The Founder of Deeper Life Ministry, Pastor Kumuyi and the General Overseer of Redeem Christian Church of God,(RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye have won the Irohinoodua 2025 Persons of the Year Award.
In a statement on Friday on Irohinodua, the first pan Yoruba news online said the decade old award is given every year for the most distinguished Yoruba personality.
In a statement issued by the editorial board stated that Pastor Kumuyi and Pastor Adeboye have distinguished themselves to the service of God and mankind, the group said there is no other person of Yoruba heritage across the world.
The world and Nigeria are riddled with violence , hate, vengeance and human mystery, this two individuals with their words and deeds continue to profess love, peace and brotherhood, not only in Nigeria but across the world, in the year 2004, Nigeria in particular witness upsurge of violence, hate and disaffection, driven by faith and ethnicity, this two individuals, stirred the whirl wind of harmony in every part of the world where their religious institutions have strongholds, while others used religion to advance hatred and parochial political and ethnic goals, Pastor Kumuyi and Adeboye converted their multiple platforms to the advancement of peace and good neighbour leaders, though this two individuals came under vicious and violent attacks from their opponents, their responses where, measured, cultured and propelled by Godliness, even though local authorities have not given them recognition, their stars continue to shine all over the world to the glory of the Yoruba nation.
Among over 60 million Yoruba people all over the world, this two individuals remain some of the very few that though hold no political positions, can knock and open the doors of any president or prime minister all over the world.
The two leaders run faith industries that heal millions of human souls, bring comfort, uplift the spirit and bring hope to multitude of the hopeless, apart from spiritual healings, it is impotant to know that millions of people including non Christians derive their livelihood from their tabernacle.
it is also important to know that this two individuals are well educated and will be well to do without taking up the pastoral office, Pastor Kumuyi in 1967 graduated with a first-class honours degree in mathematics from University of Ibadan, alongside he subsequently took a post graduate education course in University of Lagos, while Pastor E.A Adeboye also graduated with a Bsc. In Matematics in 1967 from University of Ife (OAU), in 1969 he obtained his Masters Degree in Hydrodynamics from University of Lagos and in 1975 he obtained a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from University of Lagos.
In 1973, while being a lecturer of mathematics at the University of Lagos, Kumuyi began a Bible study group with 15 students who had come to him for Bible training. The Bible training birthed the foundation of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, in 1975, Kumuyi was expelled from the Apostolic Faith Church for preaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He continued his independent ministry, which in 1982 became the Deeper Life Bible Church, the ministry now has over 5,500 churches in Nigeria and over 3,000 churches in more than 40 other countries.
In 1973 Adejare Adeboye joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God and served as an interpreter before he was ordained a pastor in the church by Pa. Josiah Akindayomi in 1975. He became General Overseer of the church in 1981. For three years he filled the role part-time at Unilorin before giving up his university position to preach full-time. The ministry has over 35,000 parishes in more than 197 countries and territories. The ministry is one of the world’s largest church denominations.
Winners of Irohinodua Awards in the past, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Dr. Adeniyan Abraham and the Orlu of Warri amongst others.
