Bishop Mike Okonkwo: God’s soldier

Bishop Mike Okonkwo is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM). From the time he was born on September 6, 1945 in Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, till now, Bishop Okonkwo has lived an eventful life, full of milestones.

After his primary education at Enugu, Lagos and Offa in Kwara State at different times, as well as his secondary education at Mayflower College, Ikenne and Merchants of Light School, Oba, Anambra State in 1963, he worked at the Nigerian Ports Authority for three months in 1964 and moved over to African Continental Bank, hoping to make a career in banking.

But the Nigerian civil war altered his vision. Like his peers on the Biafran side, young Okonkwo trained as a soldier, but in a dramatic turn of events, the very night he was to be deployed to the battlefield, the war ended.

Looking at his life trajectory, a discerning mind can only conclude that God was preparing him to become a soldier in His own battlefield even though Okonkwo later returned to banking at the end of the civil war in 1970. But soon after that, he answered the call to serve the Lord.

He started off as an evangelist with the United Church of Christ at a time when Pentecostal movement was a strange phenomenon. Having been ordained a minister in the church in 1971, he served for 10 years before leaving to establish The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM).

To fortify his spiritual life for his new calling, Okonkwo graduated from the Morris Cerrullo School of Ministry and the Covington Theological Seminary in the United States of America. He also holds several doctorate degrees and honorary awards.

Since 1981, Bishop Mike Okonkwo has never left anyone in doubt that he is a true servant of God and defender of the faith. He preaches the gospel with passion; speaks truth to power; and lead people to Christ.

Under his leadership, TREM has grown to over 180 branches across Nigeria and other parts of the world.

Bishop Mike Okonkwo is a renowned evangelist, a strong advocate of balanced Christianity, pastor to many pastors and a father to many. His life and conduct are an inspiration to many and a clear example of true Christianity, with Pentecostal bent.

For nine years at a stretch, he was president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) from 1998 to 2007. Over the years, he has featured and showcased other Pentecostal preachers, local and foreign, at TREM’s annual week-long flagship programme, Kingdom Life. He is also the convener of the Communion of Covenant Ministers International (CCMI).

Bishop Mike Okonkwo wins The Sun Lifetime Achievement Award for 2025.