When Bishop David Oyedepo introduced the lead designer of the Ark Legacy Project during the groundbreaking ceremony, his words drew attention to a man many Nigerians had never heard of.
“He is the one that God used to design this project… Don’t see it as just an assignment; see it as a calling and be faithful.”
The man Bishop Oyedepo referred to is Dr. Gbenga Martins Alalade—an architect, academic, and project director whose career has been closely linked with Covenant University and Living Faith Church Worldwide.
Who is Dr. Gbenga Alalade?
Dr. Gbenga Alalade is a Nigerian architect and lecturer at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State. He currently serves as the Director of Physical Planning and Development at the university and is also the Project Director and Lead Architect of the Ark Legacy Project.
He is widely recognised within the Living Faith Church community for overseeing some of its major infrastructure projects.
A Product of Covenant University
Alalade belongs to the pioneer generation of Covenant University graduates.
He earned:
B.Sc. in Architecture (2006)
M.Sc. in Architecture (2008)
Ph.D. in Architecture (2017)
all from Covenant University. He also completed executive education at the University of Cambridge.
Leading the Ark Legacy Project
His biggest assignment to date is serving as Project Director and Lead Architect for the Ark Legacy Project—Living Faith Church Worldwide’s new mega worship centre under construction in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.
According to project information released by Covenant University and international acoustic consultants working on the project, Alalade leads the multidisciplinary design and construction team, while the Department of Architecture at Covenant University produced the architectural drawings.
The project is designed as a stadium-style worship centre and is expected to become one of the world’s largest covered church auditoriums upon completion. While different project documents mention varying capacities, official Covenant University publications describe it as a 100,000-seat sanctuary.
An Academic and Researcher
Beyond professional practice, Dr. Alalade is an academic in Covenant University’s Department of Architecture.
His research focuses on:
Architectural education
Design innovation
Sustainable construction
Computer-aided architectural design
Affordable housing
He has published scholarly works in architecture and construction and continues to mentor young architects.
Why Bishop Oyedepo’s Remarks Matter
During the Ark Legacy groundbreaking, Bishop David Oyedepo publicly acknowledged Alalade’s contribution and challenged him to remain faithful to the assignment.
The recognition placed the architect in the national spotlight and highlighted the role of Nigerian professionals in delivering complex, world-class infrastructure projects.
An Inspiration to Young Professionals
Dr. Alalade’s journey—from being a pioneer student of Covenant University to becoming the lead architect of one of Nigeria’s most ambitious religious infrastructure projects—illustrates how education, technical expertise, and years of professional development can lead to national prominence.
For architecture students and young professionals, his story underscores the importance of continuous learning, excellence, and commitment to one’s craft.
Why This Story Matters
While mega projects often focus attention on their financiers or founders, the professionals behind the designs rarely receive similar recognition. Dr. Gbenga Alalade represents a growing generation of Nigerian architects demonstrating that local expertise can deliver projects of global scale.
As construction of the Ark Legacy Project progresses, his work is likely to remain central to one of the most closely watched architectural developments on the African continent.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.