First Lady and Minister of Education Janet Kataaha Museveni on Sunday 4th March, 2018 attended the 76th birthday thanksgiving celebration of Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the Global General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Nigeria.
Mrs Museveni was in the company of the Vice President of Nigeria, Oluyemi Oluleke and his wife, Pastor Yemi Osinbajo, Senator Remi Tinubu, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, Rev. Joe Olaiya, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelama, Chief of Defense Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin among others.
In her speech, the First Lady took off time to share her testimony and congratulate Pr Adeboye.
As part of the activities to mark E A Adeboye’s birthday, the church organised, ‘76 Hours Marathon Messiah’s Praise,’ which is the world’s longest annual non-stop gospel musical event, aimed at expressing gratitude to God for His mercy upon the life of Pastor Adeboye and creating a new pattern of Praise in this dispensation.
Countries that participated included Nigeria, United States of America, Canada, England, Australia, Spain, Scotland, United Arab Emirates, Cameroon, Kenya, Netherlands, Sweden, Malaysia, South Africa, and Ireland.
Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement to the church, congratulated Adeboye and commended his warmth and friendliness, recalling his visits to the State House, and most significantly, the historic visit in London when he was on medical vacation.
He also said the exemplary leadership provided by Adeboye has resulted in an exponential growth of the church, which directly translates into development of infrastructure, building of educational and health institutions, as well as vocational centres that have created a means of livelihood for many Nigerians.
“Pastor Adeboye has planted seeds of the gospel that posterity will always remember, especially his divinely inspired dream of ensuring that there will be a church within every walking distance in the country. I extol him for his humility, focus, discipline and sacrificial spirit of giving up his personal comfort, career and dreams, to take up the higher call of leading the Lord’s flock,” President Buhari said.
The service ended with prayers and special laying on of hands on over hundreds of congregants.
About Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.
As the General overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), he has been instrumental in its vast expansion. The church, which was practically unknown when he took over, now has its branches in over a 100 countries all over the world including more than 14,000 in Nigeria.
He was awarded the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the Nigerian President in 2008. In 2009 he was named one of ‘The World’s Fifty Most Powerful People’ by Newsweek Magazine (USA).
He is the recipient of several honorary degrees including an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Lagos and an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He was presented with the Spiritual Pillar of Nigerian Sports, a National Sports Honor in 2010.
