Bishop Dr. Godwin Elomobor (D.D.D. Litt) was born in Ekpoma, Edo State. He had his Primary Education at Ekpoma and St. Mathias Catholic Boys School Lafiaji, Lagos. He had his Secondary Education at Federal Government Warri between 1970-1975, where he distinguished himself academically and became a College Scholar. He attended the Universities of Benin and Ife, graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics with honours. He also distinguished himself academically by winning a Merit award in Banking (A national Essay Contest among Undergraduates in Nigeria in 1979), organized by First Bank of Nig. Plc. The Merit award earned him automatic employment with First Bank after his National Youth Service in 1980. He worked as a Banker for ten years and rose to the position of Senior Bank Manager. While working with BCCI Bank Int.I as a Training and Development Manager. He founded “The New Generation Bible Church International,” Kano Branch, in 1987. He answered the call into full-time Pastoral Ministry in 1989 and had to give up his banking career that same year.
The Evangelical Christian Union in Ife was a very fertile ground for training and mentorship and therefore prepared Bishop for full-time ministry. He had the privilege of being trained and mentored by ministers that operated in the fivefold ministry gifts. Some of such very charismatic spiritual leaders include in house leaders like the Charismatic Barrister Emeka Nwankpa, Eng. Steve Olumuyiwa etc. He also had National Spiritual Leaders like Papa S. G. Eton, Archbishop Benson Idahosa, Pastor W. F Kumuyi, Pastor Prei Ovia, Prof. Isaac Shodeye and others. Papa attended Morris Cerullo School of Ministry in San Diego California from January – to March 1981. He also attended the Billy Graham Conference in Amsterdam in 1986 where he had the privilege of sitting on Dr Billy Graham’s chair.
HIS FAMILY LIFE
Bishop Elomobor met his wife Anthonia Oyebola Elomobor, (nee Adekoya) during their college days, back in the late 1970s. They set eyes on each other for the first time in 1979 on their way to a Christian conference during their undergraduate days at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University.
Their relationship, however, did not start until early 1982. The relationship quickly blossomed and they got married on October 16, 1982. Their union was blessed with three wonderful children. Ruth, Emmanuel, and Deborah.
Bishop Elomobor was a family man to the core. Everyone knew he did not play with his wife and children.
He adored them very much. They were his pride and joy. He celebrated them. He took them everywhere with him. They travelled the world together. He gave them the opportunity to minister alongside him wherever they went. He provided and protected them very jealously. He equally loved his extended family and in-laws. He did all within his power to make everyone feel truly loved and connected. It was as if he knew his time here on earth would be limited so he made a point to leave an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of those he loved. His whole family knew that they were indeed loved.
HIS MINISTRY AND LEGACY
Bishop Godwin Elomobor was a man with a proven Apostolic and Prophetic Ministry. He was the first Pentecostal Bishop of Kano State and raised the fastest growing church in Kano with wonderful testimonies following. The church grew to over 500 adults in one year and multiplied to over 5000 adults
in 5 years. New Gen was the first church to be established on Race Course Rd, in GRA, Kano. The great impact of Bishop’s ministry led to his consecration by Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa of blessed memory, Bishop David Oyedepo and Bishop Harford Iloputaife of blessed memory, as the First Pentecostal Bishop of Kano on 6th February 1993.
The church was also one of the fastest-growing in Lagos at the initial onset of the Lagos Church which was founded in the year 1990. The Ministry has since spread to different parts of Nigeria, the U.K and the USA with many powerful life-changing testimonies wherever the churches are planted. He was a dual citizen of Nigeria and America. He was a very bold man with bold faith in God. He never took “NO” for an answer. His ministry was followed by many signs and wonders. The dead have been raised back to life, cancer and diabetes healed, barren women have children in their large numbers. The prophetic was very pronounced in his life. Bishop Elomobor was a product of the matchless Grace of God. He was an Economist by training, a former Bank Executive by profession and a preacher by calling.
The charismatic, ever-loving, ever cheerful, humble, generous and humorous man of God was an international figure and a world-class preacher. The centrality of his gospel centred around loving people to Christ. He always identified himself first and foremost as an evangelist. He did not discriminate against any kind of person but encouraged people to come as they are first and foremost knowing that God would transform their hearts and minds. Bishop Elomobor was a man who genuinely loved people and loved winning souls for Christ. He could not stand to see people go hungry or live in lack. He sponsored many children and undergraduates through school. Since the inception of the ministry, he made it a culture that during all mid-week services, the church would fast together and provide cooked food to its members to break their fast. On Sundays, the ministry would provide food ingredients to its members in almost all branches around the world. He was truly a man of the people and had a burning passion to help people.
