The chairman of Alimosho province of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Apostle Dr. Iyke Ejiaku has said his administration would sustain the Alimosho massive crusade of his predecessors, pointing that the essence of any Christian orgnization is evangelism for soul-winning. The widely traveled former banker and now general overseer, Towergate Evangelical Ministries, further shares with Christian Benefits his administration’s agenda for the Pentecostal churches, ministries and ministers in Alimosho. He also disclosed why he returned from Europe as an automobile businessman to start a church in Nigeria.
Please, how will you like to be introduced?
My name is Apostle Dr. Iyke Ejiaku. I am the current chairman of Alimosho Province of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the general overseer of Towergate Evangelical Ministries, Akesan, Lagos. I grew up in a very good Christian home. My parents raised us to know God. I joined the choir at the age of 12 in Anglican Church. I completed my secondary school education at the age of 16. I got admission into the university at the age of 17. I read banking and finance. After graduation, I worked with the now defunct Africa Continental Bank (ACB) before moving to Sweden in 1988. From Sweden I moved to Belgium and later France. I had given my life to Jesus Christ at Christ Chapel International Churches (CICC) under Rev. Dr. Tunde before moving to Europe where I lived for about 12 years and returned to Nigeria. I was a car dealer in partnership with four other young Nigerians. While I lived in Europe I traveled to Nigeria three times every year. It was during one of my visits to Nigeria that I received a revelation that I have the call of God to upon my life.
What was your immediate response to this revelation of God’s calling upon your life?
I found myself dilly-dallying due to the fact l was already established in business. Although I always love the things of God it was never in my wildest imagination that I would start a church. When I was told that I have a greater assignment than my business I stoutly resisted the call to ministry until I almost died of a deadly malaria and typhoid attack. There and then I yielded and promised God that I would use my resources to serve him. And that is what I have been doing till now.
What is the exact mandate of your calling by God into ministry?
Our church name is Towergate Evangelical Ministries. I knew from the onset that I have the grace to touch lives. So, the mandate of my ministry is to touch lives. I help people to see a brighter future. While I was in Europe I had a burden to impart lives. So, each time I visited Nigeria I always traveled to Owerri and supported the people and assisted the sick; sometimes, I prepared their meals. Sometimes, I took them to hospitals for checkups and picked their medical bills. I don’t struggle to help people because it gives me a great joy to know that I am affecting someone positively. God gave me the mandate to affect, touch and impart lives. I don’t have sponsors. God has been the one providing for me to touch the lives of people.
How old is Towergate, and how was the little beginning of the church like?
Towergate is about 17 years old. Before the church, I served in Rev. Opara’s ministry . I rose from a Sunday school teacher to an evangelist. I became a pastor and finally an outreach pastor. Ministry work gives me joy. We started Towergate in planks till I cried to God that we wanted a place of our own. I have groomed myself to treasure God’s assignment over a luxurious life. My wife is sold out to the ministry. She’s even more generous than I am. God who by Himself called us to this assignment has been faithful to us, especially after I eventually stopped selling cars to concentrate fully on the work of the ministry.
How do you feel about your elevation as PFN chairman, Alimosho province?
I was outside Nigeria when the programme for Alimosho PFN new executive officers was holding. I never knew I would be elevated at that programme as the new chairman of PFN Alimosho province. I had served the former chairman well as vice chairman. I was totally loyal to him. I give my best loyalty wherever I serve. If I believe in something I will put in everything to ensure it works. My becoming the province chairman was only a matter of time even though I was not expecting it at this time. Position is all about service and devotion to Jesus Christ. I have had several terrible experiences that confirmed to me that God is with me. On September 5, 2023 I was kidnapped on the way to Owerri with some bags of clothes I intended to share to people. My co-travelers, including my daughter, and I were kidnapped and taken to a bush by about ten armed men. When my daughter started shouting, I called upon God to deliver us if he was really the one that sent me on that ministry assignment. As the men were consulting their oracle, I was consulting my God. And God delivered us from the hands of these men. So, I have every reason to give the best to God. My family and I have decided to serve God.
What do you intend doing differently as chairman, PFN Alimosho, especially in the area of welfare for the struggling Pentecostal pastors in Alimosho?
Since the current leadership came on board PFN Alimosho has regained its glory. There is now transparency in the leadership and administration of PFN Alimosho. We are already doing things differently. Before now, PFN Alimosho was relegated because of the state of things back then. Within the two months of our administration, we have been able to turn things around positively. I have been appointed the deputy chairman of all PFN chairmen in Lagos state. We are working tirelessly to positively affect the lives of the Pentecostal pastors in Alimosho who are struggling in their respective ministries.
How does your administration intend to assist the Pentecostal pastors in Alimosho who are having issues on their church land, particularly over certificate of occupancy matters?
The problem is we have not been united as we ought to. With God helping us, we are going to ensure that no pastor is messed up again. It is not something I can’t do by myself. We will do our best to first educate our pastors on how to go about properties. We are not going to teach our people how to disobey the government, but how to do what is right. We have a lot of programmes to harness possibilities and ideas that will impact on the wellbeing of the Pentecostal pastors in Alimosho.
What’s your view or take on pastors going into partisan politics?
We are doing everything to see that we (pastors) are one. No one separates any denomination from the other. The path that has been given to us to follow is to love one another and we are allowing that love to cover every multitude of sin. We are of the view that we need to encourage our people to join politics because if you don’t the laws will be made for you and you won’t be there. There is a call that PFN should form its own political party. I don’t see anything bad with it. There’s a need for us to go into it (politics) but we must do it decently and in order. We can’t go into the system and be as corrupt as they are. The government is not seeing what the churches are doing but without the churches how will Nigerians survive?
Share with us some of the benefits of PFN membership?
The first benefit to anyone who joins PFN as a member is fellowship. When people complain, it is because they have not done what they are supposed to do. I’ve done massive training to re-orientate pastors. You don’t come into a place asking what you will gain. You rather come to do the work and allow God to bless you. Pastors should also learn to do something else. The money from the pulpit isn’t enough to sustain. You should be happy that you are serving because blessing is in the place of service. There’s a season to plant and there’s a season to harvest. Another benefit is networking. Aside wanting to receive benefits, what are you willing to give?
You enjoy a very cordial relationship with the Oba of Akesan. What is your take on his suing for peace and unity in his remarks as the Royal Father at the recent annual convention/thanksgiving of Towergate Evangelical Ministries?
It has to do with my nature. I’m a peaceful person. It is about me being who I am; letting go of things and we continue to do the little things we can.
What should people expect from your church and PFN Alimosho in 2025?
We are trusting God for more that will affect our immediate environment. We want to do more in the area of empowerment. We move by faith. We also plan to invite foreign ministers to Nigeria. We also intend to do a lot of things in PFN Alimosho. We also plan to organize a series of massive crusades across Alimosho province, which is a mandate from the previous administrations. We shall definitely sustain Alimosho massive crusade on the basis that the primary essence of any Christian organization is evangelism for soul winning. I’m an apostle to nations; not just a teacher or preacher. We plan to synergize and get the best out of each programme.