President and Founder of Word Assembly Ministries in Ilorin, Kwara State, Evangelist Isaac Omolehin, has expressed deep worry over the condition of the Nigerian church, stressing that it is alarming that five out of the world’s 10 richest pastors are Nigerians.
Speaking to pastors during a recent gathering, he drew attention to a report by the World Council of Churches, which reveals a disturbing imbalance between the personal affluence of some church leaders and the economic reality of their congregations.
Highlighting the findings, Rev. Omolehin said, “Is it not scary that the World Council of Churches released papers about the state of the Nigerian church, that out of the 10 richest pastors in the world, five of them are Nigerians, but out of the 10 richest churches in the world, there’s no Nigerian church?”
He described the revelation as “worrisome” and a matter that “calls for concern.”
The clergyman further contrasted the situation in Nigeria with global church leadership.
“The Roman Catholic Church is the richest church in the world, the pope has no private jet,” he noted, pointing to what he sees as a model of humility and shared wealth in ministry.
Rev. Omolehin’s comments come at a time when conversations around accountability, financial transparency, and the use of wealth in ministry are gaining momentum in Nigeria.
Many churchgoers and observers have been questioning the ethics of pastors amassing personal fortunes while their congregations face economic hardship.
His remarks, grounded in both statistical reports and moral appeal, add weight to the ongoing debate about how church leaders should balance personal prosperity with the collective welfare of their ministries.
For Omolehin, the challenge remains clear: the Nigerian church must re-evaluate its priorities to ensure that prosperity is not concentrated in the hands of a few, but reflected in the strength and growth of the church as a whole.