Tributes pour in as Margaret Idahosa celebrates 83

Tributes have continued to pour in for Margaret Benson-Idahosa, the Archbishop of the Church of God Mission International, as she celebrated her 83rd birthday. The week-long celebration saw numerous attendees, including family members, spiritual children, clergy, public officials, and well-wishers from around the globe. The festivities kicked off with heartfelt tributes from her children, followed by messages of goodwill and prayers from pastors, friends, and admirers worldwide.

One of her daughters, Rantiade, hailed her mother as a "maverick mother", "a generational voice" and "a shining pillar of strength." She shared a biography of her mother, praising her resilience, faith, and strength, particularly after the loss of her husband, the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa. Her son, Fab, and the Church of God Mission International social media platforms also shared kind words about the cleric.

Another daughter, Laurie Idahosa, called her mother a "Queen", an "Archbishop", a "Mama", a "Grandma", a "Teacher", a "Counsellor", and a "Friend". She praised her mother for her wisdom and the impact she has had on many lives, expressing her love and admiration on her birthday. The celebration was marked by a two-tier white cake adorned with the number 83, and a birthday message from the Archbishop herself, where she expressed her gratitude to God for His faithfulness.

Margaret Idahosa, a Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University and head of the Church of God Mission International, is widely regarded as Africa's first female Pentecostal Archbishop. Born on July 29, 1943, in the royal family of the Benin Kingdom, she learned resilience from an early age, taking over her late husband's ministry and expanding it into a global evangelical movement.

Naomi Chima is an entertainment and lifestyle correspondent at Punch Newspapers, covering Nigerian entertainment, culture, and social events.