30/07/2026
In 2019, the Akwa Ibom State Government announced plans to build the International Worship Center, a 5,500-seat, non-denominational Christian facility funded by the state, where over 90% of the population identifies as Christian.
By 2021, Julius Berger had broken ground.
By May 2023, the centre was officially inaugurated.
But the journey wasn't without controversy.
Some questioned the ₦32 billion price tag, others challenged the project's legality in court.
The Atheist Society of Nigeria sued, arguing that public funds should not be used to build a place of worship. The courts ultimately dismissed the legal challenges, allowing the project to proceed.
Today, the centre stands as one of Nigeria's most recognisable modern public buildings, featuring a 49-metre tower crowned with a glowing cross and a column-free worship hall supported by a steel space-frame roof. It has since hosted prayer summits, state thanksgiving services, and other large Christian gatherings.