From Nollywood divas to Super Eagles stalwarts, a wave of Nigerian celebrities is ditching the glamour of red carpets for pulpits and prayers, channeling their star power into spiritual vocations that blend past passions with newfound divine missions, as profiles emerge of those who say faith has redefined their legacies.
Eucharia Anunobi, the sultry screen siren of 1990s hits like Glamour Girls, traded sultry roles for soul-stirring sermons after her 2011 ordination as an evangelist with Fresh Oil Ministry. Now a globetrotting preacher counseling youth on grace and redemption, Anunobi insists her dual worlds coexist seamlessly. “Some people think that when you become a minister of the gospel, you are not supposed to have a career. However, being a minister does not stop you from working. Since I started acting, I have never taken a break,” she affirmed, vowing to be etched in eternity for guiding souls heavenward rather than tabloid headlines. “I have moved from the things that don’t matter to the things that matter more, which is doing the work of my Father who created me… I would never want to be remembered as someone who graced all the front pages… and did not contribute to the leading of people towards heaven.”
Veteran actress Patience Ozokwor, fondly dubbed Mama G for her villainous matriarch portrayals, underwent a seismic shift post a 30-day fast that birthed her “born again” declaration. Steering clear of glitzy premieres, she now preaches in churches nationwide, cherry-picking scripts that align with her evangelical ethos. “I am here to win souls for Jesus. I am here to carry out my father’s work,” Ozokwor declared, her voice a clarion call amid a career spanning decades of dramatic flair.
Nollywood’s stoic Zack Orji, ordained by Bishop Lawrence Osagie of Power Line Bible Church, jets between film sets and sanctuaries from Makurdi to Maryland, weaving ministry into his marquee moments. “Each of them [acting and ministry] is a calling. We use our work as celebrities to also minister to people,” he reflected, embodying a harmonious fusion that inspires peers.
Liz Benson, the 1990s leading lady who vanished from screens at her zenith, resurfaced alongside husband Bishop Great Ameye to helm a Delta State ministry nurturing families through faith’s forge. Meanwhile, Jimmy Odukoya — son of late pastors Taiwo and Bimbo Odukoya — shoulders the mantle as Senior Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, his dreadlocked, tattooed vibe earning him “Gen Z pastor” acclaim for modernizing the message.
Exile turned evangelist Pat Attah, who fled to Germany and found faith anew, now pours his energy into gospel tunes, while R&B crooner Banky W, post-cancer and political forays, pastors at Lagos’ Waterbrook Church, crediting divine intervention for his union with Adesua Etomi. Chidinma Ekile, the Project Fame victor behind Kedike, pivoted to worship anthems in 2021 under EeZee Conceptz, sighing in relief: “I’ve had enough of running.”
Football icons too tread sacred paths: Taribo West’s flamboyant pitches evolved into fiery sermons at Shelter in the Storm Miracle Ministries; ex-Super Eagles goalie Peterside Idah pastors from South Africa, cherishing ministry’s quiet over the roar of rivalry; and Alloy Agu, the 1990s midfielder who hung up boots early on a heavenly pact, shepherds Christ Divine Church of God.
In Kannywood’s Hausa heartland, stars like Ali Nuhu and Rahama Sadau infuse Islamic morals into every reel, their faith a seamless script thread.
Fans hail the pivot as profound, with one devotee of Ozokwor marvelling: “Patience Ozokwor’s transformation still leaves me speechless… it reminds me that change isn’t just possible but powerful.” Another, lauding Banky W, added: “Every time he talks about faith and purpose, it feels like he’s speaking to our generation that’s constantly chasing meaning.” Yet skeptics whisper of relevance bids, countered by a Nollywood aficionado: “If you’ve followed their journeys, you’ll see something genuine. They’re using their platforms for something bigger.”
These testimonies paint a portrait of purpose reclaimed, where spotlights illuminate scriptures, proving fame’s flicker yields to faith’s enduring flame in Nigeria’s vibrant cultural tapestry.
