philanthropic endeavours, shocked congregants at his church, The
Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN).
on Sunday 18th November 2012 when it was revealed he has sponsored a
Nigerian student to study a PhD in the University of Oxford to the
tune of £100,000, approximately N26 million.
Miss Yinka Oduwole, who introduced herself as one of the youth who was
brought up in The SCOAN and worked there extensively, testified how
she had gained admission to study a PhD in Engineering Science in
Oxford University, UK after a successful Master's Programme in
University College London (UCL). Yinka, who was equally sponsored in
her Master's Degree in Broadband Communication in UCL in which she
came out with a distinction, said Prophet T.B.
Joshua and Emmanuel TV Partners had paid the sum of £100,000 to enable
her to study for a PhD in the prestigious Oxford University."My advice
to youth all over the world is that they should pray as if everything
depends on God and work as if everything depends on them," Yinka, also
a First-Class graduate from the University of Lagos, told the
congregation and viewers worldwide on Emmanuel TV, equally counselling
the youth to find a job in the church and actively engage in godly
activities.
TB Joshua also revealed in the service how footballer Ogenyi Onazi,
the SS Lazio starlet who was recently promoted to the Super Eagles of
Nigeria and scored on his debut against
Venezuela, was brought up in the church and worked there as well
before attaining his current sporting success.
Joshua revealed how he had sponsored Onazi and his colleague Sani
Emmanuel to trial in clubs around the world including Premier League
giants Chelsea and Tottenham, before arriving in SS Lazio, where he is
currently playing for the senior team.
Joshua revealed that close to $1m was spent in this process, to ensure
the duo went to the right club to reach the heights of their
potential. According to Joshua, the reward for raising up such young
people to become leaders of tomorrow in every field of expertise is
immeasurable in monetary or material terms.
"What you make happens for others, God makes happen for you. You are
raised to raise others," Joshua exhorted the crowd, counselling them
to consider the future of their own children and what they were doing
with their lives.
Forbes estimated that Joshua has spent up to $ 20m in charitable
activities alone in the last three years. Thousands of less privileged
students are currently studying in universities across Nigeria and
around the world courtesy of SCOAN's scholarship program.
BY Ihechukwu Njoku – freelance journalist based in London, UK