Construction works on The Ark, the ambitious mega-auditorium of Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners’ Chapel), continue to advance at Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, as the project moves towards becoming one of the most remarkable religious infrastructure developments in the world.
The massive facility, envisioned by the church’s founder and Presiding Bishop, Bishop David Oyedepo, is designed to accommodate 109,000 worshippers in its main auditorium. Its construction began on March 25, 2021, following years of planning and the vision to establish a much larger gathering centre capable of accommodating the ministry’s growing congregation and international activities.
What makes The Ark particularly outstanding is not just its enormous seating capacity but the level of engineering and infrastructure incorporated into its design. The main auditorium features a reported 318-metre roof span without internal supporting columns, creating an expansive stadium-like interior capable of accommodating an extraordinary number of worshippers.
The complex is also equipped with 126 escalators, 29 elevators and 20 industrial chillers serving its central air-conditioning system. These facilities are designed to support the movement and comfort of tens of thousands of people attending services and large international gatherings.
Beyond the main auditorium, the wider development incorporates dedicated spaces for children’s and youth activities, alongside two 12-storey mission towers intended to accommodate the church’s international headquarters and administrative operations.
In addition to its religious and architectural significance, Bishop David Oyedepo’s influence also extends into education, healthcare and human development through institutions established under his leadership. He founded Covenant University in Ota, Ogun State, and Landmark University in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, alongside a network of primary and secondary schools, including Faith Academy and Kingdom Heritage Model Schools. Through the David Oyedepo Foundation, scholarship opportunities have also been provided to support young people in pursuing higher education. These institutions contribute to developing skilled graduates, expanding access to education and creating employment opportunities for academic, administrative and support staff.
His ministry’s Social Development Missions also include hospitals, maternity homes and schools, reflecting an investment in healthcare and community welfare beyond religious activities. At Canaanland, the wider development includes other operational facilities such as a bakery, bottled-water processing plant, publishing operations, restaurants and commercial establishments. These activities create jobs and support various service providers, suppliers, traders and other businesses. This broader perspective is important when assessing the impact of large religious developments: their significance should not only be measured by their architectural scale or seating capacity, but also by their contribution to education, healthcare, employment, skills development and economic activities that affect ordinary people.
The project reflects Bishop Oyedepo’s ambition to establish a lasting centre for worship, ministry activities and international Christian gatherings, building on the legacy of Faith Tabernacle, the church’s existing 50,000-seat auditorium at Canaanland.
When completed and fully commissioned, The Ark is expected to rank among the world’s largest purpose-built church auditoriums by seating capacity, further placing Ota, Ogun State, on the international map of large-scale religious architecture.
From the aerial views of the construction site, the scale of what is taking shape is remarkable.
