Victor Ekong
With exactly eleven years in the business of chronicling the stories and growth of gospel music in Nigeria and inline with our nature since 2014 , Gospotainment has compile a list of people (among many others) who had generated great impacts and has influenced the growth and development of gospel music and gospel artist positively in an honour article we call PEOPLE CHANGING THE FACE OF GOSPEL MUSIC IN NIGERIA.
The year 2020 has been indeed a trying year for the human race. But despite the terrors and the pestilences, the love and passion for gospel music and the Kingdom of God as well remains afresh in the heart of this men and women. Below is our honour list:
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s messages have helped thousands globally to find their way to God. But outside preaching the gospel, Pastor Chris has generated great impact both in the gospel Music industry and to humanity as large.
For example, following the outbreak of COVID-19, a defining global health crisis, governments around the world took measures to curb the spread of the virus including quarantining, social distancing, closure of businesses, travel bans, restricted movements and lockdowns. It has created devastating social and economic crises as people have lost jobs and sources of livelihood.
In response, the InnerCity Mission for Children, a vibrant Member Agency of the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International, took urgent action to support the most vulnerable amid the global crisis through emergency food relief intervention to over 2, 000 households who have been adversely affected by the recent preventative measures of lockdown in Lagos, Nigeria.
Beneficiaries of the gesture expressed their profound gratitude to the man of God, Reverend (Dr.) Chris Oyakhilome and COFI, for remembering them at such dire times. Their joy knew no bounds as they continued to utter words of blessings, calling on God to reward Pastor Chris for remembering them and demonstrating such love towards them.
The power and passion that the LoveWorld Music and Arts Ministry (LMAM) artists exude for the mission they have in this world is beyond inspiring.
They have supernatural abilities to communicate the message of Christ Embassy Church. These messages are communicated directly from the Man of God, Reverend Dr. Chris Oyakhilome.
The amazing artists whose songs have literarily defined modern Christian worship music in Nigeria with the plethora of hits they release every year. These artists includes Sinach, Eben, Joe Praize, Frank Edwards, Samsong, Ada, Buchi among many others.
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome recognizes and appreciates the unbelievable talents of these creative musical ministers. Their use of music and artistry permeates the souls of the listeners. LIMA is a celebration and recognition of outstanding achievements in spreading the Gospel. Sir, You are one of Gospotainment’s People Changing Gospel music in Nigeria.
Pastor Paul Adefarasin
Paul Adeolu Adefarasin is a globally renowned preacher, an astute teacher, an impeccably eloquent public speaker, and a vocal agent of social change in the society. Pastor Paul, as he is fondly called, is a man whose story is one that embodies the grace of God on a man, and his church, House on the Rock.
As with the vision of House on the Rock as a church, Paul Adefarasin had another vision which he called ‘“The Experience”. . This vision has seen an exponential growth for 15 years now.
The concert was born out of a genuine desire to spread the gospel globally in a way that had never been done before anywhere else in this world, while at the same time, breaking the barriers of distance, language, race, economic class or denominational nomenclature.
This God-inspired vision provides a platform where all can raise their hearts, hands and voices together as one in unfettered praise to the Almighty.
Pastor Paul has also provided an enabling environment for artists of the House On The Rock such as Sammie Okposo, Onos Ariyo, Tim Godfrey, Eno Michael, Segun Obe, Glowreeyah Braimah and many more. Sir, You are one of Gospotainment’s People Changing Gospel music in Nigeria.
Pst Biodun Fatoyinbo
Pst Biodun Fatoyinbo is the Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA).
Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo the general overseer of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly is one of the richest Pastors in Nigeria.
According to a recent discovery, millions listen to Pastor Biodun’s sermons all over the world. He is popular in countries like the United States of America, Mexico, and some neighboring African countries to Nigeria.
Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo Ministry has its headquarters in Abuja, with other branches, in Ilorin, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and UAE in 1999, 2012, 2016, and 2017 respectively. Then the Abuja branch/Head-quarters was established in 2008.
He formed The Gratitude in 2016, a gospel music band. The Gratitude music band is popular for their unusual type of gospel music.
In October 2019, the music group, the Gratitude won the Choir/Group of the Year Category at UK Gospel Touch Music Awards. Sir, You are one of Gospotainment’s People Changing Gospel music in Nigeria.
Sinach
One of the biggest name in the Nigerian Gospel Music has been Believers LoveWorld Incorporation’s Osinachi Kalu Egbu has maintained a consistent and excellent reputation in the industry for over a decade and this made her one of the most sought Nigerian artiste internationally.
With allot of Achievement in 2019 which includes: the first Nigerian Gospel Singer to minister at one of the churches in America with the highest congregation (Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church), the First Nigerian Gospel singer to tour India, headlining concerts with several thousands in attendance, the First Nigerian Gospel Singer to be listed among 100 most reputable people on earth in 2019, etc. The ‘Way maker ‘ crooner has bagged so many honours this year; such as ‘Song of the year’ (GMA) Dove Award, LIMA Award, the first Nigerian gospel artiste to be awarded a gold plague from YouTube etc.
The singer’s “Sinach Live in Concert 30 Years Celebration of Worship” (SLIC30 2020) held on the 18th October 2020.
The concert was a celebration of the gospel music artiste minister’s 30 years of music ministry. Ma, You are one of Gospotainment’s People Changing Gospel music in Nigeria.
Martins Okonkwo
Martins Okonkwo, also known as Perry Martins, is the founder and Team lead at Gospotainment Media and owners of Gospotainment.com and Gospotainment Radio.
Though as a student who studied Physics and Electronics, he got a vision from God as at 2009 to run a gospel blog called Gospotainment; which is a fusion of the words “Gospel” and “Entertainment”.
Gospotainment is officially the premiere gospel music and Christian entertainment blog in Nigeria and probably in Africa by extension, whose purpose is to be a platform for promoting gospel music and Christian entertainment.
By April 6th 2010, Gospotainment.blogspot.com was announced for the first time on social media and on December 7th 2010, Gospotainment.com was shared on Facebook for the first time.
Today, Gospotainment reaches over 2 million people each year fulfilling her purpose to the glory of God. Sir, You are one of Gospotainment’s People Changing Gospel music in Nigeria. We celebrate you! De Boss.
TOLA Omoniyi
Deji Irawo:
Running business especially pure gospel media is fraught with challenges. It is even more challenging in Nigeria environment. This has made many people give up on their vision; but not Deji Irawo.
Armed with experiences in the media ranging from a broadcast media producer, presenter and channel manger, he birthed X2D, in 2009, a vision he has been nursing since 1998.
Before the launch of the channel, X2D started as a television programme “with the intent to showcase gospel entertainment.”
According to Deji Irawo, Lead Partner of X2D, the 24 hour music, lifestyle and entertainment cable TV was born to “create television programming that the whole family can enjoy.”
He has a wide range of experience in broadcasting from Plateau State Radio/TV stations, Nigeria Television Authority(NTA), HiTV before starting a 24 hour gospel cable TV, Exclusive to Divinity TV(X2D). Sir, You are one of Gospotainment’s People Changing Gospel music in Nigeria.
The list is Endless!
Conclusion:
We (Gospotainment) want to use this opportunity to express our intense gratitude to the Almighty God for His Grace and Help that He has rendered to us Freely; that has enabled us to run the year smoothly.
Also, we deeply appreciate all our clients/customers who had done business with us all through the year. We pray that God should continue to expand you on every side, and lift you to higher realms in life!
We Love You!
