Personality in Focus
Ebuka Obi: An Uncommon ‘Man of God’
The term “Man of God” had long since lost its luster. Therefore, for anyone who has encountered the zestful spiritual director of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach, Lagos, Evangelist Chukwuebuka Anozie Obi, referring to him as a “Man of God” will be a paradox, given what we know about men of God.
Our Men of God have built a fluffy reputation as prosperity preachers. “The more you give, the more God blesses you”, they tell their ever-trusting followers. No longer content with 10 percent tithe, they now ask the congregation for “first fruit” – their entire first salary as well as the full salary for the first month of the year! For whatever problems they are seeking answers to, they are told to sow seeds to “provoke” God to grant their wishes. Many pastors even have price lists for prayer points, from healing to employment, business opportunities, life partners, fruit of the womb, contracts, visas.
But this is not the message at Evangelist Ebuka’s Zion City located at Ago, Okota. Not only does he abide by the Biblical injunction of “freely you were given, freely shall you give”, but he often declares that “any pastor who asks for money for prayers or for seeds and offerings to obtain answers to prayers is not a true prophet of God”. And you want to call him “man of God” like the others?
He preaches salvation, urges his members to fast and pray ceaselessly, to shun sin and embrace Christ as the sure way to obtain answers to prayers. Miracles are not for sale, he says. At Zion City and online, he does not ask for tithes or seeds. Which other man of God is like him?
Everyday, thousands of people from different states in Nigeria, the United States, UK, Asia and other parts of the world troop to Zion City in search of salvation and miracles. Millions more across the globe follow him online.
The first time I watched him on YouTube after a relation sent the link to me, I heard Evangelist Ebuka boast about his “Prophecy with instant solution”. I instantly dismissed him just as another “man of God” with bogus claims to visions and miracles.
But I was wrong. I have heard people at Zion giving mind-blowing testimonies – healing of terminal illnesses, stroke, paralysis, conceptions after years of barrenness, breakthroughs in careers and businesses, amongst others. Apart from those who received their miracles at the center, many others did so after he mentioned their cases during his “Open Heavens” online prophetic prayers. During one of my visits to the ministry, I witnessed two standout cases. One was a professor at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, who threw away the crutches he had been on for years after Ebuka prayed for him. The second was a woman who came all the way from the United States in search of solution to her 16-year-old hearing problem after exhausting all possible medical options in America. The woman who could only hear with hearing aids was completely healed at Zion and discarded the equipment. There were also many others who testified that the prophecies they were given were “on point”, like we say.
We have heard of men of God who arrange miracles or who prod people to give testimonies even when the healing has not occurred with the assurance that God will act on their faith and heal them. But for Evangelist Ebuka, the testimonies come in droves. He has a team which thoroughly scrutinizes and verifies claims of those who want to give testimonies before they are allowed to mount the podium to share their story. You are made to show evidence of “before” and “after” conditions to the panel to prove the miracle before it is accepted. Every day, the queue is so long that Ebuka has to cut many off so he could move on to his ministrations and deliverance sessions. This oftentimes leaves many complaining that they were not given time to share their miracles with the congregation. Surely, this is not the usual man of God!
While many men of God are associated with luxury and indulgence, Evangelist Ebuka lives a life of denial and self-abnegation like the prophets of old. Those close to him confirm he goes for several days every week without food, drinks only water and spends all his time between his ministry, the chapel and prayer retreats at mountains and monasteries.
He refuses to use the ministry’s funds for his personal needs or to be paid salaries or allowances like the elders advise. Even when he didn’t have a car some years ago, he opted for public transportation despite the ministry being rich enough to buy him any car of his choice. “God will provide all my needs”, he replied the elders when they insisted on buying a car for him. Today, his words have come true. Gifts of brand new cars flood his compound, the latest being a Tesla car by someone who said he had a major business breakthrough after the evangelist prayed for him.
