In the competitive world of Nigerian celebrity social media, ‘Prophet’ T.B. Joshua has scored an impressive first.
The controversial cleric has beaten musical twins P-Square and the most popular of Nollywood’s numerous channels to be the first Nigerian personality to surpass 400,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Announcing Emmanuel TV’s milestone via Facebook, Joshua was quoted as saying, “Better is not good enough; the best is yet to come.”
According to statistics website ‘Social Blade’, Nollywood Film channel iBAKATV follows closely behind with over 397,000 subscribers. PSquare’s official VEVO Channel comes next with 390,000 subscribers.
Other Nigerian celebrities who have gained popularity on YouTube include Davido, Flavour and the comedian AY.
Channels Television is the largest Nigerian news channel, boasting over 237,000 subscribers.
Emmanuel TV’s videos, which focus mainly on miracles and other supernatural phenomena said to occur at Joshua’s church, are especially popular abroad.
The channel’s most watched video has been viewed almost 8,000,000 times.
The channel, which claims to be Africa’s most popular Christian television station, additionally launched on DStv and GOtv in November 2015.