Six months ago, I never imagined I would be writing a story like this. It never crossed my mind that any situation would arise that could compel me to take a deeper look at a man of God and his works in the society. But events unfolded in a way that made me realize that the world we live in is not only complex but deeply spiritual, filled with lessons that often challenge our perceptions.
An incident that trended online drew my attention to Primate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele, the Spiritual leader and Servant of God at INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church in Lagos. As a journalist and a Christian, I have always approached stories about religious leaders with caution. In recent times, the actions of some so-called men of God have made it difficult to easily believe in their integrity.
What initially caught my attention was a petition reportedly written by the Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu, alleging that Primate Ayodele asked him to purchase a trumpet worth ₦150 million as a spiritual requirement for his gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. Like many others, I concluded in my mind that this was yet another example of questionable practices often associated with some religious leaders.
However, what followed surprised me. Primate Ayodele publicly responded by denying the story and claim that ₦150 million could not even buy his pair of shoes. That statement startled me. It made me curious. Was this confidence, arrogance or was there more to the story? I decided to investigate further and observe the man more closely rather than rely on public sentiment.
What I discovered over the next few months changed my perspective completely. In my findings, I realized that beyond prophecies and spiritual activities, Primate Elijah Ayodele has, for over three decades, consistently engaged in large-scale humanitarian and empowerment initiatives that rival and in some cases surpass, what many political office holders have done. Through the INRI Widows Foundation (IWF), established since the early days of his Ministry in 1994, he has supported tens of thousands of widows and vulnerable individuals in society.
These efforts are not limited to words or one-off gestures. They include renting and equipping shops for struggling individuals, building houses and giving them out freely to those in need, paying school fees for children and youths, distributing raw food items and providing working tools for artisans. These are tangible acts that directly affect lives.
One particular case stood out to me: a cancer patient in urgent need of a transplant costing about ₦40 million. Primate Ayodele reportedly sold his own land to raise ₦10 million for the patient and has since been covering the individual’s medical expenses while appealing to well-meaning Nigerians and the Lagos State Government for support. As of late 2025, the needed support had not come from public authorities. This raised a profound question in my mind: if such urgent needs cannot be met by those in power, who then truly carries the burden of the people?
I also came across testimonies from individuals whose lives had been transformed through his interventions. In 2025 alone, he reportedly gave several cars worth millions of naira at the symbolic price of ₦1 million each to assist beneficiaries. On different occasions, he established the INRI Food market where he subsidized food items are sold at far below market value to ease the burden of hunger. His explanation was simple: “There is hunger in the land, and someone must do something about it.”
As 2026 began, these observations became even more pronounced during his annual “21 Days of Appreciation”, a long-standing spiritual and humanitarian exercise where he visits church members, schools, homes and even public institutions to offer prayers and goodwill. This year’s program took on a deeper meaning for me as I followed the activities closely.
On February 5th, he dedicated a newly built communication school in Badagry, which has already secured distance-learning approval from the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). Upon inquiry, I discovered that the tuition fees were deliberately subsidized to make quality education affordable for young people. This was not just a religious project; it was an educational investment in the future of Nigerian youth.
In addition, plans were announced for the launch of two radio stations in Lagos another initiative aimed at creating employment opportunities and giving back to society through information dissemination and community engagement.
The grand finale of the 21 Days of Appreciation is traditionally marked by large-scale empowerment programs. These include distribution of cars, payment of school fees, provision of shop rents and donation of working tools to artisans. Having reviewed records of past events, I realized that millions of naira are spent annually on this single day to uplift ordinary people.
At this point, the symbolism became clear to me. The alleged ₦150 million trumpet that sparked controversy now seemed insignificant compared to the volume of empowerment activities that have quietly been ongoing for decades. This, to me, is what I call “an empowerment louder than a trumpet.”
It is easy to criticize religious leaders and in many cases, criticism is justified. But it is also important to acknowledge when someone consistently uses his platform, resources and influence to uplift the vulnerable in society. Primate Elijah Ayodele may not be the richest cleric in Nigeria. He does not own a private jet. Yet, his impact on ordinary people is visible and measurable.
This experience has reminded me that sometimes, beyond controversies and headlines, there are deeper stories worth telling that is stories of service, sacrifice and social responsibility.
If more religious leaders, and indeed politicians, adopt this model of direct impact and empowerment, society would be far better for it. For now, what I have witnessed and discovered leaves me with one conclusion: Some empowerments do not need to make noise. Their impact speaks louder than any trumpet ever could.
