Adefarasin: The making of Africa’s Most Influential Personality Of The Year 2021

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Pastor Ifeanyi Adefarasin, Pastor Paul Adefarasin and Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru

Pastor Ifeanyi Adefarasin (second left), Pastor Paul Adefarasin and Otunba Alaba Shonibare

Pastor Ifeanyi Adefarasin

Pastor Ifeanyi Adefarasin (left), Pastor Paul Adefarasin and Otunba Alaba Shonibare

The Forbes Best of Africa Most Influential Personality of The Year 2021 Certificate

Mrs Winihin Jemide (left), Mrs Modele Shonibare, Otunba  Alaba Shonibare, Mr Toye Odunsi, Mrs Remi Odunsi, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Pastor Ifeanyi Adefarasin and Mrs Edith & Hon. Commissioner Sam Egube

Pastor Paul Adefarasin’s profile received a significant boost last Sunday with the presentation of the Forbes Best of Africa Most Influential Personality of the Year 2021 Award.

Certainly, the award is a confirmation of his larger than life accomplishment reflected in the following areas:
Faith Leader— Paul Adefarasin is the founder of the house on the rock, a multiracial, multi-ethnic and multifaceted non-denominational Church with 77 parishes and fellowships across Africa and Europe.

Author and Motivational Speaker — He is a a motivational speaker and author. He is the writer of inspirational books including, Something Is About to Happen, Change Your World, The Call For A Performing Generation (Revised) and Hope On The Go. He is the Executive Producer and innovator of a musical album produced by the music team of his Church titled, I Still Believe.

Thought-Leader – With more than 30 years of pastoral and visionary leadership experience, Adefarasin is sought after to share his expertise across all sectors. He is also a broadcaster and host of the TV programme ‘Something Is About To Happen’, which airs across Africa, Europe and North America on terrestrial and satellite television. He has done this for more than 20 years and maintains a social media presence.

Philanthropist – He is the Founder and President of The Rock Foundation, a charity committed to undertaking significant humanitarian and social responsibility initiatives across the education, healthcare, prison reform and other spheres. He has worked towards the release and rehabilitation of more than 3,000 wrongfully imprisoned inmates through the Church prison ministry who visit prisons across the country.

Education is at the heart of The Rock Foundation, which has also built more than 100 computer laboratories, equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, as well as providing water boreholes in various state primary schools across Lagos.

As the Covid pandemic challenged the world last year, the Church provided more than 15,000 PPE gear with medical supplies to the local and state government as part of Covid-19 relief effort.

The Rock Foundation also has more than two decades of feeding, vocational skills acquisition, women and youth empowerment, technological and sustainability projects, and inner-city outreaches affecting more than 200,000 families.

Paul is an innovative trailblazer who conceptualised and delivered The Experience music concert, an annual event, now in its 15th year that has become the largest musical concert in Africa. It has a viewership of millions across 180 countries and territories with millions more tuning in online.

Collaborator / Ally – Paul is a committed participant in the inter-faith movement that seeks to promote religious understanding and foster tolerance on the continent of Africa and beyond. He presently is the Lead Regional Co-Chair of the Africa Cabinet; Member of the Global Council and Member of The Executive 12; of Empowered21, which is the largest relational network of leaders of Spirit-Empowered Churches in the world.

Mentor – Paul is a mentor to many successful, purpose-driven CEOs, Entrepreneurs, Ministers, and he is also steadfast in his determination to raise the next set of torch-bearers in every sphere of industry, thought and ministry.

Advisor – He serves in an advisory capacity to various leaders, policy-makers, and heads of Industry as he seeks to positively influence public policy. Paul works as a bridge-builder, facilitating the exchange of ideas with critical stakeholders, domestic and foreign.

Awards – He has received numerous awards, some of which include:
• The United Nations-backed Most Influential People of African Descent Award,
• Achievers Award for Leadership Excellence, Christian Association of Nigeria
• Lagos State Government Corporate Social Responsibility Award,
• Leadership Medal of Honour in Philanthropy Award by the African Leadership Magazine
• The Nigerian Red Cross Society Humanitarian Excellence Award.
• Paul was conferred with honorary citizenships of the State of Georgia and of the State of South Carolina, USA.

Education – He is an Architect and he is a graduate of the University of Miami, Florida, USA. He is also the recipient of a Diploma in Christian Ministry from the International Bible Institute of London, UK.
Family Man – Paul has been happily married to Ifeanyi for 26 years and they have three children: Hilda, Alvin and Alexander.

