Matthew Ashimolowo Biography, Early Life, Ministry, KICC, Controversies and Legacy

Matthew Ashimolowo

Matthew Ashimolowo is a Nigerian pastor, televangelist, author, and church leader best known as the founder and senior pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre, KICC, in the United Kingdom. KICC says he has led the church since 1992, and the church’s official history says the ministry began in London with about 300 members.

Early Life and Background

Public biographical records identify Matthew Ashimolowo as having been born on 17 March 1952 in Kaduna, Nigeria. Public summaries also say he converted from Islam to Christianity at about age 20 after the death of his father, a turning point that later shaped the direction of his ministry life.

Beginning of Ministry

KICC’s official history says Ashimolowo started the church in September 1992 at Holloway Boys School, North London. The church describes those years as humble beginnings marked by fast growth, and later records show KICC expanding into larger venues before establishing its better known headquarters and Prayer City presence.

Ministry and Influence

KICC presents Ashimolowo as a pastor who combines preaching, teaching, mentoring, and leadership, and credits him with helping build one of the most visible Black majority Pentecostal churches in Britain. Public records also connect him to media work, including the Winning Ways broadcast, and to wider institutional influence through Kings University in Nigeria, where he is listed as Chancellor.

Family and Church Leadership

Public biographies say Matthew Ashimolowo is married to Yemisi Ashimolowo and that they have children. Public reporting in 2022 also said he appointed his first son, Tobi Ashimolowo, as a resident pastor at KICC, a move that drew attention because it hinted at succession planning within the church.

Controversies and Public Criticism

Ashimolowo’s public life has also been marked by major controversy. A Charity Commission inquiry into the charity behind KICC found serious misconduct and mismanagement in its administration. Public summaries of the inquiry say he approved payments and benefits to himself and his wife totaling more than £384,000, and later reporting said he was ordered to repay £200,000 and was removed from his role as chief executive of the charity structure.

KICC was later investigated again over a failed £5 million investment connected to former footballer Richard Rufus. The Charity Commission’s later report said the investments resulted in a net loss of £3.9 million to the charity, and news coverage linked the case to wider concerns about governance and oversight.

Because of these issues, Ashimolowo has often been discussed alongside debates about prosperity preaching, church wealth, charity accountability, and the personal benefits received by high profile religious leaders. That broader criticism is an inference from the repeated coverage of his finances, KICC’s size, and the regulatory findings around the ministry.

Legacy

Matthew Ashimolowo is remembered as one of the most prominent Nigerian born Pentecostal pastors to build a major church outside Nigeria. His legacy is tied to the rise of KICC, his strong preaching and media presence, and his influence in Christian leadership circles in both the UK and Nigeria. At the same time, that legacy remains mixed because his ministry success is often discussed alongside serious regulatory criticism and financial controversy.

Sources: KICC official leadership and history pages, Charity Commission inquiry records, The Guardian, Premium Times, and public biographical records.