This was first published on NairaBrains.com, a Nigerian blog that publishes resources, ideas on business, technology and interesting people

That Nigeria is a deeply religious country is not in doubt. However whether that translates to our character as a people is up for debate as a lot of people will argue that our deep religiousity has not impacted on the conduct of both leaders and followers.

The entrenched place of religion in the lives of Nigerians mean that the men who hold sway in some of the religious sects command a high level of influence. Their words alone determine or influence the action of hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of people. In fact some of these religious leaders hold so much influence on the masses that their words are believed verbatim.

So we distil down to bring you the list of the most influential rabbis, ayatollahs, canons, preachers etc who command the most influence and have the most following

Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar IV, Sultan of Sokoto

The Sultan is the numero uno of the Islamic world in Nigeria and heads the approximately 74 million Muslims in Nigeria.

As head of the Nigerian National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Sultan Abubakar is the leader of the Qadiriyya sufi order and the spiritual leader of the Muslims in Nigeria.

Enoch Adeboye, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)

Enoch Adeboye, fondly called Daddy GO, by the numerous followers of his church, is the Senior Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. After being appointed General Overseer of the church, taking over from Papa Akindayomi in 1981 Adeboye oversaw the growth and rise of the church to its current status of the church with arguably the most number of branches and stations scattered across all nooks and crannies of the country.

David Oyedepo, Living Faith Church Worldwide

Oyedepo is the founder and presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide (popularly known as Winners Chapel). Seen as one of the most powerful preachers in the country Oyedepo has, for some years, been top on our list of richest Pastors in Nigeria.

T.B. Joshua, Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN)

Temitope Balogun Joshua is the leader and founder of The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) and also runs the popular Emmanuel TV. He has been recognised as one of Africa’s most influential people by Pan African publication ‘The Africa Reports’ and is a recipient of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

He also appeared in our list of wealthiest pastors in Nigeria. Despite having only one branch in Ghana aside his massive synagogue in Lagos, Nigeria T.B. Joshua’s influence spans across many parts of Africa and the world due mainly to his Emmanuel TV network.

Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, Nigeria Islamic Movement

Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky is a Shi’a Muslim cleric in Nigeria, and head of Nigeria’s Islamic Movement. Sheikh Ibraheem has been described as the de facto leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and was jailed several times on charges of sedition by successive Nigerian regimes in the 1980s and 1990s.

Ayo Oritsejafor, Word of Life Bible Church

Ayodele Joseph Oritsejafor is the founding and Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, located in Warri, southern Nigeria. He makes this list by virtue of his positions as President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the head of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Pastor Ayodele was at the peak of his influence during the immediate past tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan where his position as CAN President saw him very close to the seat of Power.

Source: Nairabrains.com :

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Spot on abi?

hmmmm

APC forgot to involve fr Mbaka

2

hmmmm

what about shekau ?

Okay o.

Yea

kodded:





hmmmm


what about shekau ?

Lol. Shekau is not a religious leader. Boko haram no get religion. Expect him in the upcoming list of most powerful sect and terrorist leaders.

kodded:





hmmmm


what about shekau ?

Shekau bawo? Boko haram no get religion na

kodded:



hmmmm

what about shekau ?

funny dude