Former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo has revealed that he dedicates 10% of his earnings to God, regardless of the amount. Speaking on the Rash4Christ Podcast, Ighalo shared that he has been tithing since his early football days at Julius Berger in 2005 when he earned ₦15,000 at the age of 16.
“My first salary at Julius Berger in 2005 was ₦15,000. I was 16 then. My pastor taught me about tithing, and since then, I’ve never missed paying my tithe,” he said.
However, Ighalo admitted he struggled with tithing when he moved to China, where his salary grew significantly. “The devil tried to play with my mind when I saw the amount I had to tithe. When month-end came, I hesitated before sending the money,” he confessed.
Through prayer, he overcame his doubts and said that God reminded him to remain faithful to the principles that had always worked for him. “But I prayed one day, and God told me, ‘Don’t change the winning formula. If you can be faithful with little, you will be faithful with any amount.’”
He concluded, “Now, no matter how much I earn, 10% belongs to God.”
Addressing critics of tithing, Ighalo emphasized that he practices it based on his faith, not public opinion. “I know some people say you’re just giving money to the pastor, but that’s not my problem. I do it according to the word of God,” he said.
