Francis Wale Oke
Francis Olubowale Aderibigbe Oke is a Nigerian author, Christian leader, and televangelist. He is the founder and presiding Bishop of Sword of the Spirit Ministries. Since 2021, he has served as the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, a Christian body representing millions of Pentecostals. He has also been the Chancellor of Precious Cornerstone University in Ibadan since 2022.
Early life
Oke was born on 8 September 1956 in Kasumu village, Egbeda local government area of Oyo State, Nigeria. He spent his formative years in Kasumu before relocating to Ibadan at the age of 11. In Ibadan, he attended Wesley Teachers' College and later furthered his education at Ibadan Polytechnic. He subsequently gained admission to the University of Lagos, where he studied Land and Engineering Survey.Ministry and leadership
Oke began his ministry as a lay preacher in his home fellowship, CAET, in Ibadan. He also served as a Bible Study leader under Enoch Adeboye in Christ Redeemers Ministry. While at the University of Lagos, Oke was involved in the Lagos Varsity Christian Union, where he served as Bible Study Secretary for one year and later as President for two and a half years.During his time at the university, he felt called to the ministry and became associated with influential figures in Nigerian Christianity, including Enoch Adeboye, Kumuyi, Benson Idahosa, and David Oyedepo. Oke formally responded to his calling in December 1975 and established Sword of the Spirit Ministries in Ibadan, Oyo State, following his university education. He transitioned to full-time ministry on 17 May 1982.
After a period of itinerant ministry across Nigeria, he founded Christ Life Church in February 1989 – a church arm of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries. The following year, he established the International Bible College of Ministries in May 1990 to train individuals for ministry.
He hosts "The Voice of the Lord", a daily broadcast aired on Nigeria national radio and television stations FRCN and NTA, Ibadan. He also leads The Nigeria Turning Point, a prayer and intercession programme in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
In 1999, he was consecrated as a Bishop. Oke hosts an Annual Holy Ghost Convention. Under his leadership, Sword of the Spirit Ministries expanded within Nigeria and to other countries such as the United Kingdom, Russia, and the United States.
On 3 March 2021, he was elected as the 7th and current President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria by the National Advisory Council for a four-year tenure, after previously serving as the Deputy President. He was re-elected in February 2025 for another four years. He is also a co-founder of Precious Cornerstone University in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he has served as Chancellor since 11 November 2022.