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Infinity Media
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Wealth Profile Of Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners Chapel)
Living Faith Church Worldwide, commonly known as Winners Chapel, is one of the most financially formidable and organizationally structured Pentecostal churches in Africa. Founded by Bishop David Oyedepo in 1981, the church has grown from a humble beginning into a global megachurch with a massive footprint in over 146 countries. Beyond its spiritual mandate, Winners Chapel has strategically established economic ventures and infrastructural projects that place it among the wealthiest churches not only in Nigeria but globally.
This blog post delves into the wealth profile of the church, examining its sprawling infrastructure, vast educational institutions, thriving business ventures, and substantial human resource capital.
The Foundation of Wealth: Canaanland and Faith Tabernacle
Winners Chapel’s financial empire is rooted in Canaanland, a vast expanse of land in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. Acquired in the 1990s, Canaanland serves as the global headquarters of the church and is the site of the Faith Tabernacle—once listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest church auditorium in the world with a 50,000 seating capacity. Constructed within just 12 months and dedicated in 1999, Faith Tabernacle represents one of the most remarkable infrastructural achievements in religious architecture in Africa.
However, the church’s appetite for expansion did not end there. In 2021, the construction of a new ultra-modern 100,000-seat sanctuary, known as "The Ark," commenced. The aim is to accommodate the church’s ever-growing congregation and solidify Canaanland as a spiritual and commercial hub.
Canaanland also houses facilities such as a shopping complex, residential estates, schools, restaurants, bakeries, a water processing plant, petrol stations, and even a power plant. These developments not only support the church’s operations but also contribute significantly to its wealth generation.
A Global Footprint: 22,000+ Churches Worldwide
Winners Chapel has strategically planted over 22,000 branches globally, many of which are located in rural communities across Nigeria and internationally in countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, South Africa, Kenya, and Canada. These churches operate semi-independently but contribute financially to the central administration.
The church’s rural church planting initiative, launched in recent years, involves constructing 100- to 300-seat capacity churches across underserved areas in Nigeria. Each of these rural churches reportedly costs between ₦21 million and ₦32.5 million to build. What’s notable is that many of these constructions are funded directly by church members, local congregations, and kingdom partners—individuals and organizations who commit financially to the church’s growth.
This initiative highlights a consistent inflow of contributions, both from individual donors and corporate entities sympathetic to the church’s evangelical cause. These financial streams, combined with offerings, tithes, and donations, form a substantial part of the church's revenue.
Educational Institutions: Covenant and Landmark Universities
Education is one of the key pillars through which Living Faith Church expresses its commitment to societal development—and it is also a significant source of revenue. The church owns and operates two top-tier private universities in Nigeria:
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Covenant University (Ota): Established in 2002, it is one of Nigeria’s most prestigious private universities, with a reputation for academic excellence, innovation, and strict discipline. Covenant University consistently ranks among the top universities in Nigeria and has produced thousands of graduates.
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Landmark University (Omu-Aran, Kwara State): This university focuses on agricultural innovation and sustainability and was established to address Nigeria’s food security challenges.
In addition to these universities, the church runs over 30 secondary schools and 50 primary schools under the umbrella of Kingdom Heritage Model Schools and Faith Academy. These institutions charge competitive fees and are known for high-quality education, moral instruction, and state-of-the-art facilities. The tuition and other school-related revenues from these institutions contribute significantly to the church's income.
Business Ventures and Publishing Empire
Winners Chapel’s business interests are diverse and deeply integrated into its core operations. Among its most visible commercial wings is Dominion Publishing House (DPH), the church's official publishing arm. DPH is responsible for printing millions of copies of spiritual materials, including over 100 books authored by Bishop Oyedepo. Some of his most popular titles, such as Understanding Financial Prosperity, The Healing Balm, and Winning the War Against Poverty, have sold in the millions.
Other notable business ventures include:
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Hebron Bottled Water: A water processing and packaging plant located in Canaanland.
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Bakeries and Eateries: Commercial food outlets that serve residents and visitors within Canaanland.
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Faith Academy Stores: Retail shops and supermarkets that offer both religious and general household items.
The profits from these ventures not only support the church’s daily operations but also reinforce its financial self-reliance.
Aviation Assets: A Jet-Setting Ministry
To support its extensive global evangelistic work, Living Faith Church maintains an impressive aviation capability. The church owns multiple aircraft used primarily for mission trips and pastoral movement. In 2024, reports surfaced that the church acquired a Hawker Siddeley 25 900XP business jet, replacing an older model that was sold off.
Though this aspect of the church’s wealth has attracted both admiration and criticism, it underscores the church’s commitment to global outreach and efficient administration across its far-reaching network.
Employment and Human Capital
Winners Chapel is a significant employer of labor. In Nigeria alone, the church reportedly employs over 18,000 full-time staff, including pastors, administrators, educators, medical personnel, publishing staff, and maintenance workers. Thousands more are engaged on a part-time or contractual basis.
The church’s educational institutions, publishing houses, farms, media arms, and infrastructural projects create ongoing employment opportunities. This positions the church not just as a spiritual organization but as a vital economic contributor.
Financial Transparency and Internal Controversies
Despite its vast financial portfolio, the church has not been immune to scrutiny. Reports have emerged from time to time regarding the salaries and welfare of junior pastors. In many rural locations, pastors reportedly earn as little as ₦35,000 per month, while those serving in Lagos and Abuja may earn slightly more—between ₦45,000 and ₦55,000. These figures have stirred public debates around the perceived disparity between the church’s wealth and the welfare of its frontline workers.
Critics also question the church’s financial transparency, as it does not publicly disclose its financial statements. Nevertheless, the church maintains that it operates with fiscal responsibility, reinvesting heavily in outreach, education, and welfare projects.
Conclusion
The wealth of Living Faith Church Worldwide is built on a complex ecosystem of spiritual devotion, educational excellence, infrastructural expansion, and entrepreneurial innovation. It is a church that has effectively blended its religious mission with real-world socioeconomic impact.
From Canaanland’s grandeur to global church planting, from universities to publishing empires, and from aviation to rural development, Winners Chapel stands as a model of religious enterprise in the 21st century. While it faces ongoing questions around equity and transparency, its role in shaping modern Christianity in Africa—and indeed the world—is undeniable.
As one of the wealthiest churches in Nigeria, Winners Chapel’s influence will likely continue to grow, both in spiritual and financial dimensions.
