BISHOP DAVID OYEDEPO ONE OF THE WORLD GREATEST PIONEER OF CHRISTIANITY

David O. Oyedepo, affectionately called Papa by his followers (born September 27, 1954) is a Nigerian Christian author, Preacher and the founder and Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church World Wide also known as Winners Chapel and its affiliated International churches known as Winners Chapel International, with headquarters in Ogun State, Nigeria. He is also the senior pastor of the acclaimed Faith Tabernacle,a 50,000 seat church auditorium reported to be the largest church auditorium in the world by the Guinness Book of Records. The Winners Chapel network of churches is present in over 300 cities in all states of Nigeria, as well as in over 63 cities in 32 African Nations, Dubai, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.Oyedepo has been seen as one of pioneers of the Christian charismatic movement in Africa and has been referred to as one of the most powerful preachers in Nigeria.

EARLY LIFE AND HISTORY

On September 27, 1954 David Olaniyi Oyedepo was born in Omu Aran, Kwara into a religiously mixed family: his father,Ibrahim,was a Muslim healer and his mother,Dorcas,was a member of the Eternal Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement (C&S), a branch of the Aladura movement in Nigeria. David was “born again” in 1969 through the influence of his teacher, one Ms. Betty Lasher, who took special interest in him during his high school days. He studied architecture at Kwara State Polytechnic and worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Housing Corporation in Ilorin before resigning to concentration on missionary work. Oyedepo also gained a Ph.D in Human Development from Honolulu University, Hawaii, United States of America.

According to him, he received a mandate from God through an 18 hour long vision in May 1981 to 'liberate the world from all oppression of the devil through the preaching of the word of faith'. This is the inaugural vision that led to the
founding of the LFCWW, first called Liberation Faith Hour Ministries, in 1981. Two
years after, on 17 September 1983, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, ordained David and his wife, Florence Abiola Akano (now known as Faith Abiola Oyedepo) to become pastors also officially commissioned the newly started church of Oyedepo. Five years after, Oyedepo was ordained a Bishop.

Oyedepo's church started in Kaduna, but moved to Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria in September 1989 to start a new branch of His Church, after receiving an instruction from God to reach out to the population in Lagos. This Church has gone on to become the International head quarters of His Church.Due to the increasing flow of people into His Church with crowds spilling over to adjacent roads, and on decks of uncompleted buildings nearby and people standing for hours to listen to His teachings, it became necessary to search for a larger place.This led to the building of the renowned Faith Tabernacle.

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

The teachings of Oyedepo has put him in the category of what is commonly called the Word of Faith Movement. He has referred to principal exponents of the Faith Movement such as Kenneth Copeland, Gloria Copeland,the late Kenneth Hagin, T.L Osborn, Smith WigglesWorth as well as renowned Nigerian preachers Enoch Adeboye and the late Benson Idahosa as mentors.

The teachings of Oyedepo are grouped under a range of topics called '12 pillars of faith', which include: Faith, The Word, Prosperity, the Holy Spirit, Praise, Consecration, the Supernatural, Wisdom, Prayer, Success, Vision and Healing.[21] The Overall focus of His teachings centre around Faith in God's, Prosperity and Miracles.He teaches that faith in the word of God is the key to a life of God's blessings and security of the works of the devil.He teachings on prosperity are aimed at empowering people to live free from poverty, particularly the African continent. He describes his own teaching on prosperity as “covenant software for programming yourself into victories and triumphs." His Church (Winners Chapel) also operates a Bible training programme known as Word of Faith Bible Institute for members and non-members alike to develop knowledge of Christian principles and to develop leaders and future pastors.This institute is run in major branches of the Church.

Oyedepo who operates like the “Chief Executive Officer” of a conglomerate,is the President of David Oyedepo Ministries International (DOMI). DOMI is the umbrella organisation comprising Living Faith Church World Wide (a global network of churches), World Mission Agency (WMA); the global missionary arm of the church's operations, Dominion Publishing House; the publishing arm of the church, Covenant University, and the Social Development Missions projects (made up of hospitals, maternity homes, schools, etc.

Oyedepo is also a strong critic of corruption in Africa as a whole and poor leadership in government

EDUCATION ENDEAVOURS
Oyedepo's socio-economic endeavours include founding educational institutions based on Christian principles for primary, secondary and tertiary stages of formal Education to empower the young generation,develop the human capacity and improve the educational system in Nigeria and Africa. This has led to the establishment of kingdom heritage model schools in different cities in Nigeria for primary education, Faith Academy; a missionary full boarding secondary school and Covenant University.Covenant University was opened to students on October 21, 2002 and was adjudged to be the best private university in Nigeria as of 2005

WINNERS CHAPEL INTERNATIONAL IN NIGERIA

YVONNE CHAKACHAKA THE SOUTH AFRICAN SINGER AND SUPER STAR.

