TB Joshua was a renowned Nigerian pastor and televangelist.
He founded the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) and led the congregation as its charismatic leader. Additionally, he operated the Emmanuel TV television station from Lagos, Nigeria.
Early life and Education 
Joshua, born on June 12, 1963, in Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, hailed from a Yoruba family with both Muslim and Christian backgrounds. He claimed miraculous circumstances surrounding his birth, stating he spent an extraordinary 15 months in the womb and that his arrival had been prophesied a century earlier. Raised by a Muslim uncle after his Christian father passed away, Joshua attended St. Stephen’s Anglican Primary School in Arigidi Akoko from 1971 to 1977 before leaving for work on a poultry farm after a year of secondary school. Known as “small pastor” during his school days due to his affinity for the Bible, Joshua’s aspirations to join the Nigerian military were thwarted by a train breakdown.
Career
Temitope Balogun Joshua’s career was primarily centered around his role as a charismatic pastor and televangelist. He gained prominence as the leader and founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), a Christian megachurch based in Lagos, Nigeria. Additionally, he operated Emmanuel TV, a television station that broadcasted his teachings and ministry worldwide. Throughout his career, Joshua was known for his charismatic preaching style and his claims of performing miracles. He also had a significant impact on the lives of his followers, both in Nigeria and globally.
Throughout his career, Joshua attracted a vast following, with people from various parts of the world drawn to his ministry and teachings. He conducted numerous healing services, where he claimed to have healed people from various ailments and disabilities. His teachings often focused on faith, healing, and prosperity, resonating with many who sought spiritual guidance and miracles in their lives.
Personal life
Joshua was married to Evelyn Joshua, who is currently the leader of the SCOAN
They have 3 children
Controversies
TB Joshua faced intense controversy throughout his career. Several prominent pastors both in and outside Nigeria condemned him, including Pastor Chris Okotie, who labeled him a “son of the devil.” Additionally, figures such as Enoch Adeboye, David Oyedepo, Ayo Oritsejafor, Paul Adefarasin, Matthew Ashimolowo, and Ted Haggard expressed criticism. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria frequently criticized him, with some denouncing him as an “impostor” and occult figure posing as an evangelical. In 2010, Cameroon’s foreign minister warned against a planned pilgrimage to Lagos, where Joshua’s ministry was based. Rumors of a visit by Joshua to Zimbabwe in 2012 sparked intense national debate, with pastors and politicians objecting strongly. In 2011, there were reports that individuals with HIV in London died after stopping medication on the advice of evangelical pastors, though SCOAN denied promoting such practices. In 2014, SCOAN released videos of a man claiming to be a member of Boko Haram confessing to planning an attack on the church after hearing Joshua’s prayers, sparking calls for investigation into the authenticity of the claims.
Joshua’s purported healings and miracles were subjects of intense scrutiny and controversy. His former chief lieutenant, Agomoh Paul, who spent ten years at the SCOAN compound, described Joshua as a “genius” manipulator. Paul claimed responsibility for orchestrating fake “miracles” attributed to Joshua. According to Paul and others interviewed by BBC News, individuals who appeared to be “cured” at the church were often paid to exaggerate their symptoms or perform before their supposed healing occurred. Some were allegedly drugged or medicated as part of the “faith healing” process, while others were falsely informed that they had HIV/AIDS but had miraculously recovered due to Joshua’s intervention.
Joshua’s followers ascribed miraculous properties to anointing water prayed over by him, claiming it healed wounds and protected them from accidents. However, incidents such as a stampede in Joshua’s Ghanaian branch in 2013, where four people died during the distribution of the water, raised criticism and questions about its efficacy.
During the West African Ebola virus epidemic in 2014, Joshua made headlines by claiming that his anointing water could cure Ebola. He sent thousands of bottles of the water and monetary aid to Sierra Leone, where a politician attributed the water to curing Ebola. Lagos State Health officials visited Joshua, urging him to discourage Ebola victims from seeking prayers at his church.
SCOAN frequently asserted that Joshua facilitated miracles, including curing people of HIV/AIDS, blindness, and open wounds. These claims garnered media attention, sparking public debate within Nigeria. Instances such as the father of abducted schoolgirl Ese Oruru intending to take her to Joshua for prayers after her release, and a leaked report revealing the former petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke’s plan to seek spiritual support from Joshua in her battle against breast cancer, further fueled controversy and debate.
Death
T. B. Joshua passed away on June 5, 2021, shortly after conducting a live broadcast, as reported by the BBC. His wife, Evelyn Joshua, stated that he showed no signs of illness prior to his death.
Following the news of his passing, there were reactions in Nigerian media, describing his death as a huge blow to Nigeria and a significant loss to the residents of Akoko. Additionally, his death was seen as a setback for religious tourism, particularly in Nigeria. Rotimi Akeredolu, the Governor of Ondo State, paid tribute to Joshua, describing his death as a great global loss.
Net Worth before death
Undisclosed