{"id":441072,"date":"2011-06-14T14:51:03","date_gmt":"2011-06-14T14:51:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/06\/14\/nigerias-millionaire-pastors\/"},"modified":"2011-06-14T14:51:03","modified_gmt":"2011-06-14T14:51:03","slug":"nigerias-millionaire-pastors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/06\/14\/nigerias-millionaire-pastors\/","title":{"rendered":"Nigeria’s ‘millionaire’ pastors"},"content":{"rendered":"

14 June 2011<\/span> Last updated at<\/span> 10:51 ET<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Nigeria’s pastors run multi-million dollar businesses which rival that of oil tycoons, a Nigerian blogger who has researched the issue has told the BBC.<\/p>\n

Mfonobong Nsehe, who blogs for Forbes business magazine, says pastors own businesses from hotels to fast-food chains.<\/p>\n

“Preaching is big business. It’s almost as profitable as the oil business,” he said.<\/p>\n

The joint wealth of five pastors was at least $200m (\u00a3121m), he said.<\/p>\n

Mr Nsehe said the richest of them, Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith World Outreach Ministry, was worth about $150m.<\/p>\n

Bishop Oyedepo owned a publishing company, university, an elite private school, four jets and homes in London and the United States, according to Mr Nsehe.<\/p>\n

‘Private jets’<\/span><\/p>\n

The Nigerian blogger said Bishop Oyedepo was followed on the rich list<\/a> by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of the Believers’ Loveworld Ministries. He was worth between $30 and $50m.<\/p>\n

Continue reading the main story<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cStart Quote<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n

These pastors are flamboyant. You see them with private jets and expensive cars\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

End Quote<\/span> Mfonobong Nshe<\/span> Nigerian blogger<\/span>\n<\/div>\n

“Oyakhilome’s diversified interests include newspapers, magazines, a local television station, a record label, satellite TV, hotels and extensive real estate,” Mr Nsehe said.<\/p>\n

He said three of the other richest pastors were:<\/p>\n