Chris Okotie
Encyclopedia
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n televangelist and the pastor of the Household of God Church International Ministries, a Pentecostal
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
congregation in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
since February 1987.
Education and career
Okotie was born to Francis Idje and Cecilia Okotie, in Ethiope-West, Delta StateDelta State
Delta State may refer to:*Delta State, a state in southern Nigeria.*Delta State , a Canadian animated television series.*Delta State University, a public university located in the U.S. state of Mississippi....
(then Bendel State). He attended secondary school at Edo College
Edo College
Edo College is a secondary grammar school in Benin City, Nigeria, the oldest in the Mid-Western Region. It was established in February, 1937 and started as the Benin Middle School with forms, I, II and III...
, Benin City
Benin City
Benin City, is a city and the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria. It is a city approximately twenty-five miles north of the Benin River. It is situated 200 miles by road east of Lagos...
. In 1984, he graduated with a degree in law from the University of Nigeria
University of Nigeria
The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Founded in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has four campuses – Nsukka, Enugu and Ituku-Ozalla – located in Enugu State and one in Aba, Abia...
at Nsukka
Nsukka
Nsukka is a town and Local Government Area in South-East Nigeria in Enugu State. Other towns that share common border with Nsukka, such as Enugu Ezike, Orba and Obollo-Afor , Ede-Oballa, Uzo Uwani and Mkpologwu, now also claim the name Nsukka, hence they all collectively fall into the political...
. Okotie abandoned his schooling for a while to pursue a highly successful pop music career before his returning abruptly. He had a highly successful music career with his peers such as Dizzy K Falola
Dizzy K Falola
Dizzy K Falola is a London-based Nigerian singer, currently performing as a gospel artiste, but is perhaps best known as a former eighties pop star, famed for the hit "Baby Kilode".-Early life and pop career:...
, Jide Obi
Jide Obi
Jide Obi Ibo is a Nigerian music star of the 1980s.Jide Obi was born in England to a Nigerian barrister of England's Lincoln Inn, and a teacher....
, and Felix Liberty and they stimulated the emerging music industry of Nigeria.
At the height of his pop music success he returned to school to complete his education and graduated with a law degree. Whilst undergoing law school he interrupted his schooling again to begin his religious ministries. Okotie attended the Grace Fellowship Bible School, and, soon after, established the Household of God Ministry.
In 1990, Okotie established the annual Karis Awards, hosted by his church, to recognize and financially reward Nigerian citizens who selflessly serve the nation.
Presidential runs
Okotie first ran for the President under the banner of the Justice Party (JP); he lost to Olusegun Obasanjo in the May 2003 elections. He ran again in 2007 as a member of the Fresh Democratic PartyFresh Democratic Party
The Fresh Democratic Party is a liberal political party in Nigeria. FRESH is an acronym, Faith, Responsibility, Equality, Security and Hope. The founder and presidential aspirant is Reverend Chris Okotie...
and lost to Umaru Yar'Adua in the May 2007 elections
Nigerian general election, 2007
The Nigerian general elections of 2007 were held on 14 April and 21 April 2007. Governorship and state assembly elections were held on 14 April, while the presidential and national assembly elections were held a week later on 21 April. Umaru Yar'Adua won the highly controversial election for the...
.