SCOAN — Synagogue Church of All Nations
The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) is a large Pentecostal megachurch located in the Ikotun district of Lagos, Nigeria, founded in 1987 by the late televangelist and prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly known as T.B. Joshua. Attracting hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and visitors from across Africa and the wider world, the complex became one of the most visited religious destinations on the African continent, renowned for its faith healing ministry and mass prayer gatherings. The church gained further international prominence following the tragic collapse of a guesthouse building on the campus in September 2014.
At a glance
- Type
- Pentecostal megachurch and pilgrimage destination
- Period
- Founded 1987 by T.B. Joshua; main sanctuary constructed in the 1990s–2000s
- Style
- Contemporary religious architecture; large-scale utilitarian assembly complex
- Location
- Ikotun, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
- Coordinates
- 6.5465° N, 3.2727° E
Overview
SCOAN is one of the largest and most internationally recognised Christian congregations in Nigeria, drawing visitors not only from across Africa but from Europe, the Americas, and Asia. The church’s ministry combined conventional Pentecostal worship with highly publicised claims of miraculous healing, prophecy, and deliverance, broadcast globally through its Emmanuel TV satellite channel. At its peak under T.B. Joshua’s leadership, the compound could accommodate tens of thousands of worshippers and pilgrims at a single gathering, making it a significant node in the global Pentecostal movement.
History
Temitope Balogun Joshua founded the church in 1987 in Ikotun, Lagos, beginning with small gatherings that grew rapidly through his reputation as a faith healer and prophet. Through the 1990s and 2000s the church expanded its physical campus dramatically and launched Emmanuel TV, which extended its reach to millions of viewers across Africa and beyond. In September 2014 a six-storey guesthouse on the church grounds collapsed, killing at least 116 people — a tragedy that drew international scrutiny and questions about building safety standards. T.B. Joshua died in June 2021; since then the church has continued operations under new leadership while navigating questions about its future direction.
What you see
The SCOAN campus in Ikotun encompasses a large main sanctuary building capable of holding tens of thousands of worshippers, alongside multiple auxiliary structures including prayer areas, accommodation for visiting pilgrims, and broadcasting facilities for Emmanuel TV. The complex reflects the pragmatic large-scale construction typical of African megachurch campuses, prioritising capacity and functionality over architectural elaboration. The surrounding neighbourhood of Ikotun has developed significantly around the church, with the flow of pilgrims and visitors sustaining a local economy of accommodation, transport, and services.
Cultural significance
SCOAN represents the remarkable growth of Pentecostal Christianity in sub-Saharan Africa and its emergence as a globally significant religious force in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. As a major pilgrimage site drawing international visitors to Lagos, the church has contributed to religious tourism in Nigeria and to the broader visibility of African Christianity in global media, embodying the continent’s centrality to contemporary world Christianity.
Practical information
- Address
- 1 Stephen Olusegun Joshua Street (formerly Kasali Akiode Street), Ikotun, Lagos, Nigeria
- Hours
- Check official website for current service times and visitor arrangements
- Admission
- Free to attend services; check official website for visitor guidance
- Website
- SCOAN Official — scoan.org
Getting there
The church is located in the Ikotun area of Lagos, approximately 20 km east of Lagos Island. By road, take the Ikorodu Road or Lagos-Badagry Expressway network toward Ikotun; BRT and minibus services operate from major Lagos hubs. Murtala Muhammed International Airport is approximately 25 km northwest of the site; taxis and ride-sharing services are available. Traffic in Lagos is heavy; allow ample travel time.