Pastor Adeboye Clocks 72

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Adeboye often humorously says that his family was so poor that even the poor people called them poor.

The life of Adeboye is described by many as a fulfilment of the scriptures in Zechariah 4: 10 which declares: “despise not the days of small beginnings.” As a matter of fact, he unashamedly tells his congregation that he never owned shoes until he was 18 years of age. What he possessed though were physical intangibles such as focus, consistency, diligence, ambition, a brilliant mind and a determination to succeed in life.

In 1956 Enoch Adeboye was admitted into Ilesha Grammar School, Ilesha, Osun State and as a youth, he discovered a passion for books, and an aptitude for science and in particular the field of Mathematics. This led to an academic journey in the field of Mathematics against incredible odds including but not limited to finances, the Nigerian Civil War and academic politics.

Adeboye had obtained not only a Bachelors (BSc.) degree in Mathematics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria in 1967, but also a Masters (MSc.) Degree in Hydrodynamics and a Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Applied Mathematics, both from the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria in 1969 and 1975 respectively.

One of the motivations for these academic achievements was Enoch Adeboye's passionate desire to become the youngest Vice Chancellor of any one of the frontline universities in Nigeria. It did seem that his academic ambition would be realised as his academic career flourished. However, this was not to be as a greater career awaited him in the service of the Lord. In 1967 Enoch Adeboye got married to his beloved wife Foluke Adenike Adeboye.

In 1981, Adeboye was appointed the General Overseer of the church, taking over from the founder, Pa Akindayomi who died the previous year.

With thousands of worshippers flocking the RCCG on daily basis, the present auditorium being occupied by the church at the Redemption Ground, which is three kilometres long and one kilometre wide, is no longer able to contain the large number of followers.

Last year, Adeboye unveiled plan by the church to construct one of the biggest auditorium in the world, saying that the new auditorium would be three kilometres square. The auditorium is expected to be completed before the church's 2014 convention in August.