With his huge followership and the incredible miracles God is performing through him, Ebuka can easily be one of the richest men of God in Nigeria if he asks for seed, tithe or money for prayers like the rest. During his last birthday celebration on October 22 which was attended by prominent politicians and businessmen, including governors and senators, he refused a $300,000 gift from a politician because the Holy Spirit advised him not to accept it. Instead of collecting gifts from the political leaders of south east who were present, he told them the only gift he desired was for them to meet the President to plead for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
He has established Seraphic Hospital to provide free treatment to poor patients, and Seraphic foundation to cater to the needs of thousands of orphans, widows and others in need. He is currently building a monumental hospital for people with mental health conditions in Anambra State. He has also embarked on a campaign to stop an evil practice in Igbo land where people are forced to appear before deities and shrines in the name of settling disputes.
Proud of his Igbo roots, he uses his platform to campaign for peace in the South East and an end to kidnapping and killings in the region in order to bring development to the region. He encourages his Igbo followers across the globe to ensure their children do not abandon their language and roots.
But like the prophets of old, his bourgeoning profile, flourishing ministry and candid preaching have made some people, including well established pastors, uncomfortable. His message of appreciation to Hope Uzodinma of Imo State for rebuilding the road to his home town was twisted by some to mean campaigning for the governor.
A strikingly handsome and charismatic figure, the Imo State-born Evangelist Ebuka is not yet married. I do not know how old he is, but his twin brother, Engineer CC Obi is married and already has three children. But I guess he is being kept back by the trepidation of having to divide his time between his family and the ministry he loves so much.
And how did he come about such enormous “anointing”? His story goes far back. At eight, he was already preaching in the streets early in the morning, a development that often pitted him against his father who chased him around with a cane to go to school. By the time he turned 12, he met a priest, Reverend Father Luke Odinkenmelu, who prophesied to him that the world would hear of his conquest in the Lord if he kept the following three injunctions: one, he must not leave the Catholic Church, two, he must remain a virgin until he married, and three, he must not be money-conscious. He accepted and made a vow at the altar. So far, Evangelist Ebuka says, he has kept the three vows, including remaining a virgin despite his dashing looks and the women that flock to Zion City.
No, Evangelist Ebuka is not the regular man of God, he is miles apart from the crowd. He is a rare prophet of his generation!
Writers across Nigeria, under the auspices of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW), have united in commemorating the 94th posthumous birthday of one of Africa’s greatest literary icons, Prof. Chinua Achebe. Achebe, renowned globally for his groundbreaking novel *Things Fall Apart*, remains an enduring symbol of literary excellence and cultural preservation.
In a statement issued by Wole Adedoyin, the President of SYNW emphasized Achebe’s unmatched contributions to African literature and his role as a beacon of inspiration for writers across generations. Adedoyin highlighted the Society’s unwavering commitment to honoring Achebe’s legacy through creative and impactful initiatives.
One of the key tributes mentioned is the *Chinua Achebe Annual Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture*, initiated by the Anambra Chapter Coordinator of SYNW, Izunna Okafor. Now in its 9th edition, the festival has become a significant platform for celebrating Achebe’s works and discussing his influence on modern African literature.
Cynthia Maduekwe, the President of the Nigeria Society of Campus Writers, also spearheaded the *Writers Tour*, another initiative aimed at engaging young writers with Achebe’s literary philosophy. This tour exposes aspiring authors to Achebe’s timeless themes of cultural identity, colonialism, and societal transformation, ensuring his legacy continues to inspire future generations.
The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) reaffirmed its dedication to Achebe’s memory through these longstanding programs. Writers across the country were encouraged to reflect on Achebe’s life and works, sharing tributes and essays on social media platforms to further propagate his vision of storytelling.
Adedoyin lauded the efforts of writers like Okafor and Maduekwe, whose initiatives keep Achebe’s legacy alive.
He also urged literary organizations and institutions to continue collaborating to sustain Achebe’s impact on African literature and culture.
