Archbishop Benson Andrew Idahosa was a Charismatic Pentecostal preacher. In October 1968, Idahosa officially inaugurated the Church of God Mission International, which had started out previously, as a “small prayer group”.
He was commissioned into ministry in 1971 by Pa Elton and James Gordon Lindsey and ordained a Bishop in 1981. Bishop Idahosa ordained several others, including Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church Worldwide in 1989.
Idahosa was popularly referred to as the father of Pentecostalism in Nigeria. He was the founder of Benson Idahosa University (BIU) in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Archbishop Idahosa died on 12 March 1998.He was survived by his wife, Margaret Idahosa and four children.His wife subsequently took over as the Archbishop of the Church of God Mission International (CGMI), the Christian ministry he founded.
His only son, Bishop F.E.B. Idahosa, is now the president of BIU, founder and president of Big Ben’s Children Hospital, vice-president of All Nations for Christ Bible Institute International, among other positions.
HAPPY POSTHUMOUS BIRTHDAY TO ARCHBISHOP BENSON ANDREW IDAHOSA
(11 September 1938 – 12 March 1998)
