Ayo Oritsejafor
| Ayo Oritsejafor | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 5th President of CAN | |
| Pastor | |
|
In office July, 2010 – July, 2016 |
|
| Vice President | Daniel Okoh |
| Preceded by | John Onaiyekan |
| Succeeded by | Dr. Supo Ayokunle |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ayodele Joseph Oritsegbubemi Oritsejafor November 10 Delta State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Spouse(s) | Helen Oritsejafor (m. 1997) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents | Joseph Monday Oritsejafor Roli Durojaiye Oritsejafor |
| Residence | Warri, Delta State, Nigeria |
| Occupation | Preacher, Author |
| Website | Ayo Oritsejafor Ministries |
Ayodele Joseph Oritsegbubemi Oritsejafor, known as Papa Ayo Oritsejafor, is the founding and Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, located in Warri, Nigeria. He became the National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) on February 7, 2005, a position he held for five years. In July 2010, Oritsejafor was elected as the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN), the apex body of all Christians in the country. In doing so he became the first Pentecostal leader to hold the position. Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor Ministries was the first to launch a Miracle crusade (Lagos Miracle Crusade) from Africa to world audience, via satellite, in 1987 with evangelist Joe Martins.
Oritsejafor is today not only a pastor; he is a teacher, evangelist, prophet, author, philosopher, and philanthropist. He is a father, a friend and a mentor to millions of people around the world. He is a proponent of leadership by example. This is evident in the role he played in bringing the crisis in Niger Delta area of Nigeria to an end.
Oritsejafor was heavily criticized. After he was elected as the National President of CAN, an association not well recognized by citizens of Nigeria became the headliner of national television stations, radios, and newspapers all because of the out-spoken Oritsejafor in consistent defense of the Church in Nigeria, freedom and equality, and terrorism.
Sources articulated that Oritsejafor's only crime was to lead Nigerian Christians in calling upon the US Congress to label a "group of young men" a terrorist group in his testimony before a committee of the US Congress in 2012.
In 2014, the so-called "group of young men" was not only labeled as a terrorist group but an International Terrorist Organization that have taken over 5000 innocent lives alongside massive territory damages since mid-2009. The Global Terrorism Index said the group has killed more people: 6,644—in terror attacks during 2014 than any other terrorist group.
In all this, those who knew the good intentions of Oritsejafor towards the wellbeing of the citizens of Nigeria stood up against all critics.
Oritsejafor has received several awards both internationally and locally in regards of his various peace and humanitarian initiatives. He has been honored with the Golden key to the City of Kalamazoo, Michigan by the mayor of the city. He was also honored with the International Youth Ambassador for Peace Award. He was conferred an Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) one of the Nigerian National Honours at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on December 22, 2008. Oritsejafor received an award of 'A True Servant of God' by The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) May 9, 2013. Speaking on the choice of Oritsejafor, the Chairman of NOSCEF, Matthew Owojaiye said: "Oritsejafor was chosen because of his commitment and dedication for the things of Christ, noting that when others tried to save their head, he dared to speak the truth."
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