Okeyomi marks birthday with empowerment, donates plots of land to church members

By Adebola Muili

His Eminence Dr. Okeyomi Oladipupo Babatunde Gabriel, Baba Aladura Worldwide of Holy Fountain C&S Church, Orimolade Worldwide, has celebrated his birthday with a Thanksgiving Service and empowerment programme for members of his church and other members of the public in Lagos.

The Thanksgiving Service, held on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at the church’s headquarters in Ajegunle, Lagos, attracted political associates, community leaders, church members and other well-wishers.

The event featured prayers, goodwill messages and the distribution of various tools and materials to beneficiaries, including grinding machines, popcorn-making machines, hair dryers, barbing clippers, makeup boxes, sewing machines and other equipment to support different trades.

Speaking after the service, Okeyomi said his birthday celebration was primarily to pray for the congregation, while the empowerment programme was part of his longstanding commitment to helping people.

He said he had been empowering widows and other people since 2005, attributing the initiative to a personal covenant between him and God after he and his wife experienced difficult times.

“This thing I have been doing, this empowerment, since 2005. It is between me and God because when I was suffering, I asked God. Me and my wife, we asked God for something, and God gave it to us.

“Since then, I have been trying to empower people, the widows and a lot of people like that, and I will continue to do that,” he said.

Okeyomi described this year’s empowerment as only a small part of what he had planned, saying a much larger empowerment programme would take place during the church’s December celebration.

He also dismissed suggestions that his empowerment activities were connected to political ambitions, saying they were driven by his passion and commitment to God.

“I am just doing it because of the passion that I have for it and the agreement between me and God, not for political reason,” he said.

Apart from the empowerment items, two church members received plots of land, one plot each, while attendees, including people who were not members of the church, received one-kilogramme bags of rice and other gift items.

One of the beneficiaries, Adedini Bolanle Elizabeth, who received a makeup box, expressed appreciation for the gesture, saying she had wanted to acquire one but could not afford it.

She said she would use the equipment for her work rather than sell it.

Another beneficiary, Morenikeji Sani, said she was grateful for the makeup box, which she described as containing the instruments needed for her work. She estimated the value of each box at between N100,000 and N150,000 or more.

Also speaking, Ayedun Adenike, a beneficiary who received a grinding machine, said she was surprised to be selected despite having registered for the empowerment.

Adenike said she would use the machine to generate income and would not sell it, while praying for continued success for Okeyomi and his family.

The celebrant expressed appreciation to all those who attended the Thanksgiving, including his political associates and members of the community.

He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Minister of Interior, Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo; Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Obafemi Hamzat; Senator Raji Rasaki; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and his wife, among others.

Okeyomi also appreciated his parents and his wife, Mother Captain Folukemi Okeyomi, for their support.

Among the dignitaries at the Thanksgiving were Prophet Tibetan Marcus of the Celestial Church of Christ, Primate Oladunni, Waheed Ipaye and other political and community leaders, who congratulated Okeyomi and prayed for many more years of celebration.

Ipaye said Okeyomi’s empowerment activities went beyond the church, noting that he had also empowered people within the political circle and through CAFI, a foundation owned by the celebrant.

In a goodwill message delivered at the service on behalf of Iya Aladura General, Dr. Oluwaseye Yomi-Sholoye JP, Founder of The New Seraph Evangelical Ministry, Deputy Baba Aladura Friday Ngbodi congratulated Okeyomi and prayed for fresh strength, divine health, greater glory and increased impact in his new year.

The message described Okeyomi’s life as a testimony of God’s preserving power and prayed that his birthday Thanksgiving would open new doors of breakthrough and deeper fellowship with God.