The Founder of Deeper Life Bible Church , Pastor Williams Kumuyi and the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God,(RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye have been declared the 2025 Persons of the Year by Irohinoodua, Nigeria’s first online news publication that focuses on Yoruba persons and events
In a statement made available to Church Times on Saturday the publication stated that the decade old award is given every year to the most distinguished Yoruba persons.
Winners of Irohinodua Awards in the past include Prof. Wole Soyinka, Dr. Adeniyan Abraham and the Olu of Warri amongst others.
According to a statement issued by the editorial board of the publication, Pastor Kumuyi and Pastor Adeboye have distinguished themselves in the service of God and mankind.
The publication noted that these two individuals with their words and deeds have continued to profess love, peace and brotherhood, not only in Nigeria, but across the world.
‘In the year 2024, Nigeria in particular, witnessed an upsurge of violence, hate and disaffection, driven by faith and ethnicity, these two individuals, promoted harmony in every part of the world where their religious institutions have strongholds.
‘While others used religion to advance hatred and parochial political and ethnic goals, Pastor Kumuyi and Adeboye converted their multiple platforms to the advancement of peace and good neighbourliness.
‘Though these two individuals came under vicious and violent attacks from their opponents, their responses were measured, cultured and propelled by godliness; even though local authorities have not given them recognition, their stars continue to shine all over the world to the glory of the Yoruba nation.’ Irohinoodua stated
The publication noted further that among over 60 million Yoruba people all over the world, these two individuals remain some of the very few that, though hold no political positions, can knock and open the doors of any president or prime minister all over the world.
‘The two leaders run faith-based organisations that heal millions of human souls, bring comfort, uplift the spirit and bring hope to multitude of the hopeless. Apart from spiritual healings, it is important to know that millions of people, including non-Christians derive their livelihood from their tabernacles.’
The medium also observed that the duo of Kumuyi and Adeboye are well educated and would have been well-to-do without taking up the pastoral offices
‘Pastor Kumuyi in 1967 graduated with a first-class honours degree in Mathematics from University of Ibadan, and subsequently took a postgraduate education course in University of Lagos, while Pastor E. A. Adeboye also graduated with a B. Sc. in Mathematics in 1967 from the University of Ife (OAU), and in 1969, he obtained his master’s degree in Hydrodynamics from the University of Lagos and obtained a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Lagos in 1975.
‘In 1973, while being a lecturer of Mathematics at the University of Lagos, Kumuyi began a Bible study group with 15 students who had come to him for Bible training. The Bible training birthed the foundation of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry.
‘In 1975, Kumuyi was expelled from the Apostolic Faith Church for preaching the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He continued his independent ministry, which in 1982 became the Deeper Life Bible Church, the ministry now has over 5,500 branches in Nigeria and over 3,000 parishes in more than 40 other countries.
‘In 1973 Adejare Adeboye joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God and served as an interpreter before he was ordained a pastor in the church by Pa. Josiah Akindayomi in 1975. He became the General Overseer of the church in 1981. For three years, he filled the role of part-time lecturer at Unilorin before giving up his university position to preach full-time. The ministry has over 35,000 parishes in more than 197 countries and territories. The ministry is one of the world’s largest church denominations.’ the publication stated