Bishop over the course of his lifetime won many special awards, too numerous to count. Amongst some of his greatest honours include being bestowed with “The Key to the City of District Heights,” in Washington DC (Maryland, USA) by Mayor James L. Walls, the then Mayor of District Heights, Maryland in the year 2009. More recently, he won the Hero’s Award in Kano on April 14th2018 at the coronation hall and the Government House Kano, under the Chairmanship of the Charismatic Emir of Kano, his royal highness, Muhammadu Lamido Sanusi and the Governor of Kano State, Dr Ganduje. The award is for his achievements in the ministry, interfaith affairs, promotion of peace in the land and leadership.
Bishop Elomobor was a courageous man who had great faith in his great God. He was a man who never took “No” for an answer. He was a man who truly believed that anything was possible if you had enough faith in God. And God honored his faith at all times. He was a man truly loved by God. Bishop Elomobor was truly a general of faith. He was a very bold man. In the heat of political Islamic unrests in Kano when churches and homes were being burnt, the Bishop would tell church members that if they didn’t feel safe being at home they should come to the church premises believing that God’s presence made it a safe haven. He would also be there himself along with some other men ready to protect his members. Targeting men of God to kill was very frequent in the 90’s. His home in Lagos was frequently visited by armed robbers. In one particular incident in March of 1997, about 20 armed robbers bombarded his home. He single-handedly chased them away. Using his strong faith in God as well as divine wisdom, God gave him victory. He would shout, “In the name of Jesus, if you love your life, I command you to leave my house now.” It was a spiritual and physical battle that went on for about 30 minutes and God gave him and his household the victory. After robbing the entire street from one end, they got to his house and God put the evil men to flight. The entire street came to praise the mighty God he served as many were afraid knowing their homes would be the next target. Many refer to him as the David of our time.
On October 9th 1996, Bishop Elomobor was shot by the then “Operation Sweep Squad.” A special arm of the police was set in place to reduce crime, particularly in Lagos State. The group was in civilian uniform that evening and Papa while returning from service had just stopped to get some food to eat along with a few of his ministers. After dispersing and on his way home, the Operation Sweep Squad confronted his car asking him to stop. Due to the fact that they were in civilian clothes and armed with guns, Bishop assumed they were robbers and did not heed their call. He was shot while trying to get away, and the newspapers even went as far as announcing that he was dead when in reality he was alive and had been flown to England for treatment. Upon his sudden return to Lagos shortly after, the church was ecstatic to see that indeed, the God of Bishop Elomobor had given him the victory and won the battle over his life. Truly, his name “Godwin” was a highly prophetic one that worked for him throughout his journey here on earth. It is safe to say that God extended his life for an additional 25 years from the time of this shooting incident, as October 9th 2021 was the 25th anniversary of God’s deliverance that spared his life. For only when the master was ready to call him home did he heed the call. Indeed, like David, Archbishop Godwin Elomobor fought a lot of battles but never lost one.
TRANSITION TO GLORY
Bishop Elomobor’s love for God was evident in his attitude towards the things of God. He made sure that no matter what continent he was on, he never missed a church service.
The last Sunday spent in Nigeria before finally leaving for treatment abroad was no exception, as he made sure to attend the church service on that day. The house of the Lord was his favourite place to be. Like David, he would dance and praise the Lord with all his might when many might have thought he should have been more concerned about his health and anxious about getting professional treatment. He loved to be surrounded by God’s people and cared ferociously for the flock that God had given to him. A few weeks before leaving for the United States of America for treatment, he insisted on making a final trip to as many of the church’s branches as he possibly could. He determinedly visited the Kano and Abuja churches against the wishes of some at a point when he was very physically weak and using a walking stick. It was as if he said, if I perish, I perish, but I must check on my flock to let them know I love them and give a fatherly blessing. OH WHAT GREAT LOVE! No wonder God honoured him and extended his life to spend months of quality time with his biological family in the United States. Even in death, God glorified him. It can be said that death did not take Bishop Elomobor but he gloriously slept in Christ. Six hours after a time of quality family prayer, worship, holy communion and praise, Bishop closed his eyes to rest with a smile on his face surrounded by members of his immediate family. Like David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, he fell asleep and was buried with his fathers (Acts 13:36).
A lot will be missed about the icon. His laughter, his smile, his infectious joy, his humour, his eloquence, his anointing, his courage, his love for God and for people. What a joy that he stood for the kingdom to the very end. He has fought a good fight, he has finished his course, he has kept the faith and has received his crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4:7 -8).
Bishop Elomobor is survived by his beautiful wife, Rev. (Dr.) Mrs Anthonia Oyebola Elomobor (nee Adekoya), three children – Ruth Elomobor, Emmanuel (Rita) Elomobor, and Deborah (Morris) Odioko, and three grandchildren – Royalty-Grace Uyoyo-Ijesu Odioko, Joy-Ellie Usiwo-Ijesu Odioko, and Hadassah Zoe Elomobor.
