Looking at the milestones that Nigerian Gospel music has achieved so far in this past few years, there is a need to identify key persons whose work and effort brought us this far. By the grace of God these Men of God have worked tirelessly to promote Gospel music and entertainment. Please note that this is not an exhaustive compilation, it is about people who have made remarkable impact in the past few years. This is also not a conclusive list as we know that there are people doing exploits all over the industry and this is also not in any order of importance.
Deji Irawo
This man is whom we might call a “Media Titan”. He is the Chief Responsibility Officer at Xclusive 2Divinity (X2D). He and his amiable team has been putting gospel music and entertainment every where possible since late 90′s. From running syndicated Gospel music TV programmes, X2D has grown to become a media giant owning her own 24hr TV channel, showing gospel entertainment programmes on BRT buses in major cities in Nigeria, covering every major gospel music/entertainment concert or event in Nigeria and reaching millions of homes in Africa with gospel-centered entertainment programming. A sound and humble man with lots of influence in the industry, Mr Irawo has knocked on and opened doors that hitherto were not open for Gospel Music. There are a couple of Gospel TV channels i
Love world Ministries and the Senior Pastor at Christ Embassy Church. A large chunk of popular Nigerian Contemporary Gospel artistes are from his ministry. Names like Frank Edwards, Sinach, Buchi, Ada, Kelly Lyon, Eben, Samsong, Jahdiel and lots more owe their success stories to his key impact in their lives. He created a conducive and nurturing environment for these talents and helped them develop into mega stars. He allowed his artistes to share the spotlight with him, gave them every support they needed, from establishing TV stations, internet platforms, music distribution networks and even a record label. All these key machinery went a long way to help these artistes become the toast of the world.
Pastor Paul Adefarasin
Pastor Biodun Oluwatoyinbo
He is the Senior Pastor of Common wealth of Zion Assembly (COZA). The COZA Abuja Choir “Avalanche” has been termed by industry observers to be one of the most proficient and professional choirs in Nigeria. A visit to a Sunday service in COZA will convince you. Word in the industry has it that COZA is the highest artist-paying church in Nigeria and they have a way of celebrating you no matter how small you are. Many Nigerian Gospel acts who have performed in COZA come back with testimony of how fantastic the church is. The fruit of a man’s work they say speaks volumes, for by their fruit we shall know them. Pastor Biodun has impacted many Nigerian gospel acts and therefore makes our list of “people changing the Gospel music industry in Nigeria.
Bola Mogaji
Popularly know as Mr B, resides in the UK but would fly down to Nigeria for any important Nigerian gospel music event if necessary. Mr B has taken many Nigerian gospel acts abroad to perform and has a series of yearly event of which he flies lots of Nigerian acts to the UK to perform and from our little discussion with him, the man has huge plans for the industry. He is the President of Sethimoff Music and the convener of the Sethimoff series of concerts in the UK.
DJ Gosporella
He is fondly called Baba because he has been promoting and deejaying contemporary gospel music way back when it was not fashionable. Gosporella has been in the industry for decades, promoting gospel music in a densely secular industry. He is a pace setter who blazed trails for others to follow. Today there are tens of Gospel music DJ’s around Africa and the world who are inspired by his resilience and dedication. Still in the game, he has recently launched Gosporella International which is a gospel music promotional platform. he is also the convener of the yearly family event Gosporella family funfest. He will always be in our list of champions.
Wole Oni
A good number of the hit songs we sing in our churches and other christian gatherings were produced by this veteran ace producer. He might be said to be one of the persons that defined African contemporary gospel sound. He has worked with Midnight Crew, Onyeka Onwenu, Ibitayo jeje, and a host of other Gospel acts. Mr Wole is the President of WOMP (Wole Oni Music Production) and has groomed and worked with most of the industry biggest names. When you think of world-class production, His name comes to mind.
He is a spirited and dynamic young man who has blazed lots of trails too. He is the founder and president of Club X; an organization for gospel ministers poised to motivate, inspire, educate and guide gospel music ministers. He has directed many gospel music videos and spear-headed many media oriented innovations. He has also mentored and steered up the younger generation of Gospel artistes through Club X.
Lawrence Omoiyare
He is a spirited and dynamic young man who has blazed lots of trails too. He is the founder and president of Club X; an organization for gospel ministers poised to motivate, inspire, educate and guide gospel music ministers. He has directed many gospel music videos and spear-headed many media oriented innovations. He has also mentored and steered up the younger generation of Gospel artistes through Club X.
Victor Igbinigie
He is the helmsman at Gospogroove Entertainment and the Chief Responsibility Officer at Gospogroove.com. Mr Victor has been promoting Gospel music for decades and has helped to bring lots of artistes into limelight. He has closely worked with Veteran Producer Wole Oni for years and has been in the fore front of major innovations in the gospel music industry.
He is part of the famous quartet ”Midnight Crew” and as far as mentoring and supporting up and coming gospel acts in concerned, Mike Abdul is the man. He has featured on so many songs of upcoming artists and is mentoring many across Nigeria and abroad. He is one of the first Nigerian Gospel artists to start a record label and currently has about three artistes on his label; Spaghetti Records
He is the brain behind Love World Records and Love World Distribution Network. Many of the Love World (Christ Embassy )artistes if not all owe their success to the resilience of this quiet man of God, who God used mightily to define contemporary gospel music business in Nigeria. He is a quiet and reserved man, married to gospel music minister Ada. He is what we might tag an Industry Giant. For one would never know that he is the brain behind the success of many Love World artists, we had to pry deep to get to him. We use this platform to celebrate you.
We shall draw the curtain here and will continue on another edition as things unfold.
Mike Abdul
He is part of the famous quartet ”Midnight Crew” and as far as mentoring and supporting up and coming gospel acts in concerned, Mike Abdul is the man. He has featured on so many songs of upcoming artists and is mentoring many across Nigeria and abroad. He is one of the first Nigerian Gospel artists to start a record label and currently has about three artistes on his label; Spaghetti Records
Ehi Moses
He is the brain behind Love World Records and Love World Distribution Network. Many of the Love World (Christ Embassy )artistes if not all owe their success to the resilience of this quiet man of God, who God used mightily to define contemporary gospel music business in Nigeria. He is a quiet and reserved man, married to gospel music minister Ada. He is what we might tag an Industry Giant. For one would never know that he is the brain behind the success of many Love World artists, we had to pry deep to get to him. We use this platform to celebrate you.
We shall draw the curtain here and will continue on another edition as things unfold.
Culled from Perry Martins
