Gospel singer and pastor, Nathaniel Bassey, is taking his globally acclaimed Halleluyah Challenge behind bars as he celebrates his 44th birthday on Friday, August 29, with inmates of the Kirikiri Medium Security Prison in Lagos.
In a heartfelt announcement on Instagram, the Onise Iyanu crooner said the event will feature a special one-day prison edition of the worship movement that has united millions of Christians since it began in 2017. “Tomorrow for my birthday, I praise and celebrate with my brethren in prison,” Bassey wrote, drawing thousands of reactions from fans and fellow ministers.
The Halleluyah Challenge, a nightly hour of prayer and worship streamed online, has grown into one of Africa’s biggest Christian revival gatherings. At its peak, it attracted over 70,000 live participants on Instagram and Facebook, with testimonies of healing, deliverance, and breakthrough pouring in from Nigeria, Europe, and the Americas.
This year’s prison edition will see Bassey lead inmates in worship, echoing his long-standing vision of spreading the gospel beyond church walls and into underserved or forgotten communities. Faith leaders say the outreach highlights the power of music and worship to inspire hope, even in the darkest of places.
Bassey, who has consistently used his ministry to bridge divides, is also known for chart-topping songs like Imela, Olowogbogboro, and See What the Lord Has Done. His choice to celebrate in prison rather than a lavish concert, observers note, reinforces his commitment to service-driven ministry over celebrity status.
Officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed preparations for the worship session, describing it as a morale-lifting event for inmates who rarely get such high-profile spiritual engagements. Some prisoners are already said to be preparing testimonies of transformation they attribute to following Bassey’s online worship sessions.
As the countdown to his prison visit continues, social media has been flooded with messages hailing the initiative as both bold and prophetic. For Bassey, the celebration is not just about turning 44 but about reminding Nigerians that freedom in Christ can exist even behind prison walls.
