The death of a clergyman is usually felt by people far and near due to the influence he commanded. When such incident occurs, the question on everyone’s lips becomes “Who succeeds him?”
Unlike some businesses which have succession plans, founding pastors of churches usually do not plan for succession as the brand is built around them. They may have branches across the country with pastors manning each one. However, many of them do not prepare succession plans, leaving their widows clinging to the establishment in the face of opposition to preserve their husbands’ legacies.
It is not an easy feat to step into the shoes of a popular clergyman. However, many women in Nigeria are proving it can be done.
Margaret Idahosa
Margaret Idahosa, wife of the founding archbishop of Church of God Mission International (CGM), Benson Idahosa, stepped up to the pulpit after her husband died on March 12, 1998.
The 81-year-old was for some time involved in legal battles with her stepson Bishop Faith Idahosa over the control of the church. In 2021, she said her husband only left her with N42,000 in a bank account. Margaret has managed to complete the building of Benson Idahosa University which is now in a permanent site, the Bible School and several other projects.
Nkechi Anayo-Iloputaife
Nkechi Anayo-lloputaife is the widow of Harford Anayo-IIoputaife who founded Faith Revival Ministries World Outreach, popularly known as Victory Christian Church.
She has been in charge of the ministry since her husband’s assassination in 1995. Bishop Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) guided her through the rough stages.
Sarah Omakwu
She is the widow of the founder of Family Worship Center, Abuja, Pastor Inalegwu Omakwu who died in the United States in 2003 after battling brain cancer for three years.
The charismatic Pastor Sarah is also the chief operating officer of the Christian Broadcasting Network International.
Mercy Ezekiel
Mercy took charge of the Christian Pentecostal Mission (CPM) in 2021 after her husband Obiora Ezekiel’s death in November of the same year.
Before his death at age 78, he battled health challenges which resulted in his blindness some 20 years before his eventual demise.
Janet Onaolapo
Widow of bishop Kola Onaolapo of Abundant Life Gospel Church has taken the church to greater heights since her husband’s death in 2012.
She completed the ultra-modern worship centre in the Agege area of Lagos which her husband started and has hosted programmes some of which had the revered cleric Pastor William Kumuyi and others in attendance.
Evelyn Joshua
Prophet TB Joshua’s widow Evelyn was hitherto unknown until her husband’s sudden death on June 5, 2021.
Now known as Pastor Evelyn Joshua, the woman, along with her children, fought off competition from several church leaders who preferred one of Joshua’s disciples to take over the church’s leadership.
Roselyn Oduyemi
She refers to herself as a prophet, educationist, teacher and preacher. Roselyn Oduyemi took over the leadership of Bethel Ministries Incorporated after her husband Gabriel Oduyemi died 16 years ago. She is credited to have sold off his private jet when she took charge.