Yvonne Chaka Chaka (born Yvonne Machaka in 1965) is a South African singer.
Dubbed the "Princess of Africa", Chaka Chaka has been at the forefront of South African popular music for 20 years. Songs like "I'm Burning Up", "I'm in Love With a DJ", "I Cry for Freedom", "Makoti", "Motherland" and the ever-popular "Umqombothi" ("African Beer") ensured Yvonne's stardom.
One of her songs also features in the opening scene of the 2004 movie Hotel Rwanda.
Chaka Chaka was born in Dobsonville in Soweto. She became the first Black child to appear on South African television. In 1981 "Sugar Shack", a talent show, introduced her to the South African public.

Chaka Chaka started singing at 19 in 1985 when Phil Hollis of Dephon Records discovered her in Johannesburg. Shortly after, her debut album "I’m in Love With a DJ", sold 35,000 copies, and the title track became an instant hit.

Songs like "I'm Burning Up", "I Cry for Freedom", "Sangoma","Motherland" and the ever-popular, "Umqombothi" immediately ensured Chaka Chaka's status as a star on South Africa's mbaqanga music scene.

Chaka Chaka had it tough growing up. Her father died when she was 11 and her mother, a domestic worker, brought up three daughters on her meagre 40 Rand a month salary.

She has two diplomas from the University of South Africa, one in adult education, another in local government, management and administration. She also studied speech and drama at Trinity College, London, qualifying in 1997.

Releasing hit after hit, Chaka Chaka's subsequent award winning albums include "Burning Up", "Sangoma", "Who’s The Boss", "Motherland", " Be Proud to be African", "Thank You Mr DJ", "Back on my Feet", "Rhythm of Life", "Who's got the Power", "Bombani ( Tiko Rahini), "Power of Afrika", "Yvonne and Friends" and "Kwenzenjani".

Chaka Chaka owns a limousine company together with her husband, Dr Mandlalele Mhinga, has her own music label and her own production company. She teaches literacy part time at the University of South Africa, sits on several boards of charitable organisations and NGOs, and serves on the board of the Johannesburg Tourism Company.

Throughout her illustrious career Chaka Chaka has met people like Nelson Mandela (singing at his 85th birthday party), the Queen and Oprah Winfrey.

Chaka Chaka's continuing legacy as "Princess of Africa" is a testament to her connection to everyday people as well as royalty. Whether she is performing for Kings and Queens, Presidents and First Ladies or corporate concerts; she always returns to those she loves - her fans and family of listeners in South African cities, townships and rural areas.

"Mama Africa", Miriam Makeba describes her as "She’s my baby!", Hugh Masekela adds that Yvonne is "my mad niece". Legends Dolly Rathebe and Dorothy Masuka describe Yvonne's music as "something that all should listen to".

When asked who she admired most, Chaka Chaka said "My mother because she has always been there for me. My mother raised three daughters single-handedly on a domestic worker's salary. That took great courage and strength. She is my mentor and hero. When I was born in 1965 in Soweto, it was during apartheid, and those were extremely difficult times. My dad was a great musician who could never realize his dream. He died when I was 11 years old. I inherited my talent from both parents, so music has always been in my blood. When I was little I would strum an empty tin and blow into a broom stick pretending it was a microphone. I sang in church choirs. I loved singing. I am blessed that I achieved my destiny, and been able to accomplish what my father could not."

KOLO HABIB TOURE THE AFRICAN SOCCER SUPER STAR FROM IVORY COAST

Kolo Habib Touré (born 19 March 1981) is an Ivorian professional footballer who is currently playing his club football for Premier League club Manchester City and is the current club captain, and also plays internationally for the Ivorian national football team. Touré is a central defender. He is the older brother of FC Barcelona midfielder Yaya Touré and Al-Ittihad's Ibrahim Touré.

Touré has played for Côte d'Ivoire since 2000. His debut was in April 2000 against Rwanda. He played in all five games for the Côte d'Ivoire as they finished runners up to the hosts in the African Cup of Nations in Egypt in January 2006.

He was named in the 23-man squad taken by coach Henri Michel to the 2006 FIFA World Cup and made his first appearance in a FIFA World Cup on 11 June 2006 in Côte d'Ivoire's 2–1 loss to Argentina. He has scored two goals for the Ivory Coast in his 76 caps to date, both headers against Gabon (H) and Tajikistan (A) respectively.

