Who Is Anwinli Ojeikere?
Anwinli Ojeikere (born April 13, 1987) is a Nigerian pastor, actress, author, and relationship coach based in Asaba, Delta State.
She is one half of The Winlos, the Christian entertainment and ministry brand she runs with her husband, Pastor Ohis Muyiwa Ojeikere.
Together they’ve built one of Nigeria’s most recognizable gospel skit ministries, reaching millions of viewers through comedy, stage plays, movies, and relationship coaching.
She was trained as a biochemist before God, church drama, and a chance introduction rerouted her whole life.
Anwinli Ojeikere at a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Anwinli Ojeikere (née Onyebetor) |
| Born | April 13, 1987, Nigeria |
| Age | 39 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| State of Origin | Delta State (Onyebetor family roots) |
| Spouse | Pastor Ohis Muyiwa Ojeikere (m. May 18, 2013) |
| Children | One daughter, Aima Ojeikere |
| Parents | Mr. Henry Onyebetor and Mrs. Onyebetor |
| Education | |
| Degree | Biochemistry |
| Early Career | Biochemist in a hospital laboratory |
| Ministry | |
| Title | Lead Pastor (with husband) |
| Church | The Votage |
| Ministry Brand | The Winlos |
| Personal Program | Refresh (monthly interdenominational meeting) |
| Spiritual Father | Apostle Arome Osayi |
| Mentors | Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo & Pastor Mrs. Mildred Okonkwo |
| Career | |
| Notable Skit | “God Told Me to Marry You” |
| Notable Film | Twelve Forty Five (2021) |
| Books | His Ex, Her Ex; Blind Date (co-authored) |
Early Life and Background
Anwinli Ojeikere was born April 13, 1987, to Mr. Henry Onyebetor and Mrs. Onyebetor. Her maiden name, Onyebetor, points to roots in the Delta State region of Nigeria, though her exact tribal heritage hasn’t been formally confirmed in public records. What’s clear is that she grew up Nigerian, raised in a home that pointed her toward both education and faith.
She didn’t set out to become a pastor or an actress. She studied Biochemistry and, after graduating, worked as a biochemist in a hospital. It was a stable, respectable path. It also wasn’t where she’d stay.
Education
Anwinli holds a degree in Biochemistry. Her science background rarely comes up in her public ministry today, but it shaped how she thinks. People who work in labs learn to test things, ask questions, and follow evidence.
That instinct shows up in how she and her husband approach relationship coaching now, practical and direct, grounded in what actually works.
How Anwinli Met Ohis: The Story Behind The Winlos
The love story fans keep asking about started in Asaba in 2008, inside a church where Ohis was serving as a Youth Corps member.
Anwinli had walked into that church nursing a broken heart. A pastor noticed Ohis had a gift for making new members feel welcome, and paired the two of them for fellowship.
Neither one felt a spark. Ohis wanted a chubby woman. Anwinli, by her own admission, thought Ohis was too dark, with lips that reminded her of a smoker. They laugh about that now.
For about two years, they were simply friends, working side by side in church departments, including the drama group that would later define both their lives.
She is everything I need. That’s the thought Ohis says finally hit him, after years of meeting women who fit his checklist but never his heart.
The timing that followed sounds almost scripted: the moment he decided to pursue her, she called to tell him she was about to accept a marriage proposal from someone else.
He asked her to pray about it first. She said no to the other man. He proposed, broke, squatting in his pastor’s house, with nothing to offer but faith and a promise to follow Christ together.
They dated a year and a half and married on May 18, 2013. As of 2026, that puts Anwinli and Ohis at 13 years of marriage.
Ministry and Career Journey
From Skits to a Movement
The Winlos launched on YouTube in October 2013, months after the wedding. The idea was simple: use funny, honest skits to talk about real marriage and relationship problems.
It worked faster than either of them expected. Within two years, the channel became one of the fastest-growing Nigerian gospel skit channels online.
The breakout moment came with “God Told Me to Marry You,” a skit that pulled in millions of views worldwide and got translated into French, Hindi, and other languages.
That single piece of content put The Winlos on the international map and helped legitimize mini-drama as a serious lane within Nigerian Christian entertainment.
Church Leadership
Anwinli and Ohis now serve as Lead Pastors of The Votage, the church expression of their Winlos Ministry. It’s built to match their personality: high energy, faith-driven, and practical rather than academic.
