Bishop David Oyedepo biography: Discover his age, net worth, wife, education, family, career, ministry, early life and achievements as a Nigerian pastor.
Bishop David Oyedepo is a Nigerian Christian minister, author, preacher, teacher and the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, popularly known as Winners’ Chapel. He is also the founder of several institutions and organizations associated with the church, including Covenant University, Landmark University, Dominion Publishing House and the Word of Faith Bible Institute.
Born David Olaniyi Oyedepo on September 27, 1954, in Osogbo, Nigeria, he grew up in a religiously mixed family and was raised for part of his childhood by his grandmother. His early Christian experience eventually influenced his decision to pursue ministry.
Oyedepo became widely known through his preaching of the Word of Faith, a Christian teaching tradition emphasizing faith, prayer, biblical principles and spiritual development. Over several decades, his ministry grew from a small Christian organization into an international church network.
He is also recognized for his contribution to Christian education. Institutions associated with his ministry have attracted students from Nigeria and other countries, while his books and sermons have reached a large international audience.
This Bishop David Oyedepo biography examines his early life, education, wife, children, ministry career, business interests, net worth and lasting influence.
See also: Dauda Lawal Dare Biography: Net Worth, Age, Wife, Education, Family, Career & Early Life
Highlights of Bishop David Oyedepo Biography
- Full name: David Olaniyi Oyedepo
- Date of birth: September 27, 1954
- Age: 72 years old as of September 2026
- Birthplace: Osogbo, Nigeria
- State of origin: Kwara State, Nigeria
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Profession: Pastor, preacher, author and Christian ministry leader
- Wife: Pastor Faith Oyedepo
- Children: Four
- Church: Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners’ Chapel
- Major institutions: Covenant University, Landmark University and Word of Faith Bible Institute
- Known for: Word of Faith preaching and Christian leadership
- Estimated net worth: Frequently reported in the tens or hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars, but no independently verified figure is publicly established
Early Life
David Olaniyi Oyedepo was born on September 27, 1954, in Osogbo, in present-day Osun State, Nigeria. Although he was born in Osogbo, his family roots are in Omu-Aran, Kwara State. His background was unusual because his parents came from different religious traditions.
His father, Ibrahim, was a Muslim healer, while his mother, Dorcas Morenike Oyedepo, was a Christian associated with the Cherubim and Seraphim tradition. Because of his parents’ circumstances, Oyedepo was raised for part of his childhood by his grandmother in Osogbo.
His grandmother reportedly played an important role in shaping his early Christian life. She introduced him to Christian practices, including early-morning prayers, and taught him principles of faith and giving.
Oyedepo later described his conversion to Christianity as taking place in 1969, when he was a teenager. A teacher named Betty Lasher reportedly played an important role in influencing his Christian faith during his secondary-school years.
His early religious experiences eventually became the foundation for the ministry that he would establish years later.
Unlike some prominent ministers who entered ministry immediately after secondary school, Oyedepo initially pursued an academic and professional path. He studied architecture and briefly worked for the Nigerian government before dedicating himself fully to Christian ministry.
His childhood in a religiously diverse household and his later conversion have therefore remained important parts of the story behind his rise as one of Nigeria’s most prominent Christian leaders.
Education
Education has played a major role in Bishop David Oyedepo’s life and ministry.
He studied Architecture at Kwara State Polytechnic in Ilorin, now known as Kwara State Polytechnic. His training in architecture gave him a professional qualification before his transition into full-time ministry.
After completing his studies, Oyedepo worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Housing in Ilorin. His government employment, however, did not become his long-term career because he eventually resigned to concentrate on ministry.
Some biographies also state that he obtained a Ph.D. in Human Development from Honolulu University in Hawaii, United States. This qualification is frequently included in official and church biographies, although details about the institution and the nature of the programme are not as extensively documented in independent academic sources as his architecture education.
His interest in education later became much more significant through the institutions established under his ministry.
Oyedepo founded Covenant University, a private Christian university in Ota, Ogun State, and Landmark University, another private university associated with the Living Faith Church network.
