Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Nigeria on Saturday appointed a new General Overseer for the Church as he retired ahead of his 75th birthday on 2 March.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the 74 year old clergyman says Pastor Joseph Obayemi will oversee the affairs of the Church in Nigeria.
This announcement was made during the Church’s Annual Ministers Thanksgiving at Shimawa, in Ogun State.
In 1981, Pastor Adeboye was appointed General Overseer of the church, taking over from Papa Akindayomi, who had died the previous year.
For three years he filled the role part-time, still a lecturer in mathematics at ilorin University, one of Nigeria’s biggest institutions of leaning established by a decree of the Federal Military Government in 1975.
He finally gave up his university position to preach full-time.
The church, which was not well known prior to Mr. Adeboye’s ascendance, has grown phenomenally, to become Nigeria’s biggest, with branches in about 190 countries, including more than 14,000 in Nigeria.
Married to Adenike, 68, in 1967, Mr. Adeboye says that his aim is to put a church within five minutes of every person on earth.
Obayemi was the Special Assistant to the General Overseer (SATGO) on Finance.
Mr. Adeboye also appointed Johnson Odesola, who was the Special Assistant on Administration and Personnel, as the church Secretary. (NAN)
Awards and Achievements
- He was awarded the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the Nigerian President in 2008.
- In 2009 he was named one of ‘The World’s Fifty Most Powerful People’ by Newsweek Magazine (USA).
- He is the recipient of several honorary degrees including an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Lagos and an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
- He was presented with the Spiritual Pillar of Nigerian Sports, a National Sports Honor in 2010.
cnakalungi@ugchristiannews.com