Beyond The Votage, Anwinli personally hosts Refresh, a monthly interdenominational gathering built to push men and women toward active witness, drawing on the Great Commission in Acts 1:8. The couple also runs:
- The Winlos Show (TWS), an annual February event mixing Christian comedy, stage plays, and live music
- Ask The Winlos, a weekly Friday series on their internet TV platform
- The MRC Experience (My Relationship Conference), a multi-country campus tour addressing singles and couples
Movies, Books, and Publications
In 2021, their film Twelve Forty Five was selected and screened at the International Christian Film and Music Festival in Orlando, Florida, a significant marker of the couple’s reach beyond Nigeria.
Ohis has also built out an acting and directing résumé that includes Prophet Suddenly (2023), A Whisper in the Fog (2022), and A Love Like Raymond (2025).
Anwinli and Ohis co-authored two books, His Ex, Her Ex and Blind Date, both built around the same relationship-coaching territory that made their skits popular.
Neither book reads like a theology manual. Both read like advice from a couple who has actually lived through the mess of dating and marriage.
Personal Life
Anwinli and Ohis have one daughter, Aima Ojeikere. The couple keeps her mostly out of the public eye, though she occasionally shows up in warmer, more personal moments the family shares online.
Theology and Ministry Philosophy
Anwinli’s approach leans practical over performative. She talks about relationships the way a scientist talks about a hypothesis: test it, be honest about the results, adjust.
Her spiritual father, Apostle Arome Osayi, and mentors Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo and Pastor Mrs. Mildred Okonkwo, have shaped a ministry style that favors clarity over jargon.
Refresh, her personal outreach, reflects that same instinct: get people activated for witness, not just informed.
Influence and Legacy
The Winlos didn’t just make funny videos. They helped normalize gospel skits as a legitimate ministry tool in Nigeria, opening space for other creators to follow.
Their content has crossed language barriers, reaching audiences in French and Hindi, which is rare for a Nigerian church-based brand.
Awards and Recognition
- 2015, nominated for a Golden Icon Academy Movie Award (GIAMA) for Best Inspirational Film
- 2021, Twelve Forty Five screened at the International Christian Film and Music Festival, Orlando
- 2021, named among Nigeria’s 100 most influential church persons by YNaija.com
Interesting Facts
- The name “Winlos” is a blend of Anwinli and Ohis, not a random brand name
- Before ministry, Anwinli worked in a hospital lab as a biochemist
- Anwinli and Ohis initially had almost no romantic interest in each other and spent two years as pure friends before anything changed
- Their most viral skit was translated into French and Hindi, reaching audiences far outside Nigeria
Timeline of Key Events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1987 | Born April 13 to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Onyebetor |
| 2008 | Meets Ohis Ojeikere in Asaba, Delta State |
| 2013 | Marries Ohis Ojeikere on May 18 |
| 2013 | Launches The Winlos on YouTube in October |
| 2015 | Nominated for a GIAMA award |
| 2021 | Twelve Forty Five screens at International Christian Film and Music Festival, Orlando |
| 2021 | Named among Nigeria’s 100 most influential church persons |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the spiritual father of Anwinli Ojeikere?
Apostle Arome Osayi is publicly acknowledged as her and Ohis’s spiritual father. Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo and Pastor Mrs. Mildred Okonkwo serve as their mentors.
How long have the Winlos been married?
They married on May 18, 2013, making them married for 13 years as of 2026.
How old is Anwinli Ojeikere?
She was born April 13, 1987, making her 39 years old as of 2026.
Anwinli Ojeikere tribe and state of origin?
Her exact ethnicity hasn’t been officially confirmed, but her maiden name, Onyebetor, points toward Delta State roots.
Does Anwinli Ojeikere have a Wikipedia page?
No. As of now, she doesn’t have a dedicated Wikipedia page, despite her public profile and ministry reach.
How many children does Anwinli Ojeikere have?
One daughter, Aima Ojeikere.
What movies has Anwinli Ojeikere appeared in?
Her most notable film credit is Twelve Forty Five (2021), screened at the International Christian Film and Music Festival in Orlando.
The Winlos built their platform on one honest idea: relationships get better when people talk about them honestly, even the awkward parts.
