Enoch Adeboye | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 2nd President of PFN | |
| In office 1992–1995 | |
| Preceding | Redeemed Christian Church of God |
| Preceded by | James Boyejo |
| Succeeded by | Benson Idahosa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Enoch Adejare Adeboye 2 March 1942 Ifewara, Southern Region, British Nigeria (now Ifewara, Osun State, Nigeria) |
| Spouse | |
| Occupation | Pastor, professor |
Enoch Adejare Adeboye (born 2 March 1942) is a Nigerian pastor, and the present General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God. He served as the second national president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.
Enoch Adejare Adeboye was born on 2 March 1942 in Ifewara, near Ife, in the then Southern Region, British Nigeria.[1] He was born into a very humble family,[2] and often tells the story of wearing his first shoes at the age of 18.[3]
Enoch Adejare Adeboye started his education at Ilesha Grammar School Ilesha Osun State in 1956.[4] Enoch Adejare Adeboye then proceeded to the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in Nsukka, but because of the Nigeria Civil War, he completed his first degree in the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics in 1967.[5][6]
In 1969, he obtained a Master's degree in Hydrodynamics from University of Lagos. In 1975, he obtained a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Lagos.[7][8]
Adejare Adeboye joined the Redemed Christian Church of God in 1973 and served as an interpreter before he was ordained a pastor in the church by Pa. Josiah Akindayomi in 1975.[9][10] He became General Overseer of the church in 1981.[11] For three years, he filled the role part-time at Unilorin before giving up his university position to preach full-time.[12][13]
The church which was not well known before Adeboye became the General Overseer, has branches in about 198[1] nations as of (March 2017), including more than 14,000,000 worshipers in Nigeria.[14] Adeboye has stated that he aims to put a church within five minutes walking distance in developing cities and five minutes driving distance in developed cities.[12]
Adeboye is considered a preacher of the prosperity gospel,[15] a claim he does not deny, saying that "Pentecostals have such an impact because they talk of the here and now, not just the by and by… while we have to worry about heaven, there are some things God could do for us in the here and now."[16]
Following new legislation that placed limits on non-profit leadership to 20 years of service and less than 70 years of age,[17] Pastor Adeboye is still serving as the General Overseer of RCCG Worldwide.[18]
He celebrated his 80th birthday in 2022. Adeboye's foundation donated eight dialysis machines to Wuse District Hospital, together with a reverse osmosis medical water purification system and an electrical generator.[19]
Adeboye has written several books, including:[20][21]
Adeboye has endowed four[22] Nigerian universities, including Obafemi Awolowo University[23] and the University of Nigeria.[24]
He has received several honorary doctorates.[26]
Adeboye married Folu Adeboye on 17 December 1967. He is a father to four children (three sons and a daughter) and several grandchildren from the marriage. Pastor Enoch Adeboye lost his son Dare Adeboye on 4 May 2021, who died at the age of 42.[30][31][32] In May 2023, a film titled “Enoch” was aired, the movie gives a biopic on the life of Pastor Adeboye to celebrate his 81st birthday and Adeola Emmanuel Abolaji starred as the lead actor [33][34]
