Encomium
From a squatter to a bishop commanding a ministry estimated to be worth over N7 billion, the success story of Bishop Tom Samson led Christ Royal Family International Church has left many pondering over the secret.
Today, he has a Royal City reportedly worth about N4 billion. It’s 1000 acres at Iyana-Iyesi, Ota, Ogun State. It boasts of a thousand chalets, hospital, vocational training centre, publishing outfit, a mini stadium under construction, college of education which had its first matriculation in 2011. It also has a 5,000 seater auditorium, fully furnished male and female hostels, etc.
Furthermore, in 2011, he acquired another 1,000 acres which would be the permanent site of his N1.5 billion Monarch University. The project, we learnt, is a three year plan. The first phase includes the administrative blocks, senate building, lecture rooms, a 10,000 seater hall, laboratories, among others.
The architectural design of the structures is handled by an American firm.
Aside that, he has expended over N100 million on education. And it has been generating huge funds for the ministry. He also has seven schools. There is Royal Dynasty International School which is a nursery and primary school at Egbeda, Ikeja and Ota in Ogun State.
He also started the Royal City College, a mixed school which has boarding facilities. One in Lagos and another in Ogun State and the big one, Royal City College of Education inside the Royal City, Ogun State.
The bespectacled bishop caused a stir in 2011 when he built a glittering all-marble architectural wonder within five months.
The huge cathedral sits on three plots at the ever busy Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos, opposite the Ikeja Local government secretariat. The worship centre is now the new international centre of Christ Royal Family International Church.
ENCOMIUM Weekly has it on good authority that work began on the site in February 2011 and was commissioned on Saturday, July 16, 2011.
According to inside sources, the reason for the magnificent edifice was to call the bluff of the landlord of its Ikeja branch at Makinde Street, off Obafemi Awolowo Way, by testing Ground bus stop, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. We scooped that the landlord decided to hike the annual rent of the 1,000 worshippers church from N7 million per annum to about N10 million.
This, we learnt, irked the charismatic clergy, who felt the increase was rather ridiculous and therefore unacceptable. Thus, he bought off some bungalows on No 1-3, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos, for N100 million.
The building has three floors. The ground floor is the auditorium which can accommodate quite a handful of worshippers. However, its gallery can conveniently accommodate about 5,000 worshippers.
The second floor is wide and can take about 3,000 worshippers while the third floor can pocket close to 1,000 worshippers. He claimed the well finished cathedral gulped N1 billion, including cost of acquiring the land.
Their Egbeda, Lagos national centre sits over 2,000 worshippers comfortably. The church has branches in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Atlanta in USA, London and Dublin.
Dousing speculation as to the source of funding for his multi-billion naira ministry, he said they were products of covenant partners whose lives have been transformed through his ministry, home and abroad.
“The funds came from nowhere but from friends and partners. And I owe no bank a kobo”.
Interestingly, the ministry began as a fellowship in 1986 while he was a year one student at the Bendel State University, Ekpoma, Edo State. It later transformed into a church in December 1991, with five members and in a rented apartment.
The ministry became a success through notable service groups like the media and publicity arm of the church. This ministry handles their audio and video production. Reigning in Life Partner is a gathering of millionaires who have been the backbone of the man of God.
Bishop (Dr.) Tom Samson is a native of Ogbagu-Ogume in Ndokwa local government area of Delta State. Born in Ile Ife, Osun State on December 13, 1965, he has a television and radio outreach ministry called Rigning in Life Conference with over 17 media stations across the country and beyond.
Blessed with a kind, adorable wife, Rev. (Mrs.) Lanre Samson, they has four children namely Wale, Toun, Stanley and Precious. He is no doubt a flamboyant minister who loves good things. He has over five customized exotic cars marked Royal 1-5. He has a palatial home at Ota, Ogun State called Royal Tower.
-FEMI OYEWALE