His ministry also established the Word of Faith Bible Institute (WOFBI) in 1986 as a training arm of Living Faith Church Worldwide. The institute provides Christian and leadership training through different levels of study. Its official platform says the institution has trained large numbers of people across Nigeria and the church’s international network.
Education consequently became one of the major areas through which Oyedepo expanded his public work beyond traditional preaching.
Career / Professional Journey
Bishop David Oyedepo’s professional career began before his international fame as a pastor.
After studying architecture, he worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Housing. However, his professional direction changed after he became increasingly committed to Christian ministry.
A major turning point came in May 1981, when Oyedepo said he received what he described as an eighteen-hour spiritual vision or divine mandate to preach the Word of Faith and help liberate people from spiritual oppression.
He began building a ministry around this message, and in 1981 established what would eventually become Living Faith Church Worldwide.
The ministry grew during the 1980s. In 1986, the Word of Faith Bible Institute was established as the training arm of Living Faith Church. The institute’s official history identifies September 1, 1986, as its establishment date and connects it directly with the ministry mandate given to Oyedepo.
Oyedepo’s ministry subsequently expanded significantly.
One of the biggest milestones came with the development of Faith Tabernacle, the church’s large worship complex in Ota, Ogun State. The church became popularly known as Winners’ Chapel.
The ministry expanded internationally, establishing churches and branches across Africa and other parts of the world. Living Faith Church’s official materials describe it as a global network with churches across multiple continents.
Oyedepo also became a prolific author. Through Dominion Publishing House, he published books and other Christian materials addressing subjects including faith, prayer, prosperity, leadership, spiritual growth and personal development.
Among his widely known books are Understanding Financial Prosperity, Walking in the Newness of Life, The Force of Freedom, Understanding the Power of Praise, Exploring the World of Faith and In Pursuit of Vision.
Another major achievement associated with his career is the development of Christian higher education.
Covenant University became one of the most prominent private Christian universities in Nigeria, while Landmark University developed a strong emphasis on agriculture, entrepreneurship and leadership.
Oyedepo has therefore built a career extending beyond preaching into publishing, education, leadership training and institutional development.
The Word of Faith Bible Institute, for example, continues to operate as a training institution under Living Faith Church. Its current programme includes Basic Certificate, Leadership Certificate and Leadership Diploma courses.
Oyedepo has also remained active as a preacher and teacher through church services, conferences, books, broadcasts and other forms of Christian media.
Net Worth and Lifestyle
The exact Bishop David Oyedepo net worth is not publicly verified.
Over the years, various publications and online platforms have estimated his wealth at figures ranging from tens of millions to several hundred million U.S. dollars. Some reports have placed his net worth around $150 million, while other estimates have been significantly higher.
These figures should be treated as unofficial estimates, rather than confirmed financial statements. A pastor’s personal wealth is also different from the value of institutions or assets owned by a church or ministry organization.
Using an illustrative exchange rate of ₦1,500 to $1, a hypothetical $150 million estimate would equal approximately ₦225 billion. However, this conversion should not be interpreted as confirmation that Oyedepo personally owns assets worth that amount.
His documented and commonly reported sources of income and financial interests include:
- Book publishing and royalties
- Speaking and ministry activities
- Educational institutions
- Investments
- Property and real estate
- Media and broadcasting
- Business interests
- Other private investments
His ministry also operates major institutions and properties, including churches, universities, publishing operations and training centers. The value of these institutional assets should not automatically be treated as the personal wealth of Bishop Oyedepo.
Oyedepo’s public lifestyle has frequently attracted attention because of his position as one of Nigeria’s best-known pastors. His supporters associate his teachings with prosperity, faith and financial responsibility, while his critics have questioned aspects of prosperity-oriented preaching among Nigerian Pentecostal churches.
Those different interpretations are part of the broader public discussion surrounding his ministry, but they do not establish a precise personal net-worth figure.
Personal Life
Bishop David Oyedepo is married to Pastor Faith Abiola Oyedepo.
The couple married in 1982 and have remained together throughout Oyedepo’s long ministry career.
