Even as entertainment, music, and comedy dominate digital platforms, one sector continues to outshine them all in Nigeria: faith-based content. Pastor Jerry Eze, the founder of Streams of Joy International and host of the wildly popular New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations (NSPPD), has once again emerged as Nigeria’s highest-earning YouTuber.
According to the latest rankings from Playboard, a leading YouTube analytics tracker, Eze’s channel has maintained its dominance for the second consecutive year, raking in billions of naira in revenue and solidifying his status as a digital evangelism trailblazer.
Pastor Eze’s story embodies the transformation of ministry in the internet age. Born in 1982 in Umuahia, Abia State, and raised by a single mother, he charted a path through education, earning a degree in History and International Relations from Abia State University and a master’s in Human Resource Management from Enugu State University of Technology.
Before his full-time ministry, he had worked as a communications specialist with the World Bank. His pastoral journey began in 2009, but it was his founding of Streams of Joy International in 2013 that marked a new chapter.
The turning point came during the COVID-19 pandemic. With churches shut down, Eze launched NSPPD on YouTube in November 2019. His daily online prayer sessions, branded with the resonant tagline “What God Cannot Do Does Not Exist”, attracted worshippers seeking spiritual upliftment in uncertain times. By blending fervent prayers, prophetic declarations, and testimonies of healing and breakthroughs, the channel became a global movement.
Today, NSPPD has 2.87 million subscribers, up from 2.12 million just a year ago. More than 2,900 videos have generated 643 million lifetime views, with daily live streams averaging over 282,000 viewers. In 2025 alone, about 80 million people worldwide have tuned in, underscoring how digital faith communities have taken root far beyond Nigeria’s borders.
Pastor Eze reeking in revenue while ministering
What sets Pastor Eze apart is not just influence but revenue. Playboard’s data shows that his channel generates an average of N1.94 million daily. In the last 24 hours alone, it earned nearly N8 million. Over the past week, revenues topped N47.7 million, bringing his cumulative YouTube earnings to an eye-watering N10.71 billion in 2025, up from N7.81 billion in 2024.
Much of this success comes from YouTube’s Super Chat feature, where viewers pay to highlight their messages during live streams. For Eze’s followers, these contributions often accompany prayer requests or testimonies, and their generosity has made his channel one of the most profitable in the world.
In fact, in February 2025, his Super Chat earnings ranked second globally, behind only American sports YouTuber Tom Grossi.
While Eze’s personal net worth is estimated at $2 million, bolstered by church activities, book sales, and speaking engagements, he has consistently emphasised that the mission remains spiritual, not financial.
“These testimonies are proof that these are the days of God’s power,” he often declares.
A clean sweep for faith-based channels
Perhaps more striking than Eze’s individual dominance is the overall trend: all of Nigeria’s top five YouTube earners in 2025 are faith-based channels. This mirrors the 2024 rankings and signals a deepening cultural shift in how Nigerians engage with digital platforms.
According to Playboard, the top five earners include “Paul S. Joshua’s” channel, founded by Paul S. Joshua, Senior Pastor of The Refiner’s House Ministries; “Dunamis TV”, operated by Dunamis International Gospel Centre, the Pentecostal church led by Pastor Paul Enenche; “Celebration TV”, the media arm of Omega Fire Ministries founded by Apostle Johnson Suleman; and “Rev. Sam Oye”, owned by Reverend Sam Oye, Founder and Lead Pastor of The Transforming Church.
Why does spiritual content continue to thrive in Nigeria?
Several factors explain this surge. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is both deeply religious and digitally connected. Over 50% of the population identifies as Christian, and the hunger for spiritual guidance has only intensified amid economic challenges.
At the same time, YouTube penetration has soared: channels earning between $6,000 and $66,000 annually doubled in 2024, and more than 1,500 Nigerian channels now boast over 100,000 subscribers. Data consumption has skyrocketed 700% since 2019, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Faith-based content thrives because it meets both spiritual and emotional needs. Unlike comedy or entertainment, prayer streams offer a sense of community and immediacy. The interactivity of live broadcasts, where viewers’ names and messages appear on-screen, strengthens the bond between pastors and congregants.
Pastor Jerry Eze’s story represents more than personal success; it signals the rise of the digital pulpit. Nigerian creators are proving that purpose and profit can coexist, with faith channels redefining what it means to build an online community.
Yet, the trend also raises questions. Critics argue for greater transparency in how Super Chat funds are used, while others worry about the commercialisation of faith. Still, for millions who testify to miracles and breakthroughs through these online services, the value is undeniable.