Touré, a practicing Muslim, lives with wife Awo, daughter Sania and son Yiassin . He is the older brother of FC Barcelona midfielder Yaya Touré and Al-Ittihad striker Ibrahim Touré.

CALL HER SNAKE GIRL, NOKULUNGA BUTHELEZI A PHENOMENAL STAR FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Her nickname is Snakegirl - and just one look at her extraordinary stage act reveals why.

The 18-year-old contortionist, who dresses in a snakeskin costume, is amazing audiences with her incredible poses and eye-watering gyrations.

Nokulunga Buthelezi is so naturally flexible that her mother found her asleep one day when she was three - with her legs tucked behind her neck.
Six years later, the young girl from South Africa joined a touring circus in the United States and is now a major star of Afrika! Afrika!, a £4.2million extravaganza opening at the O2 arena in London on January 17.

Nokulunga, whose name is shortened to Lunga for the stage, achieves seemingly impossible positions with ease, then ratchets up the act with excruciating twists and turns.

The performer, who now financially supports her mother, grandmother, aunts and cousins, said: "There are so many kids out there in Africa with talent, but I had something different.
"My mum saw someone doing acrobatics and they mentioned that there were auditions for an American circus. She took me along and they were impressed.

"When I went to America, I did not even speak English and I had no chaperone, just a tutor for my education. It was tough at first but my family supported me because they knew I was following my dreams."

HE GOES BY 2FACE IDIBIA THE AFRICAN ARTIST AND SUPER STAR FROM NIGERIA

Innocent Ujah Idibia (born in Jos, Plateau State) best known as Tuface Idibia is a Nigerian hip hop musician and songwriter. He was a member of the defunct R&B/hip hop group Plantashun Boyz. He is currently in a long-term relationship with reality tv star, Makosi Musambasi.

CAREER

Idibia hails from Okpokwu local government area and from the Idoma ethnic group in the southern part of Benue State, in central Nigeria. He attended Mount Saint Gabriel's Secondary School in Makurdi, Benue State. He schooled briefly in the Institute of Management & Technology, IMT, Enugu, one of the country's foremost higher institute of learning where he did his preliminary National Diploma course in Business Administration. Though, he didn't finish but would hone his skills in music by performing in shows and parties organised by the IMT and some other schools like Enugu State University of Science & Technology, Enugu (ESUT) and University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC).

His major breakthrough in the IMT was composing and singing the jingles in the famous radio show GB Fan Club in Enugu State Broadcasting Services (ESBS) in 1996. He then relocated to Lagos and joined up with his ex-IMT mate BlackFace to form Plantashun Boyz. He started calling himself "2Face" in 1996. "The name to me just refers to the outside and inside: when you first see me you see the outside but when you get to know me, you see the inside" he said in an interview with the BBC.

His award winning hit track African Queen was used as the sound track of the 2006 comedy film, Phat Girlz . This made him even more recognized internationally.

The Plantashun Boyz came together briefly in 2007 to record an album which they titled 'Plan B'.

He also released a promotion album in 2008 which has spawned a hit Enter the Place which was written by Churks though one of his least successful hits ever, did well in some charts. The Promo CD is said to have faced distribution and sales problems, going unnoticed in some areas of the country. It has led to the shift of the release date of the album from 2008 to 2009 instead of the proposed release date announced in 2007. Tuface is currently working on an upcoming album titled 'Implications' though the date of release has to be announced

AWARDS HE WON

# MTV Europe Awards 2005 - Best African Act
# MOBO Awards 2005 - Best African Act (Nominated)
# MOBO Awards 2007 - Best African Act (Won)
# Channel O Music Video Awards 2005 - Best Male Video and Best African Video (both for "African Queen")[5]
# KORA Awards 2005 - Revelation of the Year
# Hip Hop World Awards 2006 - Special Recognition Award
# 2006 Channel O Music Video Awards - Best African Pop ("Ole")
# 2006 Channel O Music Video Awards - Best African West ("Ole")
# Nigeria Entertainment Awards 2006 - Special Recognition Award. Nigeria Breakthrough Artist of the Year
# Nigerian Music Awards 2008 - Album of the Year and R&B Song of the Year (Won)
# World Music Awards 2008 - Best Nigerian Act (Won)
# MTV Africa Music Awards 2009 - Best R&B

ISHA SESAY CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDANT FROM SIERRA LEONE

Isha Sesay is a British journalist of Sierra Leonean descent. She is best known in the UK as a former newsreader for Sky Sports News and ITN, and since 2005 has been an anchor for CNN International.