Faith Oyedepo is also a Christian minister, author and speaker. She has been closely involved in the activities of Living Faith Church and has written books and devotional materials focusing on Christian family life, marriage and faith.
David and Faith Oyedepo have four children.
Their children include David Oyedepo Jr., Isaac Oyedepo, Love Oyedepo-Ogah and Joyce Abodunrin.
David Oyedepo Jr. became involved in Christian ministry and has served in leadership roles within Living Faith Church. Isaac Oyedepo also became a pastor and has developed his own ministry activities.
The Oyedepo family has therefore maintained a strong connection with Christian ministry across generations.
Despite his enormous public profile, Oyedepo has generally kept some aspects of his family life relatively private. His wife and children, however, have frequently appeared in church and ministry-related activities.
Wedding
David Oyedepo married Faith Abiola Oyedepo in 1982.
Their marriage has lasted for more than four decades and has been an important part of his personal and ministry story.
Faith has supported her husband’s ministry while also establishing her own identity as a Christian author, speaker and minister.
The couple’s long marriage has also been frequently referenced in their teachings about Christian family life and marriage.
Conclusion
Bishop David Oyedepo’s biography is the story of a Nigerian pastor whose influence has extended across Christian ministry, education, publishing and leadership development.
Born in Osogbo in 1954 and raised partly by his grandmother, Oyedepo developed his Christian faith as a young man before studying architecture and working briefly with the Federal Ministry of Housing.
His ministry began in the early 1980s and eventually developed into Living Faith Church Worldwide, popularly known as Winners’ Chapel. The organization expanded from Nigeria into an international network of churches and Christian institutions.
His influence also extends into education through Covenant University, Landmark University and the Word of Faith Bible Institute. The Bible institute, in particular, was established in 1986 as a training arm of Living Faith Church and continues to provide faith-based leadership and ministry education.
His marriage to Faith Oyedepo and their four children form another important part of his personal story.
At 72 years old in 2026, Oyedepo remains an active figure in Nigerian Pentecostal Christianity. His ministry, books, educational institutions and preaching have made him a significant figure in the development of contemporary African Christian media and religious institutions.
Although estimates of his net worth vary widely and cannot be independently confirmed, his documented institutional work demonstrates the scale of the organizations associated with his ministry.
From a young man in Osogbo to the founder of a global Christian organization, Bishop David Oyedepo’s life remains closely connected to his message of faith, purpose, leadership, education and spiritual development.
FAQs About Bishop David Oyedepo
What is Bishop David Oyedepo’s net worth?
Bishop David Oyedepo’s exact net worth is not publicly verified. Various publications have produced estimates ranging from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars, but these figures should be regarded as unofficial estimates rather than confirmed financial records.
How old is Bishop David Oyedepo?
Bishop David Oyedepo was born on September 27, 1954, in Osogbo, Nigeria. He is 72 years old as of September 2026.
What is Bishop David Oyedepo’s educational background?
Oyedepo studied Architecture at Kwara State Polytechnic and later worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Housing. Church biographies also state that he holds a Ph.D. in Human Development from Honolulu University in Hawaii.
Is Bishop David Oyedepo married?
Yes. Bishop David Oyedepo is married to Pastor Faith Oyedepo. The couple married in 1982 and have four children.
Who is Bishop David Oyedepo’s wife?
His wife is Pastor Faith Abiola Oyedepo, a Christian minister, author and speaker. She has been involved in Living Faith Church and has written extensively on Christian family life, marriage and faith.
How many children does Bishop David Oyedepo have?
Bishop David and Faith Oyedepo have four children: David Oyedepo Jr., Isaac Oyedepo, Love Oyedepo-Ogah and Joyce Abodunrin. Two of his sons, David Jr. and Isaac, have also been involved in Christian ministry.
What is Bishop David Oyedepo famous for?
He is best known as the founder and presiding bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, popularly called Winners’ Chapel. He is also associated with Covenant University, Landmark University, Word of Faith Bible Institute and Dominion Publishing House.