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Inside CLAM’s N5 billion ministry

-Untold story of Pastor Wole Oladiyun

...and wife
…and wife

Pastor Wole Oladiyun runs one of the fastest Pentecostal churches in Nigeria, widely known as Christ Living Spring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM).  From a handful of worshippers, Pastor Wole Oladiyun, within 14 years, catapulted CLAM into limelight.  Today, the ministry has a great followership, worth over N5 billion and ranked among the top 20 ministries in Nigeria.

The ministry’s headquarters is worth N1 billion.  Over N500 million is spent on hospitals, over N700 million annually on evangelism known as CLAMGO, and an average of N10 million on books because he authors a book every month.

CLAM was commissioned on April 1, 1998 and commenced operations at the premises of Dansol High School, Wempco Road, Ogba, Lagos and later moved to the premises of the Solid Rock Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ojodu, Lagos.  The church is presently at CLAM Close, behind Tejumola House, Omole, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.  It is a multi-million naira purpose built church with a 1,000-seater capacity multi-purpose hall, administrative blocks, schools and hospital on a large expanse of land.

Just recently, the ministry also acquired an additional acre with two buildings of four flats each valued at N100 million.  It was used as administrative block and children’s church.

Ogun State government in December 2004 also allocated to the church 150 acres along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway valued at N500 million.  This land would be an integrated spiritual camp which would house the ministry’s cathedral, prayer academy, school, hospital, guest house and a farm. This huge capital intensive project would have gulped over N5 billion when completed.

The ministry registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), with registration number 16737, and as a member of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has 25 departments to accelerate the operations of the church.

As the church grew, it became pertinent to have a structured administration for orderliness and effectiveness.  Therefore, the management team is made up of Pastor Wole Oladiyun as senior pastor; Pastor (Mrs.) Bukola Oladiyun, Director of Family Life; Pastor Dapo Adeleke, Director of Administration; Mrs. Bukola Aderibigbe is the Director of Finance; Pastor Riches Unubum heads the pastorate and the Director of CIA is Pastor Tony Uche.

Children's Ward, Ile-Oluji, Ondo
Children’s Ward, Ile-Oluji, Ondo

Among the service groups, the Family Life Department ranks top. In a large congregation, people face challenges because it is difficult to meet with Pastor Oladiyun, popularly known as Baba Adura, the Family Department takes absolute charge and is anchored by his wife, Pastor (Mrs.) Bukola Oladiyun.  This department also caters for everything that concerns family life.  The widow and widowers group is very pronounced in CLAM.

The group provides spiritual leadership and counseling for widows and widowers of the church.  The unemployed widows and widowers are also encouraged to learn a skill and are empowered as such.  The department also liaises with the welfare department to provide succor for members by providing them with cash, foodstuffs and clothes.  They expend an average of N50 million annually on this project.

The welfare department is functional and very effective.  This department operates in collaboration with the Family Life Department.  Aside providing physical and material succor to members in need, they also arrange skill acquisition programmes for the unemployed and those facing financial travails.  Apart from catering for the general welfare of the people, the department also works with the Evangelism Department to provide support for converts and visits to orphanages and hospitals.

One department that serves as a source of revenue for the ministry is the Media and Publications headed by Pastor Tade Adewakun.  Pastor Wole’s books, include Enough is Enough, Repeated Oppression Must Stop, I Shall Not Remain the same Again, Removal of Barriers, Embargo on my Progress be lifted, Recovery of Virtues, My Turn to Rise and Shine

and Minister’s Liberation Handbook.  The reason is that he publishes his book every month and during their popular Wednesday weekly prayer session, each worshipper raises prayer points from the publications.

The other department raking in millions for the ministry is the Sound Department headed by Engineer Andrew Ebuen.  This department handles the audio, video and DVD production of messages by Pastor Oladiyun.  This ministry rakes in an average of N100 million per annum.  The ministry also runs an international academy.  The vision is to build a total man.  The board comprises of Pastor Wole Oladiyun as President, Pastor (Mrs.) Bukola Oladiyun as Vice President and

Soteria Maternity & Hospital
Soteria Maternity & Hospital

Pastor Ikechukwu Samuel as Registrar.  The academy offers basic certificate.  The ministry has a director in prayer, management and ministry (BCC), advanced certificate in prayer, management and ministry.

Interestingly, the ministry actualizes its main vision of winning souls through its evangelical arm which is known as Christ Living Spring Apostolic Ministry Global Outreach (CLAMGO).  The ministry has a director of outreaches who coordinates the programmes under the supervision of the senior pastor.  CLAMGO blesses the people by giving them food, clothes, Bible, Christian literature, musical instruments and money.  The provision for the world of God is met from offerings, tithes, sacrificial offering, first fruit offering from members and friends of CLAM.  This runs into several millions every month.

He also ‘dashed’ his hometown in Ondo State a fully-equipped N50 million hospital facility and has built another one at the ministry’s headquarters in Lagos.

Pastor Oladiyun, the Senior Pastor/founder of CLAM is a native of Ondo State.  He was born in Ile Oluji in April 1959 to Elder Samuel and Deaconess Dorcas Oladiyun Baba Aladura, as he is fondly called obtained a Higher School Certificate in Ikare, Ondo State after which he gained admission into the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), to study Engineering.  Also a Masters of Business Administration for the prestigious Netherland Business School, Holland.  For him to be adequately prepared for the ministry he went to the Latter Rain Bible School, Lagos.  He also passed through Deeper Life Bible Church.  At Faith Family Bible Church, Ojodu, Lagos, he submitted himself as the assistant pastor to Rev. (Dr.) D. K. Aboderin.  He later got married in 1990 to Pastor (Mrs.) Bukola Oladiyun and the union is blessed with four children, two girls and two boys namely Ayomide, Oluwadamipe, Imisioluwa and Inioluwa.  His lovely wife is the proprietress of J-Nissi Children’s School, Ogba, Lagos.  His mentors are Bishop David Oyedepo and Dr. D. K. Olukoya of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Worldwide.

-FEMI OYEWALE

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