rise in Ministry

Chris Oyakhilome became widely known through preaching, healing meetings, books, and television outreach. His ministry later grew into a major international church movement with branches in many countries, and he also became known for the devotional book Rhapsody of Realities, which gained wide circulation. Official Christ Embassy material describes his ministry as spanning more than three decades and reaching millions of people around the world.

Humanitarian and Institutional Work

Beyond preaching, his ministry is also linked to humanitarian work through projects such as the Inner City Mission and other foundations connected to LoveWorld. These efforts helped build his image not only as a preacher, but also as a religious leader involved in charity and social outreach.

Personal Life

Chris Oyakhilome was married to Anita Ebhodaghe Oyakhilome. They had two daughters, and their divorce was confirmed in 2016. This became one of the most talked about personal moments in his public life because both of them were well known within the ministry.

Controversies and Public Criticism

Chris Oyakhilome’s public life has also been marked by controversy. He has faced criticism for promoting faith healing claims around serious illnesses and for statements linked to conspiracy theories about COVID 19, 5G, and vaccines. In 2021, the UK regulator Ofcom fined LoveWorld Television Network for broadcasting harmful and inaccurate claims about the pandemic, including the false suggestion that COVID 19 was linked to 5G technology.

His church’s UK charity arm was also the subject of a Charity Commission inquiry, which concluded there had been serious misconduct and or mismanagement in its administration. That finding added to wider criticism around governance and accountability within parts of the ministry structure.

Reuters also reported that in 2011 he was investigated and charged over alleged money laundering involving church funds, though he denied wrongdoing and the case was later dismissed for lack of evidence. That episode became another important part of the public debate around his ministry and wealth.

Legacy

Chris Oyakhilome remains one of the most influential Pentecostal pastors to come out of Nigeria. He is remembered for building Christ Embassy into a global ministry, spreading Christian media through television and publishing, and shaping modern Pentecostal culture for many followers. At the same time, his legacy remains mixed because of the repeated controversies tied to public health claims, church governance, and financial scrutiny.