‘Why I Stopped Paying Tithes to Churches’ – Toke Makinwa (Video)

• Media personality Toke Makinwa says she no longer pays tithes to churches, choosing instead to support individuals, hospitals, and maternity wards directly.

Popular Nigerian media personality Toke Makinwa has opened up about why she stopped paying tithes to churches, revealing a major shift in her personal beliefs about giving and religion.

In a candid video conversation that recently surfaced online, Toke reflected on her evolving perspective on tithing and the role religious institutions play in people’s lives. She spoke about what she described as the unintended harm that religion can sometimes cause, referencing the idea of “post-traumatic church syndrome” — a term used to describe emotional and psychological damage some people experience from religious environments.

According to her, she began to question the structure of traditional giving when she noticed that many churches continue to grow financially while some congregants struggle with basic needs.

“I started thinking, if I have money and someone tells me they need it to pay rent, why should I pass it into a building that’s already rich?” she said.

Toke explained that this reflection led her to redirect her giving. Rather than paying tithes to a church, she now supports hospitals, maternity wards, and individuals who reach out with urgent personal needs.

“I would rather give my tithe to strangers who tell me their actual needs. The church is built. The pastors have money. Let’s help people the church cannot reach,” she added.

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She also shared details about her past, revealing that she once donated entire brand endorsement deals to her church in the hope of receiving financial blessings.

“Seven years ago, I didn’t touch one naira from an endorsement deal; I carried it all into the church. Now, I give where it directly helps someone in need,” she explained.

Encouraging people to follow their personal convictions, Toke stressed that giving should be meaningful and impactful rather than driven solely by tradition. She emphasised that helping those in immediate need, in her view, should take priority over routine religious obligations.

Watch video below:

“I stopped paying tithes to the church because all the churches I know are rich” — Media personality Toke Makinwa

pic.twitter.com/pRzPUlUUMz— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) February 16, 2026