The Man, Adefarasin
Paul Adefarasin is a Christian Minister, Thought-Leader, Philanthropist, Author and Speaker. He is the Founder of The House On The Rock, a multiracial, multi-ethnic, and multifaceted non-denominational Church with 77 parishes and fellowships across Africa and Europe.

With more than 30 years of pastoral and visionary leadership experience, Paul is sought after to share his expertise across many sectors. For upwards of 20 years, he has hosted the programme ‘Something Is About To Happen’, which airs across Africa, Europe, and North America on terrestrial and satellite television. He also maintains an active social media presence.

A profound motivational speaker and author, Paul has penned inspirational books including: ‘Something Is About to Happen’, ‘Change Your World’, ‘The Call For A Performing Generation (Revised)’ and ‘Hope On The Go’. He was also the Composer and Executive Producer of an album produced by the music team of his Church entitled, ‘I Still Believe’.

The Founder and President of The Rock Foundation, a charity committed to undertaking significant humanitarian and social responsibility initiatives including, prison reform, education, and healthcare. Paul has worked assiduously towards the release and rehabilitation of about 3,000 wrongfully imprisoned inmates through the Church prison ministry, which visits prisons across Nigeria.

For two decades plus, The Rock Foundation has organized weekly initiatives that deliver medical aid and food to the destitute, delinquent, and derelict youth, street-walkers, gang members (known as Area Boys in Nigeria), and drug addicts; engaging, encouraging, and empowering them to participate in available vocational and skills acquisition programmes, technological and sustainability projects. Its inner-city outreaches impact about 200,000 families.

The Rock Foundation has built 100 computer laboratories – equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and technology. It has provided water boreholes in various primary schools across Lagos state. The Rock Foundation has become one of the favourite charities in hospitals, orphanages, and homes for the elderly within the state; due in part to its support through donations of equipment, food, welfare essentials and the annual organization of celebrations, during festive seasons.

As the Covid pandemic challenged the world last year, the Church provided medical supplies and more than 15,000 PPE (personal protective equipment) to the local and state government, as part of its Covid-19 relief effort.

Paul is an innovative trailblazer, who conceptualised and delivered The Experience music concert, an annual event now in its 15th year, that has become the largest musical concert in Africa. It has a television viewership of millions; with millions more across 180 countries and territories tuning in online.

Paul Adefarasin is a committed participant in the inter-faith movement that seeks to promote religious understanding and foster tolerance on the continent of Africa and beyond. He presently is the Lead Regional Co-Chair of the Africa Cabinet; Member of the Global Council and Member of The Executive 12 of Empowered21, which is the largest relational network of leaders of Spirit-Empowered Churches in the world.

A mentor to many successful, purpose-driven CEOs, Entrepreneurs, and Ministers, Paul is also steadfast in his determination to raise the next set of torch-bearers in every sphere of industry, thought and ministry. He serves in an advisory capacity to various leaders, policy-makers, and heads of Industry as he seeks to positively influence public policy. Paul works as a bridge-builder, facilitating the exchange of ideas with critical stakeholders, domestic and foreign.  An inspiring motivator, intelligent leader and tireless advocate for the less fortunate, Paul epitomises servant leadership and is well-respected from the provincial streets of his community to the corridors of power.

Paul has been the recipient of an assortment of awards including the:
• United Nations-backed Most Influential People of African Descent Award;
• Achievers Award for Leadership Excellence by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN);
• Transformation Award by the United Chaplains State of New York;
• Leadership Medal of Honour in Philanthropy Award by the African Leadership Magazine;
• Nigerian Red Cross Society Humanitarian Excellence Award;
• National Sickle Cell Centre Diamond Award;
• Award of Excellence by the Nigerian Prisons Service;
• Lagos State Government Corporate Social Responsibility Award;
• Times Heroes Award by Daily Times of Nigeria.
• Forbes Best of Africa Most Influential Personality Of The Year 2021 Award

He was conferred with honorary citizenships of the State of Georgia and the State of South Carolina in the United States of America.

Paul Adefarasin is an Architect who graduated from the University of Miami, Florida, USA. He is also a recipient of a Diploma in Christian Ministry from the International Bible Institute of London, England. He has been married to Ifeanyi for 26 years and they have three children: Hilda, Alvin and Alexander.