Nigerian gospel singer and pastor, Nathaniel Bassey, has surpassed one billion views on YouTube, becoming the first African gospel artiste to achieve the milestone.

Figures displayed on the platform show that Bassey’s official YouTube channel, Nathaniel Bassey Main, has garnered more than 1.014 billion views and 5.24 million subscribers since it was created in 2011.

The achievement coincides with the October 2026 edition of the Hallelujah Challenge, an online prayer and worship programme founded by the gospel minister in 2017.

The monthly initiative features midnight sessions of praise, worship and prayers, attracting participants from different parts of the world.

Initially launched as an online worship gathering, the Hallelujah Challenge has evolved into an international Christian movement, with thousands of participants joining its live sessions and millions more watching recorded editions.

Bassey is widely known for popular gospel songs, including Imela, Onise Iyanu, Olowogbogboro and You Are God, which have earned him a massive following in Nigeria and beyond.

The latest milestone has generated excitement among his followers, with some urging the minister to explore opportunities to monetise the growing audience of his online worship sessions.