BACK GROUND
Sesay was born in the UK and is one of three children, having an older sister and a younger brother. Her mother is Dr Kadi Sesay, a former lecturer at Fourah Bay College, who entered Sierra Leonean politics in 1992 as an advisor to the government of Valentine Strasser. Her father, who worked as a legal advisor to the SLPMB (Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Board), died in 1988, having caught hepatitis while on a trip to India.

Sesay moved to Sierra Leone with her family when she was seven years old, where she studied at Fourah Bay College School in Freetown. At the age of 16 she returned to the UK, and after completing her A-levels was accepted into Trinity College, Cambridge, where she studied English. It was there that she decided to become a television presenter, having previously aspired to become an actress, and during her final year began writing to media groups seeking work.

CAREER

After graduating, Sesay began her television career as a researcher for the BBC talk show Kilroy, initially as an unpaid volunteer but later as a full-time paid employee. In 1998 she moved to Glasgow to work for BBC Scotland, and after a period behind the camera got her first job as a TV presenter on BBC Choice. She went on to present a variety of programmes for the BBC, CNN, and TWI, before joining Sky in March 2002.

At Sky, Sesay spent over three years as a presenter on Good Morning Sports Fans for Sky Sports News. She considers the high points of this period to be meeting former boxer Michael Watson,[5] interviewing Ellen MacArthur, and travelling with members of the Arsenal football team following an exhibition match at Reebok Stadium in support of Nwankwo Kanu's heart foundation. She later moved to ITN, where she anchored the ITV Morning News programme, and was also a newsreader on breakfast programme GMTV.

In November 2005, Sesay became a news anchor at CNN International, based at the network's global headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. She travelled to Nigeria in April 2007 to cover that country's presidential election, where she conducted one-on-one interviews with both outgoing president Olusegun Obasanjo, and the newly elected president Umaru Yar'Adua. Later that year, she was in South Africa to cover the launch of the Global Elders.

As of 2009, Sesay was both host and reporter for Inside Africa, a weekly programme dedicated to political, economic, social and cultural affairs in Africa, and anchor of daily news programme International Desk.

Isha also presents CNN's Backstory in the absence of regular host Michael Holmes

KOFI KINGSTON GHANAEAN -AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER.

Kofi Sarkodie-Mensah (born on August 14, 1981) is a Ghanaian-American professional wrestler, better known under his ring name, Kofi Kingston, currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment working on the Raw brand. Since competing for WWE, he has won the Intercontinental Championship once, the United States Championship once and the World Tag Team Championship once with CM Punk.

Sarkodie-Mensah was born in Ghana before his family moved to the United States in 1982. Coming from a family of intellectuals from near Kumasi in Ghana, he was expected to become a teacher like his grandfather。

Sarkodie-Mensah began wrestling professionally in 2005, under the ring name of Kofi Nahaje Kingston. Kingston’s country of birth was billed as Jamaica rather than Ghana, because, according to Leslie Goffe of the BBC, “[People] would be more likely to embrace a person from the land of Bob Marley and reggae music” than someone from Ghana. (It was not until the October 1st 2009 edition of Superstars, that he was for the first time announced as hailing from “Ghana, West Africa”.) He made his official wrestling debut in 2006, when he faced PWF Mayhem Heavyweight Champion Evan Siks on June 4

In September 2006, he signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and was assigned to Deep South Wrestling (DSW), a Georgia based developmental federation. He debuted in the new company, as Kofi Nahaje Kingston, in a dark match loss to Montel Vontavious Porter on September 21

In 2007, under the ring name “Kofi Jamaica”, he had his first exposure to the main WWE roster, when he worked dark matches on March 5 and 26 before episodes of Raw against Charlie Haas and Trevor Murdoch respectively. When he returned to the developmental federations, he shortened his original ring name to “Kofi Kingston” and continued to use both ring names throughout his duration there. He also worked live events, defeating Shelton Benjamin on May 5 and Val Venis on May 6

As part of the 2008 WWE Supplemental Draft, Kingston was drafted to the Raw brand. In his first match as a member of Raw roster, he defeated Chris Jericho for the WWE Intercontinental Championship at Night of Champions. The win made him the first Ghanaian wrestler to hold a championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and it was also his first championship in his wrestling career. Kingston held the championship until SummerSlam

At No Way Out in 2009, Kingston won a spot in the World Heavyweight Championship Elimination Chamber by defeating Kane, but was unable to officially enter in the match, as he was ambushed by Edge, who took Kingston’s place and eventually won the match

