NATHANIEL BASSEY REPORTEDLY LOSES ₦1.4 BILLION FOR REFUSING TO MONETISE HALLELUJAH CHALLENGE ON YOUTUBE

A viral social media claim suggests the gospel artist has sacrificed enormous potential earnings from his global online worship sessions, choosing to keep them ad-free as a ministry commitment.

Nkonkonsa.com2 weeks ago

1 minute read

Popular gospel singer and pastor Nathaniel Bassey has reportedly forgone an estimated ₦1.4 billion in potential YouTube revenue by refusing to monetize his globally viral Hallelujah Challenge, according to a viral social media claim.

The assertion, made by user @iswellthecapitalist, has sparked widespread discussion about the financial value of the online worship phenomenon and Bassey’s conscious choice to prioritize ministry over monetization.

The user calculated that each Hallelujah Challenge video could generate approximately ₦5 million in ad revenue, with the annual total reaching ₦1.4 billion given that the challenge runs for 21-24 days twice yearly and regularly attracts over two million viewers per session.

“Did you know Pastor Nathaniel Bassey intentionally refuses to monetise it? I did the MATH, and the numbers are SHOCKING!” the user wrote, clarifying that his intention was to highlight the artist’s sacrifice rather than criticize his decision.

The Hallelujah Challenge, a midnight praise and worship session created and led by Bassey, has grown into a global Christian movement with participants from Nigeria, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and beyond. The October 2025 edition continues to draw millions of viewers nightly, making it one of the largest online worship gatherings worldwide.

Bassey has consistently maintained that the initiative is solely for ministry purposes, previously emphasizing that his goal is to unite people in worship rather than generate income. While his channel easily meets YouTube’s monetization thresholds of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours, he has chosen to keep the content ad-free.

The revelation has drawn mixed reactions online, with many applauding his dedication to faith over finances, while others suggest monetization could help fund broader ministry outreach. Bassey has not publicly addressed the viral claim, remaining focused on leading the ongoing October edition of the challenge.