Poju Oyemade Biography, Early Life, Ministry, The Covenant Nation, The Platform and Legacy

Poju Oyemade

Poju Oyemade is a Nigerian pastor, teacher, conference convener, and public speaker best known as the Senior Pastor and Founder of The Covenant Nation, a Lagos based ministry founded in 1994. He is also widely known as the convener of The Platform Nigeria and WAFBEC, two influential faith and public engagement events connected to his ministry.

Early Life and Background

Public information on Poju Oyemade’s childhood and family background is limited in the more authoritative sources I found. What is clear from his official biography is that his call to ministry began while he was still an undergraduate at the University of Lagos, a period that became the foundation of his later ministry work.

Education

Poju Oyemade studied at the University of Lagos. His official biography emphasizes that he received his ministerial calling during his undergraduate years there, though the official profiles I found do not clearly state his course of study.

Beginning of Ministry

Oyemade was later ordained into ministry by Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Ministries. His official biography says he founded what is now known as The Covenant Nation in 1994 in Lagos. Earlier public profiles and event pages identify the ministry by its former name, Covenant Christian Centre, showing the continuity between the older church identity and the current one.

Ministry and Public Influence

Poju Oyemade is widely known for a practical teaching style that applies biblical principles to daily life, family, business, and nation building. His official biography says he oversees The Covenant Nation in Lagos and has built a large in person and online following through sermons, conferences, and media outreach.

He is also known for convening three major annual platforms: WAFBEC, The Platform Nigeria, and the International Conference for Pastors, Ministers, Leaders and Workers. His official biography describes WAFBEC as a major Word of Faith conference, while The Platform is presented as a non political and non partisan national development forum that hosts senior public and private sector voices.

Oyemade’s media reach also became part of his public identity. Older and current ministry profiles say he has hosted the television programs Insights for Living and The Quantum Leap, helping him extend his influence beyond the church auditorium.

Personal Life

Poju Oyemade’s official biography says he is married to Pastor Toyin Oyemade, who is also described there as a teacher of the Word, filmmaker, and content creator.

Public Criticism and Controversies

Poju Oyemade has faced public criticism mainly over social and political commentary rather than personal scandal. In 2025, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors publicly faulted his remarks about the cost of medical education in Nigeria after he suggested that doctors spend as little as ₦500,000 on their training. Premium Times reported that NARD described the claim as inaccurate and misleading, and used the moment to argue that his comments did not reflect the real pressures facing Nigerian doctors.

He also drew backlash during the 2022 election season after a tweet many readers interpreted as criticism of the youth driven support around Peter Obi. Vanguard reported that he later deleted the tweet after online backlash, while TheCable reported that Peter Obi subsequently appealed to his supporters to tolerate differing views following the controversy.

At the same time, Poju Oyemade has sometimes taken positions that put him against conspiracy driven religious trends. In 2020, Premium Times reported that he was among pastors who pushed back against claims linking 5G technology to apocalyptic fears, placing him on the side of a more evidence based public response in that debate.

Legacy

Poju Oyemade is remembered as one of the Nigerian pastors who built influence not only through church ministry, but also through leadership conversations, public policy forums, and large teaching conferences. His legacy is closely tied to The Covenant Nation, WAFBEC, and The Platform Nigeria, as well as his role as a bridge between faith, leadership, and national conversation in Nigeria.

Sources: Poju Oyemade official biography, The Platform Nigeria official speaker profile, WAFBEC official profile, Premium Times, TheCable, and Vanguard.