Benson Andrew Idahosa (September 11, 1938 – March 12, 1998) was a Nigerian charismatic Pentecostal preacher, founder of the Church of God Mission International, and the first Pentecostal Archbishop in Nigeria.
Born in Benin City, Edo State, to non-Christian parents who once left him for dead as a sickly infant, Idahosa went on to preach the gospel in over 145 nations, pioneer television evangelism in Africa, and build one of the most influential Pentecostal movements the continent has ever seen.
Widely called the “Father of Pentecostalism in Nigeria”, his life was one of the most dramatic testimonies of divine reversal in modern Christian history. He died on March 12, 1998, in Benin City, at the age of 59.
Archbishop Benson Idahosa — At a Glance
| Full Name | Benson Andrew Idahosa |
|---|---|
| Born | September 11, 1938, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria |
| Died | March 12, 1998, Benin City, Nigeria (aged 59) |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Tribe | Bini (Benin) |
| Spouse | Archbishop Margaret Idahosa (m. ~1966) |
| Children | 4 biological children (3 sons, 1 daughter); additional adopted children |
| Parents | John Idahosa (father); Sarah Idahosa (mother) |
| Education | Methodist boarding school (started at ~age 14); Christ for the Nations Institute, Dallas, Texas (Diploma, not completed); Word of Faith College, New Orleans (D.D., 1981); Oral Roberts University (Doctor of Laws, 1984) |
| Occupation | Evangelist, preacher, pastor, televangelist, author |
| Title | Archbishop |
| Church | Church of God Mission International |
| Founded | 1968 |
| PFN President | 1995–1998 (3rd President) |
| Denomination | Charismatic Pentecostal |
Early Life: From a Rubbish Heap to a Global Pulpit
Benson Idahosa’s story starts in the kind of darkness that makes what came next even more remarkable.
He was born on September 11, 1938, in Benin City to a father named John, who wanted nothing to do with him.
His father saw him as frail, sickly, and a burden. As an infant, Benson suffered repeated fainting spells.
On one occasion, his father concluded the child was dead and instructed his mother, Sarah, to leave the infant on a rubbish heap.
She did. Then she came back.
Hours later, a wailing baby was still alive. Sarah took her son back and raised him. That infant would go on to preach to millions and raise the dead himself. The irony is not lost on anyone who knows the story.
The family was poor. Benson grew up in a mud house, in a predominantly non-Christian community.
He did not attend school until around age 14, when he enrolled in a Methodist boarding school.
At 18, he was selling newspapers to save enough money to buy his first pair of shoes and his first shirt.
Conversion
Benson’s conversion happened on a football field one Sunday afternoon. While playing soccer with friends, he was found by Pastor Okpo, who led him to Christ.
That moment changed everything. Young Benson became the first Bini member of Pastor Okpo’s small congregation, and he was on fire for God almost immediately.
Ministry: The Rise of a Pentecostal General
Early Mentor: S.G. Elton
After his conversion, Idahosa encountered S.G. Elton, an Apostolic Church missionary who became his first significant mentor.
Elton introduced him to Gordon and Freda Lindsey, founders of Christ for the Nations in Dallas, Texas. That connection would open doors to international training and ordination.
In 1971, both S.G. Elton and Gordon Lindsey ordained Idahosa into ministry. This is the most accurate answer to the question of who his spiritual father and ordainer were at the start of his ministry.
He was then offered a scholarship to study at Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas.
Founding the Church of God Mission International (1968–1972)
Even before his formal theological training in the United States, Idahosa had begun planting what would become the Church of God Mission International in Benin City in 1968.
When he later went to Dallas for his studies, T.L. Osborn’s book on evangelism moved him so deeply that he could not finish his diploma. He returned to Nigeria in 1972, his heart set on winning Benin City for Christ.
He came back with nothing but a Bible and a conviction. He held open-air crusades, prayed for the sick, and built a church that would grow into one of the largest Pentecostal movements in Africa.
Who Ordained Archbishop Benson Idahosa?
Archbishop Benson Idahosa was ordained into ministry in 1971 by S.G. Elton and Gordon Lindsey.
He was later consecrated as the first Pentecostal Bishop in Nigeria in 1981 by David du Plessis, known internationally as “Mr. Pentecost.”
Du Plessis was one of the most prominent figures in the global charismatic renewal movement, and having him officiate Idahosa’s consecration was significant on a global scale.
Who Is the Spiritual Father of Archbishop Benson Idahosa?
S.G. Elton is widely regarded as Archbishop Benson Idahosa’s primary spiritual father and early mentor.
Elton was the Apostolic Church missionary who discipled the young Idahosa, introduced him to the global evangelical network, and was one of the ministers who ordained him.
Gordon Lindsey also played a foundational role, providing the scholarship and academic platform that shaped Idahosa’s early theology.