“Prof. Achebe’s work transcends literature. He gave Africans a voice on the global stage, presenting our stories with authenticity and pride. Celebrating his 94th posthumous birthday is a reminder of the power of storytelling in shaping society,” Adedoyin stated.
The SYNW also used the opportunity to announce plans for a series of upcoming events dedicated to Achebe in the coming year, including essay competitions, poetry readings, and book discussions. These programs aim to further Achebe’s vision of nurturing literary talent and promoting African narratives.
As the literary community celebrates Achebe’s life and achievements, his timeless words resonate: “Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.”
Achebe’s legacy continues to inspire writers to tell their own stories, preserving the richness of African culture for generations to come.
The Society of Young Nigerian Writers concluded by inviting literary enthusiasts to join in celebrating Achebe’s enduring impact, emphasizing that his legacy is a shared treasure for all who value the power of words.
Personality in Focus
UBA Appoints Henrietta Ugboh Independent Non-Executive Director As Owanari Duke Retires from Group Board
Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the appointment of Henrietta Ugboh as an Independent Non-Executive Director.
The appointment has been approved by the relevant regulatory bodies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria.
UBA’s Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, CFR commenting on the appointment, said, “Henrietta Ugboh brings a track record of professional success, integrity and leadership, which will further strengthen the UBA Group Board, underlining once again the Group’s commitment to robust corporate governance.”
Ugboh holds a degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Benin, an MBA from ESUT Business School, and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School’s Executive Management Program. She has over 30 years experience in banking with Citibank and is an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration (FICA).
Elumelu added that with her considerable experience and expertise, which includes commercial banking, credit, and risk management, the UBA Board is delighted to welcome Mrs Ugboh to the Group Board, “We look forward to her invaluable contribution to the Group, as we continue to execute our unique growth strategy across Africa and globally.”
The Board also announced the retirement of Mrs. Owanari Duke, an Independent Non-Executive Director, who joined the UBA Group Board in October 2012.
During her tenure, Mrs. Duke provided distinguished leadership, serving on Committees of the Bank including the Board Governance Committee, Board Audit, Governance, Nomination & Remuneration Committee, Board Credit Committee, Finance & General Purpose Committee and Statutory Audit Committee.
On behalf of the board, Mr. Elumelu expressed UBA’s deep appreciation to Mrs. Duke for her dedication and significant contributions to the Group, wishing her the best in her future endeavour.
United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than forty-five million customers, across 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 20 African countries. With presence in New York, London, Paris and Dubai, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross-border payments and remittances, trade finance and related banking services.
Personality in Focus
Tinubu Hails FirstBank’s Immediately Past CEO, Adeduntan on Exceptional Service
By Eric Elezuo
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has congratulated the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan as the bank holds a splendid Sendforth party on his behalf for a meritorious service.
The president’s congratulatory message is contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Information & Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.
The statement reads in full:
PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES DR ADEDUNTAN, AS FIRST BANK CELEBRATES EX-GROUP CEO
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulates Dr Adesola Adeduntan, the retired Group Chief Executive Officer of First Bank Nigeria Limited, for his exceptional service at Nigeria’s oldest bank.
In celebration of Adeduntan’s remarkable tenure, the 130-year-old First Bank will host a special send-off ceremony this weekend, expressing gratitude for his contributions over the past nine years.
President Tinubu commends him for steering the bank through transformative growth, which includes expanding customer accounts from 10 million to over 42 million and elevating Profit Before Tax from N10 billion in 2015 to an impressive N300 billion in 2023.
These milestones, the President said, reflected Adeduntan’s visionary leadership and commitment to excellence.
The President expresses his appreciation for Adeduntan’s willingness to serve the nation in various pivotal roles, including his contributions to the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and other prominent institutions. His extensive expertise in the financial sector has significantly bolstered Nigeria’s economic landscape.
President Tinubu also lauds the bank’s solid internal management ethos, which is responsible for the seamless transition from Adeduntan to the current CEO, Olusegun Alebiosu.
President Tinubu wishes Dr Adeduntan continued success in all his future endeavours.
