Archbishop Margaret Idahosa, widow of the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa and leader of Church of God Mission International (CGMi), has shared a candid story from her childhood, revealing that she was once known for being quick to fight.
Speaking during an interview held in honour of her 82nd birthday, the respected church leader recalled her early years before her conversion to Christianity, describing how she frequently got into physical altercations both at school and on the streets.
“I used to fight on the street. I don’t care whether you offended me or not. If you just look at me one kain, I’ll fight with you,” she said.
She recalled being a regular at the punishment corner during her school days, often disciplined by her principal, known then as “Peacock,” at St. Peter’s School.
“He flogged and flogged me but realized flogging wasn’t doing anything, so he’d give me a portion of the field to clear,” she said.
“He’d warn me not to fight again and I’d say I won’t. But if anyone looked for my trouble, I’d just wait until after school. I’d wait for you at the gate, pull my dress, throw it out and say, ‘Come then, we’ll fight.’”
Idahosa, however, said her life took a transformative turn after she gave her life to Christ.
“When I gave my life to Christ, He changed my life. That energy was no longer in me to fight but to do the will of God,” she said.
Archbishop Margaret Idahosa, now a revered Christian leader, has led CGMi since the death of her husband in 1998.
She is the first female Pentecostal Archbishop in Africa and one of the most influential women in the Nigerian Christian community.
She founded the Christian Women Fellowship International and has spent decades mentoring women in ministry.
She also oversees Benson Idahosa University, a private Christian university based in Benin City, Edo State, founded in honour of her late husband.
Idahosa celebrated her 82nd birthday, with tributes pouring in from religious and public figures across the country, including Faith Oyedepo, wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, who described her as a blessing and inspiration to generations.
