David Oyedepo

David Olaniyi Oyedepo (born September 27, 1954), commonly known as Bishop David Oyedepo, is a Nigerian preacher, televangelist, author, and the founder and President of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners' Chapel International. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of the Christian charismatic movement in Africa and a prominent figure in the propagation of the Word of Faith doctrine.Early Life and Education David Olaniyi Oyedepo was born in Osogbo, Nigeria, on September 27, 1954, though he is a native of Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria. He was raised in a mixed religious family. Oyedepo pursued formal education in architecture, obtaining a Higher National Diploma (HND) from Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. Following his graduation, he briefly worked with the Federal Ministry of Housing in Ilorin before resigning to focus on missionary work. He later received a Ph.D. in Human Development from Honolulu University, Hawaii, United States.Career Progression and Major Achievements Oyedepo founded the Living Faith Church Worldwide, which began in 1981 following an 18-hour vision he claimed to have received from God. The ministry's headquarters, known as the Faith Tabernacle, is located in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, and is recognized as one of the largest church auditoriums in the world by capacity. The church network, Winners' Chapel International, has branches in over 300 cities globally. A key aspect of Oyedepo's ministry is his emphasis on education and infrastructure. He is the Chancellor of two major Nigerian universities established by the church: Covenant University and Landmark University. The ministry also operates secondary and primary schools, including Faith Academy and Kingdom Heritage Model Schools. In 2011, *Forbes* magazine listed him as the wealthiest preacher in Nigeria.Notable Works and Current Status Oyedepo is a prolific author and publisher. He is the chairman of Dominion Publishing House (DPH), the publishing arm of the ministry, commissioned in 1992. DPH has published over 70 Christian, inspirational, and motivational books, mini-books, and magazines, with millions of prints in circulation. He continues to serve as the Senior Pastor of the Faith Tabernacle and President/Founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide. He and his wife, Faith Abiola Oyedepo (née Akano), whom he married in 1982, have four children: David Oyedepo Jnr, Isaac Oyedepo, Love Oyedepo-Ogah, and Joyce Abodunrin, with his sons having also been ordained as pastors in the ministry.