Business

My child’s illness made me go to Redeemed Church + I had uncountable Girlfriends – General Overseer RCCG, Pst E.A Adeboye reveals

Published

10 years ago

February 7, 2016

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A Adeboye has a lot of stories to say about his past which a lot of people don’t know.
In this interview with Sunday Alabi, Adetunji Adeyombo, Tunde Opalana, Tolu Olamiriki and Taiwo Olanrewaju , he explained how he met his wife, his first encounter in RCCG, and how he used to have a lot of girlfriends.
Talking about what made him choose the work of the ministry over his teaching career, he said,
”Well, I have shared the testimony that I had a problem that all my mathematics couldn’t solve.
The problem had to do with one of my children who had a sickness that the doctors couldn’t handle and somebody referred me to the Redeemed Christian Church of God. I got there, they prayed for the child and the child was made whole. Well, they were alright, I must confess I didn’t like their mode of worship, their worship was too noisy for me. But the first
thing that attracted me to the Redeemed Christian Church of God was their sincerity and their fervour. Whatever they were doing, they were doing it with their whole heart, they were not pretending. I also saw in the faces of the leaders, they were always contented, they looked as if they had no problem in the world at all, they had peace more than anything else.
Fortunately for me, they didn’t solve the problem of my child immediately, they kept on saying I must surrender my life to Jesus Christ, I must confess my sins to Him, which irritated me to start with because I felt that I didn’t know about sin. What they were calling sin then by my own interpretation was just a way of life. We were doing everything everybody was doing. You have a wife in the house, one or two girlfriends by the side. That was what everybody was doing. But after about one month, suddenly the message penetrated and I suddenly realised that they were not asking me to surrender to any man, they were asking me to surrender to my God, my maker. I grew up in a home where you can’t call it holiness but at least where they taught us to fear God. After I grew up, particularly around the time I was about to enter the university, all these pranks became the order of the day. I remembered those days when early piety became the order of the day and I thought it was a good time really.Then I felt if what these people are saying is that I should return to those days, then why not.
I went forward, gave my life to Jesus Christ and everything changed. Everything changed since then till now.’

Talking about the first miracle God performed through him, He said,
Oh! you are talking about the first healingmiracle. The first one I can say is spectacular, because there are several others, the first was the healing of a dumb child. The mother brought the child, the child was babbling a lot, the child was eleven or twelve years old and has never spoken all her life and the mother brought her, she said this my child is dumb. I
was going to pray like any other pastor and believe that over the next weeks or months, the child will begin to talk or something. As I lay my hand on that child and I said, “In The Name of Jesus”, the child said “Amen”. This frightened me that I nearly jumped out of the window because I was not expecting the child to speak even after I have prayed and I have not prayed.
All I have said was, “In The Name of Jesus” and the child said “Amen”. Of course, the mother was on the floor rolling and there was no need to pray any more. I believe God did it that way so that I won’t take any credit for it. Not just because I prayed, but because God just wanted to perform the miracle.
When exactly was that sir?
It was a long time ago. I am sorry I cannot remember.

Furthermore, he was asked about his past relationship with girls and how he met his wife, He said,

”That is quite an interesting story, so I will tell you. I said when I was growing up, I grew up where piety was the order of the day. I can still say very proudly today that all my elder sisters, when they got married, they were virgins. That was how rigid my parents were. I was raised up like that. Then as I grow, I became a sports man, my hobby happens to be photography.
That is a dangerous combination for a young man because it opens the door to having as many girlfriends as possible. Ladies love a sportsman particularly if he is winning medals and if you are a photographer and always take pictures of women. So, I ended up having so many girlfriends to the extent that at a point in time, I didn’t even know their numbers And I have fun of giving them various days of the year as my birthday. To one girlfriend, my birthday will be January something, to another, it may be September something. The reason of course is that when I’m celebrating, only one girlfriend would show up. So, the birthday is for you as a particular person. And I expect of course on my birthday, that the girlfriend should bring a gift. When it was the turn of the lady I married, she sent me a gift. I was at
Nsukka when she was in Ibadan. She posted the gift to arrive on my birthday and it was a small parcel. As soon as I collected the parcel at the Post Office, I said ah, this one has lost. She wants to marry me an undergraduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and she is sending me this kind of a gift. Then I opened the gift and it was a New Testament Bible and two snow-white handkerchiefs. I said she has lost double now. Can you imagine sending a Bible to me on my birthday? But before that day was over, I have written off the other girls. It was as if the Bible was charmed (I’m using the word charmed the way a sinner will use it). I just found that from the Post Office to my hostel, something came over me and all of a sudden I began to remember my days when I used to be a holy boy and said this girl is calling me back to my former days, the handkerchiefs were so white and of course I knew this is the girl I would marry. I didn’t sleep that night until I have written the others to tell them sorry, no quarrel but let us go our various ways. That is how that one happened.”

