BENIN CITY, Nigeria — Archbishop Benson Andrew Idahosa, one of the pioneers of Nigeria’s Pentecostal movement and founder of the Church of God Mission International (CGMI), is being remembered today, September 11, on what would have been his 88th birthday.
Born on September 11, 1938, in Benin City, present-day Edo State, Idahosa rose from a difficult childhood marked by poverty and poor health to become one of Africa’s most influential Pentecostal preachers.
His life story, marked by evangelism, faith, education and humanitarian initiatives, continues to inspire millions of Christians in Nigeria and beyond.
Here are 13 remarkable facts about the late preacher:
1. He was born into poverty and suffered serious health challenges
Idahosa was born to John and Sarah Idahosa in Benin City. According to biographical accounts from Benson Idahosa University and the Dictionary of African Christian Biography, he was a frail and frequently sick child who suffered fainting spells.
Accounts from his family and ministry say his father rejected him because of his condition, while his mother remained central to his survival and upbringing. One account says he was abandoned on a rubbish heap as a baby after being presumed dead, only to regain consciousness later.
2. Poverty kept him out of school until about age 14
Idahosa’s childhood was shaped by extreme poverty. Biographical accounts say he worked from an early age and was unable to receive formal education until he was about 14.
He later continued his education through correspondence courses while working at Bata Shoe Company.
3. His conversion began on a football field
According to his biographers, Idahosa encountered Christianity as a teenager through Pastor Okpo while playing football in Benin City.
His conversion became a turning point. He soon developed a passion for evangelism and began sharing his faith with others.
One of the most famous stories associated with his early ministry concerns his decision, after hearing that believers could do the impossible through faith, to search for someone who had died so he could pray for the person to come back to life.
The Dictionary of African Christian Biography records Idahosa’s own account of finding a deceased child and praying for her, after which he said the child came back to life. The account is presented as his testimony.
4. He built Church of God Mission from humble beginnings
Idahosa eventually founded what became the Church of God Mission International.
According to CGMI’s official history, the ministry grew from a prayer group that began in Benin City and later developed into an international church with branches across Nigeria and other parts of the world.
5. He became a pioneer of Pentecostal evangelism
Idahosa was renowned for his emphasis on evangelism, prayer, faith, healing and miracles.
He also embraced large-scale crusades and modern communication methods to spread the Christian message, helping to shape the style of Pentecostal evangelism that later became prominent across Nigeria and Africa.
He was ordained a bishop in 1981 and became widely known as Nigeria’s first Pentecostal archbishop.
6. His ministry became associated with claims of miraculous healings and resurrections
Accounts from Idahosa’s ministry state that he was used by God to heal the sick and raise people from the dead.
Benson Idahosa University’s official biography says he was credited within his ministry with raising as many as 28 people from the dead during his lifetime. Such accounts are matters of religious testimony rather than independently established medical evidence.
A separate historical account notes that a claim involving eight people raised from the dead was challenged by Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority, illustrating the controversy surrounding some of the claims associated with his ministry.
7. He preached across more than 100 countries
According to his university’s official biography, Idahosa took the gospel to 145 nations during his lifetime and developed relationships with prominent international Christian leaders, including T. L. Osborn and Oral Roberts.
His international activities helped establish him as one of the most recognisable African Pentecostal preachers of his generation.
8. He pioneered Christian television broadcasting in Africa
Idahosa was also an early adopter of television as an evangelistic tool.
His ministry launched Idahosa World Outreach Television (IWO TV) and its Redemption Hour programme. Benson Idahosa University says the television ministry reached a potential audience of about 50 million people.
This helped earn him a reputation as one of Africa’s earliest major television evangelists.
9. His vision extended beyond the pulpit
Idahosa’s influence was not limited to preaching.
He established institutions aimed at education, healthcare and social development, including the All Nations for Christ Bible Institute, Word of Faith Group of Schools and Faith Mediplex.
His vision also eventually gave rise to Benson Idahosa University in Benin City.
10. He trained a generation of Pentecostal leaders
Through the All Nations for Christ Bible Institute and his wider ministry, Idahosa influenced a generation of African Christian leaders.
Among the ministers associated with his ministry and training network are prominent Pentecostal figures including David Oyedepo and other Nigerian and African church leaders.
His influence therefore extended beyond his own congregation into the wider Pentecostal movement.
11. He championed education and social intervention
Idahosa established schools and medical facilities as part of his vision of addressing the needs of the “total man.”
His ministry also became associated with programmes aimed at helping vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities and those struggling with substance abuse.
The institutions established under his vision continue to operate in different forms today.
12. “Possibilitarian” became his trademark philosophy
Perhaps one of Idahosa’s most enduring expressions was:
“I am a possibilitarian.”
The phrase captured his philosophy of faith, courage and the conviction that obstacles could be overcome through belief in God.
His messages frequently focused on possibility, faith, prayer and taking bold steps in pursuit of one’s calling.
13. He died at 59, but his influence continued
Benson Idahosa died on March 12, 1998, aged 59, in Benin City.
Historical accounts report that he had received visitors connected with Oral Roberts University on the day of his death and later died while at home following a lunch meeting.
He was survived by his wife, Archbishop Margaret Idahosa, and their children. Margaret later became a major figure in the Church of God Mission International and has also served as Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University.
More than two decades after his death, Idahosa’s name remains deeply associated with the growth of Pentecostal Christianity in Nigeria and Africa.
From a poor and sickly child who reportedly struggled to access formal education to an internationally recognised preacher, church founder, educator and broadcaster, Benson Idahosa’s life remains one of the remarkable stories in the history of African Christianity.
Happy posthumous birthday to Archbishop Benson Andrew Idahosa.
Credit:By Ethnic African Stories
