Dr Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, recently shared a remarkable story of how she encountered Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, who prayed for her to become a minister in the country. According to Edu, she expressed her ambition to become a minister during the church’s annual programme, Shiloh, in 2022, and Bishop Oyedepo prayed for her.
The encounter with Bishop Oyedepo proved to be a turning point in Edu’s life, as she was confirmed as one of the ministers in the country by the Senate in early August. Prior to her nomination, she held the position of National Women Leader for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), making her one of the youngest ministers in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet at just 37 years old.
According to Edu: “Last year at Shiloh 2022, I prayed and told God that by the next time I come for the next year’s Shiloh, I want to be a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“On the last day of Shiloh, just as I was walking out, I saw Papa, Bishop David Oyedepo, and I went to greet him and meet him as usual and I whispered to him, ‘Papa, I need you to pray for me.
“I have just one prayer request now’. And he said, ‘What is it?’ I said, ‘I want to come back to Shiloh 2023 as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’. He put his hand on my head and he said, ‘It is done’. I stood up and I left.
“I came today to return all glory to God that inspite of all odds, today I’m a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. One of the youngest in the Fourth Republic.
“People my age, are not at the Federal Executive Council of Nigeria in this Fourth Republic. But today, I can boldly stand here to say, ‘God did it’. I came to return all glory to God.”
This is not the first time that Edu has been recognized for her leadership skills. In 2019, she was awarded the prestigious Nigerian Women in Leadership Award for her outstanding contributions to women empowerment and youth development in Nigeria. She has also been recognized by the United Nations for her advocacy work in the areas of health, education, and gender equality.
As Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Edu is responsible for overseeing the implementation of policies and programs aimed at improving the lives of the most vulnerable members of Nigerian society. Her appointment is seen as a positive step towards addressing the country’s social and economic challenges, and many Nigerians are hopeful that she will bring positive change to the country.