Idahosa himself had deep relationships with international figures including T.L. Osborn, Kenneth Hagin, Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, Benny Hinn, Reinhard Bonnke, and Morris Cerullo, all of whom influenced his ministry philosophy within the Word of Faith movement.
Miracles, Crusades, and the Power of Benson Idahosa’s Prayer Life
Archbishop Idahosa was known for a prayer life of unusual intensity. Those who knew him described a man who prayed long before he preached and who expected God to show up in power every time.
That expectation produced results that became the stuff of Nigerian Christian history.
Benson Idahosa’s Miracles
Documented accounts and testimonies from his ministry include:
- Raising people from the dead — multiple accounts, with the count varying by source from eight to twenty-eight different occasions across his ministry lifetime.
- Healing the blind — reported across multiple crusades in Nigeria and internationally.
- A child with a crushed skull — one account describes a child who fell from a three-story building with a fractured skull; Idahosa prayed, and the skull reportedly restored without the child going to hospital.
- Confronting witchcraft — he is credited with publicly opposing and stopping a major witches’ gathering planned for Benin City.
These accounts are drawn from testimonies by those who knew him. They reflect the charismatic tradition in which Idahosa operated, where the miraculous was treated as a natural part of ministry.
Who Prayed for Dangote?
A widely circulated story in Nigerian Christian circles claims that Archbishop Benson Idahosa prophesied over Aliko Dangote, declaring that “the world will get up for you.”
Dangote is today Africa’s wealthiest man. The story holds that Idahosa made this declaration based on Dangote’s generosity toward Idahosa and his companions.
This account is an oral tradition — it appears in multiple sources but has not been officially verified by the Dangote Group.
Still, it is one of the most repeated testimonies associated with Idahosa’s prophetic gift.
Television Ministry and Global Outreach
Idahosa became the first televangelist in Africa through his programme Recovery Hour, which aired nationally in Nigeria.
He later launched the Idahosa World Outreach (IWO TV) ministry, which had a potential viewing audience of 50 million people.
He understood that the Gospel’s reach could not be limited to crusade grounds.
He preached in over 145 nations — more countries than most world leaders visit. At the time of his death, it was said that he had preached to more white people than any black man alive, and to more black people than any white man alive.
T.L. Osborn described him as “the greatest African Ambassador of the apostolic Christian faith to the world.”
Freda Lindsay of Christ for the Nations said she knew of no young black man in all of Africa reaching millions the way Benson was.
Benson Idahosa’s Educational and Institutional Legacy
Beyond crusades, Idahosa built institutions. He founded:
- All Nations for Christ Bible Institute — training a generation of African church leaders
- Word of Faith Group of Schools
- Faith Medical Centre
- Idahosa World Outreach TV
- Benson Idahosa University — launched after his death, now one of Nigeria’s leading private Christian universities, currently under the chancellorship of Margaret Idahosa
He also earned academic credentials over his lifetime, including a Doctorate of Divinity from Word of Faith College, New Orleans (1981) and a Doctor of Laws from Oral Roberts University (1984), along with degrees from the International University in Brussels.
He was the first President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and served as its third president from 1995 to 1998. He was preceded in that role by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.
Wife and Family: Margaret Idahosa
Idahosa met Margaret Idahosa when she was just 15 years old. They knew each other for years before marrying, with Benson serving as something of a big brother figure to the young Margaret.
Margaret was born on July 29, 1943, into a royal family in Benin Kingdom, Edo State. She studied at Leeds Polytechnic in the UK, earning a Diploma in Home Economics.
Together they had four biological children, with additional adopted children. Margaret was a co-labourer in ministry with her husband throughout their marriage.
When Benson Idahosa died in 1998, Margaret did not step back. She stepped forward. She became the first African female Archbishop, taking over leadership of the Church of God Mission International.
The Nigerian government later recognised her work with the Officer of the Order of Niger (OON) award in 2008.
How Did Archbishop Benson Idahosa Die?
Archbishop Benson Idahosa died on March 12, 1998, in Benin City, Nigeria, at the age of 59.
According to his wife Margaret, who was present, the circumstances were peaceful but sudden.
Idahosa had just finished preaching at the Bible School — speaking to women about their role in ministry, which was reportedly his final public message — before sitting down for lunch with a visiting team from Oral Roberts University.
At the table, he was heard saying “thank you, Jesus.” The team bowed their heads and joined him, repeating the words.
After a moment, they realized the voice had gone quiet. When one of them looked up, Benson Idahosa was gone. He had passed from prayer to eternity at the lunch table, giving thanks.
His wife later described the moment as one of the most devastating of her life — she had lost not just a husband but a friend, a brother, a bishop, and a confidant all at once.
What Happened to Archbishop Benson Idahosa’s Ministry?