Kingston defeated Chris Jericho, after interference from Ric Flair, to earn a spot in the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania XXV, but the match was won by CM Punk

On October 5, 2009, Kingston dropped the title to The Miz on Raw, ending his four month reign as champion

PASTOR TB JOSHUA THE FOUNDER OF SYNAGOGUE CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS

Temitope Balogun Joshua (born June 12, 1963), commonly referred to as T. B. Joshua, is the founder of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN), a Christian organisation headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. A Christian pastor, humanitarian and author, Joshua broadcasts Christian televangelism via SCOAN's Christian television station Emmanuel TV, and on the Internet via the Streaming Faith broadcast portal.
Supernatural birth

According to SCOAN's account , supernatural phenomena accompanied Joshua's birth and early life.

Joshua allegedly remained in his mother's womb for 15 months before he was born. In hospital, his mother was allegedly warned not do an operation by a pastor, who said that God was busy preparing the child in her womb. During his naming ceremony seven days after birth, a big stone was said to have flown from where workers were drilling a borehole, pierced the roof where people were celebrating and landed where the baby was placed. The stone missed him narrowly.

It is also said a sage had predicted his birth a century earlier .

EDUCATION
Joshua attended St. Stephen's Anglican Primary School (Ikare-Akoko, Nigeria, 1971-1977, but failed to complete one year of secondary school education. In school, he was known as 'small pastor' because of his love for the Bible and ability to predict things to come in his community . He further gained reputation for alleged spiritual prowess after confronting a madman in the school premises and collecting his weapon from him. He was the leader of 'Scripture Union' whilst in school .
EARLY LIFE

Joshua worked washing people's feet on the muddy streets of Lagos before moving to a poultry farm where he had the degrading job of carrying chicken waste. At the same time, he held Bible studies with children and attended evening school .

His ambition to enlist into the military was aborted by an act of fate, as the train he boarded to attend an interview in the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, developed serious faults that left him stranded in the bush for six days .

FOUNDING OF THE SYNAGOGUE CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS(SCOAN)

In 1987, T.B. Joshua visited a ‘prayer mountain’ to seek the face of God. There, he allegedly fasted and prayed for 40 days and 40 nights. He wrote that in a heavenly vision, he had received divine anointing and a covenant from God to start his ministry. In his own words, he said concerning the life-changing experience:

“… I saw a hand that pointed a Bible to my heart. The Bible entered my heart and my former heart seemed to immerse with the Bible immediately… I heard a voice saying, ‘I am your God. I am giving you a divine commission to go and carry out the work of the Heavenly Father… I would show you the wonderful ways I would reveal myself through you in teaching, preaching, miracles, signs and wonders for the salvation of souls…’ ”

Joshua started a church with just a handful of members, naming it 'The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations'—a name he says God divinely revealed to him . Since then, the church has grown far beyond the shores of Nigeria . More than 15,000 members attend the weekly Sunday service, and visitors from outside Nigeria are accommodated in the church facilities.

From the very first service held in 1987 to the present day, the church has been controversial due to reports of miraculous signs and wonders that occur every week. Numerous videos have been produced which purport to document the healing of incurable sicknesses such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, and paralysis; showing people's conditions before, during, and after prayer from T. B. Joshua.

The church currently has branches in Ghana, the United Kingdom , South Africa, and Greece. He is also mentoring many evangelists from around the world in the church premises, saying: "The biggest reward God can give to His servant... is to make disciples who will do better than what we are presently doing." .

Interestingly, a renowned Nigerian prophet, Akin Adewole, prophesied in 1995 that “a young man from Nigeria would be highly anointed, such that all the nations of the world would embrace the mighty God through him,” a message he later affirmed to be concerning T.B. Joshua .

EMMANUEL TV NETWORK

Emmanuel TV is the television station of SCOAN and broadcasts 24/7. Every Sunday service is broadcast live on Emmanuel TV and its unique programmes are attracting a growing viewership across Africa and America. Many have testified to receiving healing merely through watching the Emmanuel TV broadcasts and praying along with TB Joshua The channels motto is 'Changing lives, changing nations, changing the world.'

Various prominent politicians, ministers of God and Gospel musicians have commended Emmanuel TV. The former president of Zambia, Frederick Chiluba, professed he watches it daily . It has been described as the 'people's station' in many African countries .

T.B. Joshua's programmes also air 5 days a week on TBN Africa and CTV, as well as weekly on a number of Nigerian television stations.