Christopher Oghenebrorie Okotie (born 16 June 1958) is a Nigerian

televangelist Televangelism (from ''televangelist'', a blend of ''television'' and ''evangelist'') and occasionally termed radio evangelism or teleministry, denotes the utilization of media platforms, notably radio and television, for the marketing of relig ...

and the pastor of the Household of God Church International Ministries, a

Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a movement within the broader Evangelical wing of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes direct personal experience of God in Christianity, God through Baptism with the Holy Spirit#Cl ...

congregation in

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

since February 1987.

Personal life

Okotie was born to Francis Idje and Cecilia Okotie, in Ethiope-West,

Delta State Delta is a States of Nigeria, state in the South South (Nigeria), South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named after the Niger Delta—a large part of which is in the state—the state was formed from the former Bendel State, on 27 August 1 ...

(then

Bendel State The Mid-Western Region was a division of Nigeria from 1963 to 1991, from 1976 being known as the Bendel state. It was formed in June 1963 from Benin and Delta provinces of the Western Region, and its capital was Benin City. It was renamed a pro ...

). As a growing child, he always loved to sing. While in secondary school at Edo College, Benin City, he belonged to the school's Music Club and usually entertained groups of people. He never considered commercialising his talent until his first year at university, when his father died. His hobbies include jogging, martial arts and music.

Education and career

He attended secondary school at Edo College,

Benin City Benin City serves as the Capital city, capital and largest Metropolitan area, metropolitan centre of Edo State, situated in Nigeria, southern Nigeria. It ranks as the List of Nigerian cities by population, fourth-most populous city in Niger ...

. In 1984, he graduated with a degree in law from the

University of Nigeria The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal and public research university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, South-east Nigeria. Founded in 1955 by Nnamdi Azikiwe who was Governor-General of Nigeria between 1960 and 1963 ...

Nsukka Nsukka is a town and a Local Government Area in Enugu State, Nigeria. Nsukka shares a common border as a town with Edem, Opi (archaeological site), Ede-Oballa, and Obimo. The postal code of the area is 410001 and 410002 respectively, re ...

. Okotie abandoned his schooling for a while to pursue a pop music career before his returning abruptly. Okotie married twice and announced he has separated from his second wife on June 24, 2012. He returned to school to complete his education and graduated with a law degree. Whilst undergoing law school he interrupted his schooling again to begin his religious ministries. Okotie attended the Grace Fellowship Bible School in

Tulsa Tulsa ( ) is the second-most-populous city in the state of Oklahoma, after Oklahoma City, and the 48th-most-populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tul ...

Oklahoma Oklahoma ( ; Choctaw language, Choctaw: , ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Texas to the south and west, Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northea ...

, and, soon after, established the Household of God Ministry. In 1990, Okotie established the annual Karis Awards, hosted by his church, to recognize and financially reward Nigerian citizens.

Corona Virus

When the government of Nigeria declared the reopening of churches in August 2020 but made it compulsory for members to put on their nose masks or face shield, Pastor Okotie condemned the idea of using face shield claiming it would be a reversal of the veil that was broken on the day

Christ Jesus ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Christianity, central figure of Christianity, the M ...

died and therefore creating a separation between men and God.

Grace programme/Karis Award

The GRACE Program/ Karis Award is an annual charity event hosted at the church where he pastors; The HouseHold of God International Ministries,

. The guiding philosophy being that greatness does not consist in being great but in the ability to make others great. The Karis Award gives recognition to, while financially rewarding Nigerians who had offered distinguished service to the nation, but are not recognized nor rewarded for their contributions to the nation building. Some recipients are, Prof.

Chike Obi Chike Obi (April 17, 1921 – March 13, 2008) was a Nigerian politician, mathematician and professor. Chike Obi was the first Nigerian to hold a doctorate degree in mathematics. Obi's early research dealt mainly with the question of the existen ...

, the mathematician (1996), D.I.G. Chris Omeben, a retired policeman (1997), Mr. Taiwo Akinwunmi who designed the national flag (1998),

Hogan Bassey Hogan "Kid" Bassey MBE MON (3 June 1932 – 26 January 1998) was a Nigerian-British boxer; he was the first man of Nigerian descent to become a world boxing champion. He was born Okon Asuquo Bassey on the banks of the Cross River Creek To ...

, former Commonwealth and World boxing champion (1999), Chief Michael Imodou, the Labour leader (2000), Chief

Margaret Ekpo Chieftain, Chief Margaret Ekpo (27 July 1914 – 21 September 2006) was a Nigerian women's rights activist and social mobilizer who was a pioneering female politician in the country's Nigerian First Republic, First Republic and a leading member ...

(2001), nationalist and woman activist, Mallam

Aminu Kano Mallam Aminu Kano (9 August 1920 — 17 April 1983) was a Nigerian radical opposition political leader, teacher, poet, playwright, and trade unionist from Kano. He played an active role during the transition from British colonial rule t ...

, nationalist (2004)and

Isaac Adaka Boro Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro (10 September 1938 – 9 May 1968) was a Nigerian nationalist and military officer of Ijaw heritage. Born in Oloibiri on 10 September 1938 to Pepple Boro, he is widely regarded as an early advocate for the rights of min ...

, human rights activist (2005). The GRACE Program also makes regular cash and material contributions to charity organizations such as the SOS Children Village, the Sunshine Foundation, Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted and Little Saints Orphanage, Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria, and The Childcare Trust.

Wealth

In 2011, ''

Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...

'' estimated his net worth at US$3–10 million.

Presidential runs

Okotie first ran for the President under the banner of the Justice Party (JP), led by Ralph Obiorah after he was schemed out of the National Democratic Party (NDP) primaries elections; he lost to

Olusegun Obasanjo Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo (; ; born 5 March 1937) is a Nigerian former army general, politician and statesman who served as Nigeria's head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its president from 1999 to 200 ...

in the May 2003 elections. He ran again in 2007 on the platform of a party he founded, Fresh Democratic party, FRESH and lost to

Umaru Yar'Adua Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (; 16 August 19515 May 2010) was a Nigerian politician who served as the president of Nigeria from 2007 until his death in May 2010. He won the Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 Ma ...

in the May 2007 elections. Then in 2011, he ran and lost to the President

Goodluck Jonathan Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan (born 20 November 1957) is a Nigerian politician who served as the president of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015. He lost the 2015 presidential election to former military head of state General Muhammadu Buhari and ...

Controversies

Okotie had a public spat with fellow Nigerian cleric T.B. Joshua, referring to him as a 'deceptive magician'.

Publications

Okotie has published books and is a regular contributor to several Nigerian newspapers. *''The Last Outcast'' (Best selling book, 2001) *''A terror war beyond hashtags'' *''A conference of geriatrics'' *''In search of game changers'' *''Power shift: what my readers say'' *''Why Vision 20:2020 became a lost cause'' *''State policies and prophetic solutions'' *''Adadevoh and the Ebola crisis'' *''A Government stuck in timing response snafu'' *''This present assault on education'' *''Rage over villaleaks et al'' *''Time to shift Governance paradigm'' *''2015: Imperative of the paradigm shift option'' *''ASUU strike: implications of political infidelity'' *''Counting the cost of insecurity'' *''The looming demographic time bomb'' *''Reclaiming Nigeria's lost hope''

References

External links

Household of God Church websiteFresh Democratic Party websiteRev Chris Okotie website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Okotie, Chris 1958 births Living people People from Delta State Nigerian evangelicals Nigerian television evangelists Fresh Democratic Party politicians Candidates in the Nigerian general election, 2003 University of Nigeria alumni Nigerian Pentecostal pastors Delta State politicians