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Nigerian Pastor T.B. Joshua, well known for his
expansive philanthropic endeavours, shocked congregants at his church, The
Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) on Sunday 18thNovember 2012
when it was revealed he has sponsored a Nigerian student to study a PhD in the
University of Oxford to the tune of £100,000, approximately N26 million.
Miss Yinka Oduwole, who introduced
herself as one of the youth who was brought up in The SCOAN and worked there
extensively, testified how she had gained admission to study a PhD in
Engineering Science in Oxford University, UK after a successful Master’s
Programme in University College London (UCL). Yinka, who was equally sponsored
in her Master’s Degree in Broadband Communication in UCL in which she came out
with a distinction, said Prophet T.B. Joshua and Emmanuel TV Partners had paid
the sum of £100,000 to enable her to study for a PhD in the prestigious Oxford
University.
“My advice to youth
all over the world is that they should pray as if everything depends on God and
work as if everything depends on them,” Yinka, also a First-Class
graduate from the University of Lagos, told the congregation and viewers
worldwide on Emmanuel TV, equally counselling the youth to find a job in the
church and actively engage in godly activities.
TB Joshua also revealed in the
service how footballer Ogenyi Onazi, the SS Lazio starlet who was recently
promoted to the Super Eagles of Nigeria and scored on his debut against
Venezuela, was brought up in the church and worked there as well before
attaining his current sporting success. Joshua revealed how he had sponsored
Onazi and his colleague Sani Emmanuel to trial in clubs around the world including
Premier League giants Chelsea and Tottenham, before arriving in SS Lazio, where
he is currently playing for the senior team. Joshua revealed that close to $1m
was spent in this process, to ensure the duo went to the right club to reach
the heights of their potential.
According to Joshua, the reward for
raising up such young people to become leaders of tomorrow in every field of
expertise is immeasurable in monetary or material terms. “What you make
happens for others, God makes happen for you. You are raised to raise others,” Joshua
exhorted the crowd, counselling them to consider the future of their own
children and what they were doing with their lives.
Forbes estimated that Joshua has spent up to $20m in charitable
activities alone in the last three years. Thousands of less privileged students
are currently studying in universities across Nigeria and around the world
courtesy of SCOAN’s scholarship program