David Olatunji Abioye (born March 11, 1961) is a

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...

Christian author and preacher who served as the first Vice President of the

Living Faith Church Worldwide Living Faith Church Worldwide (also known as Winners' Chapel) is an Evangelical charismatic Christian denomination and a megachurch. The headquarters is located in Ota, Nigeria. The organization has since become a global network of churches w ...

. He is a bishop and the senior pastor of the

Abuja Abuja () is the capital and eighth most populous city of Nigeria. Situated at the centre of the country within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it is a planned city built mainly in the 1980s based on a master plan by International Plann ...

church, Living Faith Church, Goshen City, with over 30,000 worshippers.

Personal life

Born into a family from Erin Ile, Oyun LGA of Kwara State, Abioye is married to Mary Abioye; they have three children: David Jr, Ruth, and Daniel. He studied mechanical engineering from the

University of Ilorin University of Ilorin, also known as Unilorin, is a federal government-owned university in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. It was established by a decree of the federal military government in August, 1975. The establishment aimed to implement one o ...

. He worked as a lecturer at Open Cast Polytechnic, Auchi, in 1985 for a year.

Ministry

While still lecturing at the Polytechnic, he wanted to start a technological firm to solidify his finances. However, when he met the future founder of

David Oyedepo David Olaniyi Oyedepo (born 27 September 1954) is a Nigerian preacher, Christian author, businessman, architect and the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, and presiding Bishop of the Faith Tabernacle in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. The ...

at a Christian Student Fellowship in the 1980's, he was inspired by what he saw as his passion and love for God. Over the years, their relationship has transcended from a brotherly friendship to a spiritual mentor. After the departure of Oyedepo to Lagos, Abioye was the senior pastor of Garden of Faith,

Kaduna Kaduna is the capital city of Kaduna State, and the former political capital of Northern Region, Nigeria, Northern Nigeria. It is located in north-western Nigeria, on the Kaduna River. It is a trade Centre and a major transportation hub as the ...

, which was the former national headquarters of the church. In 1993, he became a bishop in the church. In January 2014, Nigeria's president,

Goodluck Jonathan Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan (born 20 November 1957)Lawson Heyford, ''The Source'' (Lagos), 11 December 2006. is a Nigerian politician who served as the President of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015. He lost the 2015 presidential election to fo ...

, visited Abioye, and worshiped during one of the services in the Abuja church. In June 2015, shortly after the election, the

Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria The speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the Federal House of Representatives of Nigeria, elected by its membership. The House Speaker is third in line of succession to the Nigerian Presidency, after the Vice Pre ...

Yakubu Dogara Yakubu Dogara (born 26 December 1967) is a Nigerian politician and lawyer who served as the 14th Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria. Dogara is a member of the PDP who has served as the House of Representatives Member for Bog ...

had a Thanksgiving session in his church.

Book publishing

Abioye has published over 10 Christian, inspirational and motivational books, mini books, magazines and other resources. They include: * ''Making the Most of Opportunity'' * ''Productive Thinking'' * ''The Lifestyle of Faith'' * ''Wisdom From Above'' * ''Releasing The Creative Power of The Mind'' * ''Overcoming Stagnation'' * ''Courage for Conquest'' * ''Creating a New Beginning'' * ''Experiencing God in Prayer'' * ''Stewardship the Pathway to Honour'' * ''Spiritual apprenticeship '' * ''Strategies for Success ''

References

Living people 1961 births Yoruba Christian clergy Nigerian bishops Nigerian Pentecostal pastors Nigerian Christian writers 20th-century Protestant religious leaders 21st-century Protestant religious leaders 20th-century Nigerian clergy 21st-century Nigerian clergy University of Ilorin alumni {{Nigeria-bio-stub