Nollywood celebrities have never shied away from a career change. However, while regular people would typically transition from banking to communications or tech, some of our celebrities have apparently moved from the entertainment industry to the pulpit. One moment, they’re acting, singing or dabbling in politics, the next moment, they’re preaching the gospel and even starting their own ministries. Here are 10 Nigerian celebrities who are now pastors, evangelists and ministers of the gospel.
Tonto Dikeh has had quite the career trajectory, moving from controversial Nollywood actress to her “King Tonto” era, NGO founder, politician and now an evangelist. She recently completed a discipleship program under Streams of Joy Ministries and has announced the opening of her new ministry called New Wine Prophetic Tabernacle. She describes it as an interdenominational Christian fellowship aimed at prayer, deliverance, revival and kingdom advancement.
Sylvester Madu, popularly referred to as “Shina Rambo,” is the Nollywood actor and director who seemed to have a permanent contract to play bad guys and armed robbers. After surviving a ghastly accident in 2014 and becoming a born-again Christian, he switched from playing men of questionable character to becoming a full-time pastor at Christ Embassy Ministries.
Patiene Ozokwor aka “Mama G” has gone from playing everybody’s problematic mother-in-law to becoming an ordained Evangelist. She identifies as a born again Christian who was called by God to win souls for Christ and actively travels to preach the gospel in churches. Thankfully, her call as an evangelist has not derailed her acting career as she recently graced our screens in Call of My Life (2026).
Banky Wellington went from entertaining us with music and occasionally gracing our screens in roles such as the Wedding Party to becoming an associate pastor and global ambassador for The Union Church in Maryland, USA. Since he hasn’t given us any new music lately, it seems he has moved on from singing about romantic love to spreading the gospel of the One who is love.
Zack Orji has spent decades playing different characters in Nollywood but his most recent role is the one he has taken offscreen. The veteran Nollywood actor was first ordained an evangelist, then later a full minister/preacher/reverend at the Powerline Bible Church. After seeing him star in roles ranging from villains to respectable family men, we suppose becoming a pastor is his most unexpected character arc so far.
Kanayo O Kanayo has played enough roles as a ritualist and occultic member in Nollywood to make his latest career turn feel like quite the plot twist. The actor, who is also a lawyer, is now preaching the gospel of Christ, and was one of the guest ministers during a crusade held by Christ Mission Worldwide Church in Egbeda, Lagos.
Jimmy Odukoya has managed to maintain two different careers at once. He is an actor who played the role of Oba Ade in The Woman King (2022) but also the senior pastor of Fountain of Life Church. A position he assumed after the death of his father in 2023. We stan a multitasking king.
Liz Benson was one of Nollywood’s biggest stars, best known for her roles in Glamour Girls (1994) and Witches (1998), before stepping away from acting to enter full time gospel ministry. She was ordained an Evangelist and eventually married Bishop Great Ameye of the Freedom Family Assembly in Delta State. Following her husband’s death in 2025, she was anointed as the new Bishop and leader of the ministry.
Eucharia Anunobi has gone from being one of Nollywood’s most recognisable faces to becoming an ordained Pastor. Her signature thin eyebrow look was part of a Nollywood beauty aesthetic that had many Nigerian women in a chokehold. Today, she’s the founder and Senior Pastor of the Eucharia Anunobi Ministries, having been ordained at the Fresh Oil Ministries Church in Lagos.
Yul Edochie has gone from entertaining audiences on a screen through his different roles in Nollywood to ministering to them from a virtual pulpit. The actor said he received a heavenly call to serve God after surviving a major accident. And launched an online church called True Salvation Ministry in 2024.
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