The Church of God Mission International continued under Margaret Idahosa’s leadership and has remained active.
Benson Idahosa University was established in his memory in Benin City and operates as a leading private institution today.
His messages on faith, miracles, and prosperity remain widely circulated in Nigerian Pentecostal circles, even decades after his death.
His legacy also lives in the scores of church leaders who trace their spiritual roots to his All Nations for Christ Bible Institute.
Figures like Bishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams of Ghana and Bishop Charles Agyin-Asare studied under his influence.
Archbishop Benson Idahosa’s Children
Archbishop Benson Idahosa and Margaret Idahosa had four biological children, and the family also included adopted children.
The specific identities of the children have not all been made public at the same level of detail as other aspects of his biography.
Some sources cite a mix of three sons and daughters. Margaret Idahosa continues to lead the ministry and Benson Idahosa University as Chancellor.
Notable Quotes
“My God is not a poor God.”
“Your attitude determines your altitude.”
“It is more risky not to take a risk.”
“I am a possibilitarian.”
“If your faith says yes, God cannot say no.”
“Faith is not a superstition or an intention but an action.”
Firsts: The Many “Never Before” Moments of Benson Idahosa
- First Pentecostal Archbishop in Nigeria
- First African television evangelist (Recovery Hour programme)
- First PFN President (Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria)
- First Nigerian minister to preach on radio and television
- First Nigerian minister to use a Mercedes Benz car (which was unprecedented for a minister at the time)
- First black African evangelist to hold a national-level crusade in Australia
Timeline
- 1938 — Born September 11, in Benin City, Edo State
- ~1938 — Left on rubbish heap as an infant by his father; rescued by his mother
- ~1952 — Begins school at Methodist boarding school at approximately age 14
- Late 1950s — Converted to Christianity on a football field by Pastor Okpo
- ~1966 — Meets and marries Margaret Idahosa
- 1968 — Founds Church of God Mission International in Benin City
- 1971 — Ordained into ministry by S.G. Elton and Gordon Lindsey; receives scholarship to study at Christ for the Nations Institute, Dallas
- 1972 — Returns to Nigeria without completing diploma; begins mass evangelism
- ~1975 — Launches Recovery Hour, becoming Africa’s first television evangelist
- 1981 — Consecrated as first Pentecostal Bishop in Nigeria by David du Plessis; earns D.D. from Word of Faith College, New Orleans
- 1984 — Earns Doctor of Laws from Oral Roberts University
- 1995 — Becomes 3rd President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria
- 1998 — Dies on March 12, at lunch with an Oral Roberts University team, in Benin City
- Post-1998 — Margaret Idahosa becomes Africa’s first female Archbishop; Benson Idahosa University founded in his honour
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Archbishop Benson Idahosa?
Archbishop Benson Idahosa died on March 12, 1998, in Benin City, Nigeria. He passed away suddenly at a lunch table while meeting with a team from Oral Roberts University. His last words were “thank you, Jesus.” He was 59 years old. His wife Margaret took over leadership of the Church of God Mission International after his passing.
Who ordained Archbishop Benson Idahosa?
Idahosa was ordained into ministry in 1971 by S.G. Elton and Gordon Lindsey of Christ for the Nations Institute. In 1981, he was consecrated as the first Pentecostal Bishop in Nigeria by David du Plessis, globally known as “Mr. Pentecost.”
Who is the spiritual father of Archbishop Benson Idahosa?
S.G. Elton, an Apostolic Church missionary, is widely recognised as Idahosa’s first spiritual father and mentor. Elton discipled him, introduced him to Gordon Lindsey, and co-ordained him in 1971. Gordon and Freda Lindsey of Christ for the Nations also played a deep formative role in his early theological development.
Who prayed for Dangote?
A widely shared account in Nigerian Christian circles holds that Archbishop Benson Idahosa prophesied over Aliko Dangote, declaring “the world will get up for you” because of Dangote’s kindness toward the Archbishop. Dangote today is Africa’s wealthiest person. This account is an oral tradition and has not been officially confirmed, but it is one of the most circulated stories associated with Idahosa’s prophetic ministry.
What miracles did Benson Idahosa perform?
Testimonies from Idahosa’s ministry include healing the blind, restoring a child’s crushed skull, and reportedly raising between 8 and 28 people from the dead at different points across his ministry. He also publicly confronted and stopped a reported gathering of occult practitioners in Benin City. These accounts are rooted in the charismatic Pentecostal tradition and are drawn from testimony by those who witnessed his ministry.
How many children did Archbishop Benson Idahosa have?
Archbishop Benson Idahosa and Margaret Idahosa had four biological children. The family also included adopted children, with some sources citing a total of eight children across biological and adopted. Their specific identities have not all been publicly documented.
