Nigerian media personality Toke Makinwa has revealed that she no longer pays monthly tithes to the church, choosing instead to channel the money toward charitable causes and individuals in need.
Speaking in a video shared on her YouTube channel on Saturday, Makinwa explained that she “kind of stopped paying tithe to the church” after reflecting on the financial status of many churches she knows.
“I kind of stopped paying tithe to the church because all the churches I know are rich. And I decided that no, no, no, no, I ain’t doing this anymore. I would rather go to hospitals, widows’ homes,” she said during her podcast.
According to her, she now prefers to use what she would have paid as tithe to support people facing real-life struggles, including settling hospital bills and helping individuals who approach her with urgent financial needs.
“I would rather go to hospitals, take a maternity ward, and pay all the bills there. I would rather when strangers come to meet me, I would tithe my tithe to them because they are telling me their actual needs,” she explained.
Makinwa questioned the logic of donating to churches while people around her are battling financial hardship.
“How can I say I love God? I have the money this person is looking for to pay rent, and I’m carrying it to a church?” she asked.
She, however, acknowledged that views on tithing differ and encouraged people to follow their personal convictions.
“Do whatever it is in your conviction to do,” she stated, noting that interpretations of biblical teachings on tithing are not the same for everyone.
Reflecting on her earlier years, the media personality revealed that she once gave an entire brand endorsement fee to her church as a tithe.
“Ten years ago, I was the girl who got a brand endorsement deal, didn’t touch one naira double digits, and carried everything to church. I said I will tithe this to God so that my life will never be tight,” she recalled.
Her remarks have since sparked conversations online about faith, charity and the evolving approach to religious giving among public figures.
