If you were anywhere near the Nigerian Christian community or Christ Embassy (LoveWorld) in the early 2010s, you know exactly who Anita Oyakhilome is.
She wasn’t just a pastor’s wife; she was a co-founder. She was the face on the Rhapsody of Realities devotionals. She was the soft-spoken, light-skinned, elegant counterpart to Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s fiery charisma.
And then, in 2014, the bomb dropped. She filed for divorce.
Since then, Anita has practically vanished from the noisy world of televangelism. But the questions haven’t stopped. Where is she? Did she remarry? Is she still a pastor?
Let’s sit down and unpack the story of the woman who walked away from an empire to find her own peace.
Who Is Anita Oyakhilome (Anita Ebhodaghe)?
First, a quick refresh. Anita is of mixed heritage (Nigerian father and Swiss mother), which explains her distinctive look. She met Chris Oyakhilome back in their university days at Ambrose Alli University (Ekpoma), and together they built Christ Embassy from the ground up.
For decades, she was the head of the ministry’s massive UK branch. She was powerful, beloved, and seen as the “Mother” of the church.
But here is the twist: After the divorce was finalized around 2016, she stopped being “Pastor Anita Oyakhilome.” She officially reverted to her maiden name, Anita Ebhodaghe. This wasn’t just a legal change; it was a statement. She was reclaiming her identity.
Why Did She Leave? (The Divorce Story)
If you Google “Why did Anita divorce Pastor Chris,” you get a million results. Let’s cut through the noise.
In 2014, Anita filed for divorce in London, citing “adultery” and “unreasonable behavior” on the part of her husband. This was a massive scandal. At the time, the church denied it, then minimized it, but the court documents were clear. Anita felt that the marriage was irretrievably broken.
In my opinion, this was the bravest thing she ever did. Think about it: She was part of a multi-million dollar global religious empire. She had fame, money, and status. Leaving meant walking away from the “protection” of the church and facing the wrath of die-hard fans who saw her actions as a betrayal. But she chose her dignity over her title.
Is Anita Oyakhilome Remarried?
This is the question everyone whispers about. Around late 2016, rumors swirled that Anita had remarried in the UK. Some reports claimed she added a new surname, “Schafer,” to her name, though this has never been officially confirmed with a wedding photo or a public statement from her.
Unlike her ex-husband, who remains single and publicly married to his ministry, Anita has kept her romantic life completely in the dark. In my opinion, if she is remarried, she is smart to hide it. She knows the internet would tear apart any new man in her life. By keeping it private, she protects her new happiness (if it exists) from the scrutiny of her old life.
Where Is She Now and What Does She Do?
So, what does a former mega-pastor do for a living? Currently, Anita resides in London, United Kingdom. She is no longer preaching on satellite TV. Instead, she seems to be living a quiet, upper-middle-class life as a writer and counselor.
She briefly ran a blog called Pastor Anita Ebhodaghe, where she shared articles on relationships, faith, and self-worth. The tone was very different from the church’s rhetoric—it was more personal, grounded, and focused on emotional health.
Her Financial Status: Don’t worry about her finances. As a co-founder of the ministry and through the divorce settlement (which was handled in UK courts, known for being fair to spouses), Anita is undoubtedly wealthy. She lives comfortably, likely involved in real estate or private investments, free from the need to “perform” for donations.
The Relationship with Her Daughters (Sharon and Charlyn)
This is the bittersweet part. Anita has two daughters with Chris: Sharon (CSO) and Charlyn.
When Sharon got married in 2018 in that massive, globally broadcast wedding in Nigeria, Anita was noticeably absent from the main photos. The internet went crazy. How could the mother of the bride not be there? While some say she attended the private UK engagement or civil ceremony, her absence at the Lagos “Royal Wedding” highlighted the deep rift that still exists between her and the ministry in Nigeria.
However, she is reportedly very close to her younger daughter, Charlyn, who lives in London and looks exactly like her.
View this post on Instagram
My Take: Why Anita Won the Breakup
Here is my personal verdict on the whole saga.
In my opinion, Anita Ebhodaghe is the ultimate class act. When the divorce happened, she didn’t go on a media tour. She didn’t write a “tell-all” book to bash Pastor Chris. She didn’t try to start a rival church to steal members.
She simply filed the papers, stated her truth in court, and then went silent. That silence is powerful. In a world where everyone wants attention, she chose peace. She showed women in religious circles that you don’t have to stay in a situation that hurts you, no matter how “holy” it looks from the outside.
She didn’t lose her position; she gained her freedom.
