A Nigerian lady, Chukwuma Elizabeth Onyinye, has ignited widespread debate online after sharing a detailed account of her unpleasant experience at the recently concluded Shiloh 2025 programme held at the Living Faith Church headquarters, commonly referred to as Winners Chapel.
In a Facebook post that has since gone viral, Onyinye accused the church of displaying gender bias and practicing discriminatory measures against women, particularly regarding the seating arrangements during the services. She described the experience as humiliating and demeaning, sparking conversations about misogyny in places of worship.
Allegation of Gender-Based Segregation
Onyinye explained that during the programme, women were treated as secondary attendees, with front-row seats allegedly reserved exclusively for men. She expressed confusion and frustration over why women, who arrived early and were seated before the service began, were later asked to relocate to the back of the hall solely because of their gender.
The TikToker and social media influencer emphasized that such actions made women feel marginalized despite their active participation and commitment to church activities.
Asked to Leave Front Seat Mid-Service
She further recounted that while she was seated at the front, a man approached her during the middle of the service and demanded that she vacate her seat. Onyinye quoted him saying, “Front seat is for men only, you need to move.”
She expressed shock at being confronted in such a manner within a place of worship, questioning why such a discriminatory rule existed in a church environment.
“Why Should I Accept Humiliation in the House of God?”
Onyinye voiced her anger and disbelief at the treatment she received, highlighting the hypocrisy of enforcing such gender-specific seating rules in a religious setting that preaches equality in Christ. She wrote:
“The level of misogyny in Living Faith Church is actually wild.”
“Explain to me why all the front seats are reserved for men, while women, who came early, who sat down before service even started, are chased to the back like second-class worshippers.”
“I was invited for Shiloh, we arrived on time. I took my seat at the front.”
“In the middle of service, with the place already packed, one man walked up to me and said, ‘Front seat is for men only, you need to move.’”
“I genuinely looked at him like, What exactly do you expect me to do with that information?”
“Because why should I move?”
“Why should I accept humiliation in the same house of God that created male and female?”
Criticism of Church “Protocol”
Onyinye also criticised what she described as over-policing of women under the guise of church protocol. She lamented that women who actively contribute to church life through prayers, fasting, giving, attending faithfully, and participating in cleaning and other activities were still relegated to the back when it came to seating privileges.
She wrote:
“The audacity.” “The entitlement.” “The shameless policing of women in the name of ‘protocol.’”
“Women pray. Women fast. Women give. Women attend faithfully, women partake in cleaning the church, yet when it’s time to sit at the front, suddenly women become ‘unqualified.’”
Exception Made for Oyedepo’s Wife
Onyinye further highlighted what she saw as a glaring double standard. According to her, the only woman allowed to sit at the front is Bishop David Oyedepo’s wife, underscoring a special privilege that excludes all other women.
She stated:
“And the funniest part?”
“Their overall Mama Oyedekpo is literally the ONLY woman allowed to sit in the front, because she’s sitting beside her husband.”
“And me that came with my own man earlier and sat at the front, they want me to move to the back and sit separately from my ODOGWU!”
Offering Protest and Call for Change
Outraged by the incident, Onyinye disclosed that she reduced her offering as a form of protest. Instead of giving the N5,000 her partner had handed to her, she contributed only N200 to express her displeasure with the church’s discriminatory practices.
She explained:
“My Baby actually gave me offering of 5,000 naira. Well packaged inside white envelope.”
“But the moment that usher opened his mouth to spew that nonsense, I removed the money immediately and slashed the money he gave me down to 200 naira.”
She concluded her post by urging the church leadership to address what she described as sexist and discriminatory protocols, emphasizing that preaching love, unity, and equality while practicing gender segregation is inconsistent and harmful.
She wrote:
“WINNERS CHAPEL WORLDWIDE Living Faith Tabernacle Churches Bishop David Olaniyi Oyedepo, do better.”
“You cannot preach love, unity, and equality in Christ while practicing gender segregation like it’s the 1800s.”
“You want people to give cheerfully, yet you treat half of your congregation like they don’t matter.”
“Make it make sense.”
“Stop the segregation.”
“Stop the sexist protocols.”
“Stop hiding misogyny behind ‘orderliness.’”
“Church is supposed to be a place where everybody is welcome, not a place where women are reminded that they are second-class.”
Onyinye’s detailed account has since sparked widespread reactions across social media platforms, with Nigerians expressing mixed opinions on the incident, ranging from support for her stance to debates over church practices and gender roles in religious institutions.
See below;
