Nigeria has over 100 different Christian churches with different founders, General-Overseer and Pastors. The Whisperer has taken time to prepare this list of top 10 young Nigerian pastors who have achieved considerable success in their respective ministries. These men have elevated Christianity to a completely new level by appealing to young people’s minds with teachings and practices that make Christianity appealing to them. Although there are many of them across the country, we have compiled a list of the top 10 in no particular order.
1. Pastor Jerry Eze
Jerry Uchechukwu Eze is one of the energetic young Pastors in Nigeria who are excelling in their ministries. He is a seasoned Pastor, passionate preacher, ‘prayer warrior’, teacher, leadership coach and international conference speaker.
Pastor Jerry was born on August 22nd, 1982, in Item, Bende Local Government of Abia State, Nigeria. However, he grew up in the city of Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
Pastor Jerry, also referred to as PJ, is the founder and head of Streams of Joy International Ministries. He founded the Streams of Joy International Church in 2011 and currently leads over 5,000 worshipers in various branches – with branches in Nottingham, United Kingdom; Houston, Texas, United States; Calgary, Canada; Abuja, Nigeria; and many other branches across Nigeria. The church is headquartered in Umuahia, Abia State. In the same year 2011, Pastor Jerry was spiritually led to start the Streams of Joy Devotional, a bestseller that has spread across 5 continents of the world with testimonies of its impact on many lives.
He is also the convener of New Season Prophetic Prayer and Deliverance (NSPPD), an online live stream prayer and prophetic ministry that is arguably the highest streamed online service of any kind in Nigeria, with viewers from all continents of the world.
Pastor Jerry is happily married to his supportive heartthrob, Pastor Eno Jerry and they are blessed with a lovely daughter Samara and a son Jerry.
2. Apostle Joshua Selman
Apostle Joshua Selman is another young pastor in Nigeria who has become a global minister. He is the founder and senior pastor of Eternity Network International (ENI), which hosts a weekly fellowship ministry called ‘Koinonia”, streamed by thousands of people globally.
Not much has been documented about his primary and secondary schools, but Apostle Selman had his tertiary education at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, where he studied chemical engineering and also had the opportunity to begin his work as a minister of God as an undergraduate, preaching and sharing the gospel with fellow students in school with the help of his friends. In March 2011, he started his popular ministry, Eternity Network International (ENI), following several encounters with Jesus Christ that helped him find his purpose and experiencing a strong anointing on him
Several highly anointed men of God have mentored and had an impact on the apostle Joshua Selman. He describes himself as the product of many graces, anointings, and divine impartations. This is why he often talks about the different men of God who have imparted him, including Benny Hinn, Bishop David O. Oyedepo, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, Professor Daniel Olukoya, T. L. Osbourne, and Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, among others.
Apostle Selman is also the principal of the Koinonia School of Ministry (KSOM), a spiritual training ground for individuals with the call of God upon their lives. He has been invited to preach in different churches and ministries globally.
3. Apostle Femi Lazarus
The founder of the Femi Lazarus Ministries Ecumenical, popularly called FLAME, Apostle Femi Victor Lazarus. In addition, he is the founder and senior pastor of the Ibadan-based Sphere of Light Church. He is the organiser of the Campus on Fire conference and a member of the public health field. Pastor Femi is multilingual; he is proficient in Yoruba, English, Hausa, and a little bit of Igbo. He graduated from Ile-Ife’s Obafemi Awolowo University.
It is obvious from everything he is doing that his assigned task is to create God’s end-time army, particularly among young Christians. On June 12, 2022, at the Festival of Life Anniversary of the Sphere of Light Church, Ibadan, he was also ordained as an apostle.
Femi Lazarus also has a Telegram group, where he organises a weekly online Bible teaching session. In addition, he established the Slum Education Initiative out of a strong desire to send children to school, especially those who had no other option.
He is blissfully married to Pastor Miracle Ajala, an author and the creator of the blog Mimie Passions, where she discusses the virtues of godliness. They have a daughter, Moyinoluwa Abigail Femi-Lazarus, who was born on December 12, 2020, the day after Apostle Femi and his wife were united in marriage.