Business

Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 15.10% as NBS Reports Deflationary Trend

Published

2 days ago

February 19, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 15.10% as NBS Reports Deflationary Trend

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.10 per cent in January 2026, marking a significant drop from 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.

The report also showed that month-on-month inflation recorded a deflationary trend of –2.88 per cent, representing a 3.42 percentage-point decrease compared to December 2025. Analysts say the development signals easing price pressures across key sectors of the economy.

Food inflation stood at 8.89 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.63 per cent in January 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 6.02 per cent, reflecting lower costs in several staple commodities.

The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.

The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently attributed recent economic adjustments to ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising prices, boosting agricultural output, and strengthening domestic supply chains.

Economic analysts note that while the latest figures indicate progress, sustaining the downward trend will depend on continued policy discipline, exchange rate stability, and improvements in food production and distribution.

The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.

The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.

The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.

Bank

Alpha Morgan to Host 19th Economic Review Webinar

Published

3 days ago

February 18, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Alpha Morgan to Host 19th Economic Review Webinar

In an economy shaped by constant shifts, the edge often belongs to those with the right information.

On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Alpha Morgan Bank will host the 19th edition of its Economic Review Webinar, a high-level thought leadership session designed to equip businesses, investors, and individuals with timely financial and economic insight.

The session, which will hold live on Zoom at 10:00am WAT and will feature economist Bismarck Rewane, who will examine the key signals influencing Nigeria’s economic direction in 2026, including policy trends, market movements, and global developments shaping the local landscape.

With a consistent track record of delivering clarity in uncertain times, the Alpha Morgan Economic Review continues to provide practical context for decision-making in a dynamic environment.

Registration for the 19th Alpha Morgan Economic Review is free and can be completed via https://bit.ly/registeramerseries19

It is a bi-monthly platform that is open to the public and is held virtually.

Visit www.alphamorganbank to know more.

Business

GTBank Launches Quick Airtime Loan at 2.95%

Published

4 days ago

February 17, 2026

Sahara Weekly

GTCO increases GTBank’s Paid-Up Capital to ₦504 Billion

GTBank Launches Quick Airtime Loan at 2.95%

Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (GTBank), the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, Africa’s leading financial services group, today announced the launch of Quick Airtime Loan, an innovative digital solution that gives customers instant access to airtime when they run out of call credit and have limited funds in their bank accounts, ensuring customers can stay connected when it matters most.

In today’s always-on world, running out of airtime is more than a minor inconvenience. It can mean missed opportunities, disrupted plans, and lost connections, often at the very moment when funds are tight, and options are limited. Quick Airtime Loan was created to solve this problem, offering customers instant access to airtime on credit, directly from their bank. With Quick Airtime Loan, eligible GTBank customers can access from ₦100 and up to ₦10,000 by dialing *737*90#. Available across all major mobile networks in Nigeria, the service will soon expand to include data loans, further strengthening its proposition as a reliable on-demand platform.

For years, the airtime credit market has been dominated by Telcos, where charges for this service are at 15%. GTBank is now changing the narrative by offering a customer-centric, bank-led digital alternative priced at 2.95%. Built on transparency, convenience and affordability, Quick Airtime Loan has the potential to broaden access to airtime, deliver meaningful cost savings for millions of Nigerians, and redefine how financial services show up in everyday life, not just in banking moments.

Commenting on the product launch, Miriam Olusanya, Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd, said: “Quick Airtime Loan reflects GTBank’s continued focus on delivering digital solutions that are relevant, accessible, and built around real customer needs. The solution underscores the power of a connected financial ecosystem, combining GTBank’s digital reach and lending expertise with the capabilities of HabariPay to deliver a smooth, end-to-end experience. By leveraging unique strengths across the Group, we are able to accelerate innovation, strengthen execution, and deliver a more integrated customer experience across all our service channels.”

Importantly, Quick Airtime Loan highlights GTCO’s evolution as a fully diversified financial services group. Leveraging HabariPay’s Squad, the solution reinforces the Group’s ecosystem proposition by bringing together banking, payment technology, and digital channels to deliver intuitive, one-stop experiences for customers.

With this new product launch, Guaranty Trust Bank is extending its legacy of pioneering digital-first solutions that have redefined customer access to financial services across the industry, building on the proven strength of its widely adopted QuickCredit offering and the convenience of the Bank’s iconic *737# USSD Banking platform.
About Guaranty Trust Bank

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) is the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, a leading financial services group with a strong presence across Africa and the United Kingdom. The Bank is widely recognized for its leadership in digital banking, customer experience, and innovative financial solutions that deliver value to individuals, businesses, and communities.

About HabariPay

HabariPay is the payments fintech subsidiary of GTCO Plc, focused on enabling fast, secure, and accessible digital payments for individuals and businesses. By integrating payments and digital technology, HabariPay supports innovative services that make everyday financial interactions simpler and more seamless.
Enquiries:

GTCO
Group Corporate Communication
[email protected]
+234-1-2715227
www.gtcoplc.com