Germany’s public international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle (DW), has described founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo and other Nigerian Pentecostal clergy of running a business empire.

Oyedepo’s church has over 50,000 members – one of the largest congregation in the whole of Africa.

DW questioned his prosperity messages and describes it as “hypnotizing”.

“The prosperity gospel by David Oyedepo sounds hypnotizing,” they wrote in their official website on Tuesday.

“A crowd of 50,000 people is taking in every word. 50,000 — that is the current capacity of the Living Faith Church just outside of Lagos, the country’s third-biggest Pentecostal church.

“Many more listen to Oyedepo outside this mega-church, those who did not get a seat inside. They raise their hands towards the sky in devotion, in hopes their prayers will be heard. Oyedepo is just one of many pastors in Nigeria who promise positive change.”

According to DW, Oyedopo manipulates his gullible followers with his sermon.

“The pastor, who calls himself a bishop, knows what people in Nigeria need the most: stability and jobs,” they added.

“His net worth is estimated to be $150 million (€128 million). Many of his followers want to be like him. They yearn for prosperity in the country that has the highest number of people living in extreme poverty worldwide.

“Nigeria, unstable as the violent campaign by jihadist militants Boko Haram has been raging for almost a decade, has experienced an economic recession in recent years.

“The government promises change, but the country is plagued by mismanagement and massive corruption. It was during this period that the number of Pentecostal churches began to increase.

“There are at least 500 in Nigeria, some of them with branches worldwide. Nigerians turn to faith as their trust in the government wanes.”