4. Apostle Edu Udechukwu
International preacher Apostle Edu is an apostle, and teacher of the word of God. Born Edu Jedidiah Udechukwu, he is a native of Nnewi, in Anambra State, Nigeria.
Currently, Apostle Edu serves as the overseer and senior pastor of Revival Hub International, which has locations in Enugu and Anambra. Its headquarters is situated at Banex Plaza (the White House), Nkwo Nnewi, Anambra State.
He has a ministry called Revival Hub International. It is a network of believers in Christ Jesus who have the desire to establish the kingdom of our Lord through the intense workings of the Holy Spirit in and through men.
A graduate of Food Science and Technology, Apostle Udechukwu is mentored by the revered Apostle Arome Osayi. He attributed his growth and spiritual grace in ministry to the graciousness of God through the life of his mentor and spiritual father, Arome Osayi
Apostle Edu Udechukwu is married, his wife is Mrs Vera.
5. Evangelist Lawrence Oyor
The dynamic minister of the gospel Evangelist Lawrence Oyoris is an evangelist and singer. He was born on the 14th day of May 1991, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, to Rev. Patience and Rev. Gomba Fortune Oyor, who are overseers of ‘God Will Do It’ Ministries. Evangelist Lawrence Oyoris has three siblings; Godswill (his twin brother), Michael, and Wisdom.
He is well known for his chants and songs, with “Bowl of Fire”, being the most popular of those songs. His songs are said to steer the hearts of listeners, lifting their souls and setting them on fire for Jesus.
He owns a ministry, Davidic Minstrels, a worldwide movement that inspires hearts to worship and shows men the love and power of God.
Lawrence has received numerous invitations to universities all over Nigeria and has been a catalyst for young people. He is married to Darasimi Mike-Bamiloye, the daughter of renowned gospel filmmakers and evangelists, Mike and Gloria Bamiloye.
6. Pastor Daniel Olawande
Daniel Olawande is a man of God with an Apostolic mandate to set men on fire for God and raise a burning generation. Fondly called “P. Daniel, Pastor Dr. Daniel Olawande is an ordained minister in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), and lead pastor at the afternoon church at the RCCG Living Seed Church, Ikorodu.
P. Daniel currently serves as the National Youth President of the Redeemed Christian Church of God as well as the RCCG Youth Evangelist. Highly respected in the RCCG, Daniel serves as coordinator of the National Youth Representative Council (NYRC). He is a National Executive of the Pastor’s Seed Family (PSF), and the National Representative for Region 26 Ikorodu Lagos. Additionally, he oversees the Flaming Network and serves as president of Inspired Team International. Prior to this, he held the positions of President of the Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo State Chapter of the Redeemed Christian Fellowship (RCF) and the Lagos State Chapter of the RCF.
Monthly, he organizes a 12-hour non-stop prayer session in the Holy Ghost, which has been attended by hundreds of hungry and motivated people. He is generally recognized with the phrase “Fire in my Bones” , a slogan which reveals his passion to see young men burn for God.
P. Daniel is also the host of the annual Awakening the Giants Within Conference for Campuses, the Soul Winners Conference, and the Young Ministers Retreat (YMR), which attracts participants from different denominations both inside and outside of Nigeria.
An alumnus of the Daystar Leadership Academy in Lagos (basic and advanced courses), Daniel also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Theology from the Redeemed Christian Bible College.
7. Pastor Emmanuel Iren
The Founder and Lead Pastor of Celebration Church International Pastor Emmanuel Aniefiok Iren, with its headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria. Although he was raised in Lagos, Nigeria, he is a native of Akwa Ibom State. He was born on December 18, 1989.
Although a spiritual son to Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, Pastor Emmanuel Iren served as a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God for nine years, an experience he described as having an indelible impact on his life. He received his ministerial calling as an undergraduate at Covenant University in 2008. He began a fellowship known as Triumphal Youth Fellowship on campus, and the fellowship grew into a ministry of its own – Life Triumphal Church. Pastor Emmanuel Aniefiok Ireninaugurated the first campus of the church at the age of 22 years, on the 11th of November, 2012. This would later morph into Celebration Church International in 2014.
Celebration Church has vibrant branches in Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Ile-Ife, Europe, the USA, and Canada. In addition to Celebration Church, he is in charge of two other ministerial expressions – Triumph30, a daily devotion designed to encourage people to pray and study the Bible, and the Manifest Bible Course, an interdenominational bible training school.
Emmanuel Iren is a graduate of Building Technology from Covenant University. Additionally, he is a graduate of the University of Lagos with an MBA. At the age of 24, he got married to his heartthrob, Pastor Laju Iren and they are currently blessed with three lovely girls.
8. Apostle Michael Orokpo
Orokpo Micheal Apeh is a prophetic teacher of God’s word who has a strong apostolic authority. He is a travelling minister, a revivalist par excellence, and an itinerant preacher. Apostle Michael Orokpo is the founder and head of Encounter Jesus Ministries International, an apostolic and firebrand ministry situated at Abuja.
Apostle Orokpo was born on 1st of March, 1981 to a middle class family, from Otukpa in Idoma land, Benue state where he spent his formative years. Despite being a minister of God, he holds a Bachelor’s in pure chemistry, a Masters in physical chemistry, and is currently working toward a doctorate from the University of Agriculture Makurdi.
Apostle Orokpo has received biblical education and certifications from numerous prestigious international organizations, including training in Christian apologetics from the Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM).
He has been imparted by the ministries of many servants of God, which includes Evangelist Benny Hinn, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, Prophet Sadhu Salveraj, Apostle Randy Clark,, Evangelist Reinhard Bonke, Bishop David Oyedepo, Bishop David Abioye, Reverend Hillary Agbo and Apostle Arome Osayi, the later who directly mentored and imparted him. Before starting Encounter Jesus Ministries International, Apostle Orokpo was ordained as a Reverend at Remnant Christian Network in 2019, under Apostle Arome Osayi.
He is happily married to his lovely wife Osenaga Orokpo, and the couple has a son..He is happily married to his lovely wife Osenaga Orokpo, and the couple has a son.
9. Pastor Sola Osunmakinde
Pastor Sola Osunmakinde is the senior pastor of Household of David Church, a thriving congregation with a mission to develop followers of God. HOD as his church is fondly called is home for people who are fiercely passionate about Jesus and are happy to represent Him in their spheres of influence. Pastor Sola Osunmakinde was born to a family of pastors. He is Pastor Dele Osunmakinde younger brother, while their eldest brother is Pastor Wale Osunmakinde. In 2005, Pastor Sola graduated from the University of Ibadan.
Apostle Joshua Selman and many other spiritual leaders, including Pastor Poju Oyemade, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, and PFN President Bishop Francis Wole Oke, are close friends of Pastor Sola. Yearly, he hosts the annual Mercy Conference, a program dedicated to giving people experiences of worship, intimacy with God, miracles, testimonies, and breakthrough on all sides.
Sola Osunmakinde is happily married to the love of his life, Pastor Mrs. Abigail Osunmakinde, who is the Head of the Fellowship Ministry at the Household of David Church.
10. Pastor Isaac Oyedepo
Isaac Oyedepo is the second son of Nigerian apostle, prophet, teacher, and pastor, Bishop David Oyedepo. He is a teacher and a prophetic voice in his generation, blazing the trail and setting the hearts of youths on fire for God. He is a graduate of Oral Roberts University and served as the resident pastor of the Living Faith Church International, Maryland, USA, between 2018 and 2022.
Following a four-year term as resident pastor of Winner’s Chapel, Maryland, Pastor Isaac Oyedepo was able to build a 2,000-seat auditorium called the Faith Dome. This cutting-edge facility was dedicated on October 24, 2021, during Isaac’s third year as Resident Pastor.
Pastor Isaac Oyedepo is happily married to his love, Mrs. Ayomitide Isaac Oyedepo, a trained and talented coach who shares her knowledge of how to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health issues naturally.