Osene Odia Ighodaro was born in Benin City, Nigeria into a
family of ministers and musicians. At an early age, she sensed a call to
ministry that extended beyond familial tradition. This call would take
her on a journey that began in children’s choir and advancing into adult
choirs. As her vocal talent developed, Her whole life took a major turn when in her first year of
college she encountered and was mentored by her campus pastor, Pastor Chris
Oyakhilomen, and under this anointing she led an outreach music ministry team
ministering within and outside college campuses in Nigeria. She emerged as a musical powerhouse and began receiving invitations
to sing at crusades and open air meetings in villages, towns and cities around
the nation.
In the Spring of 1983, Osene’s music ministry encountered another shift when she met and began working with Archbishop Benson Andrew
Idahosa, founder of Church of God Mission International, (CGMI). As the
music minister of CGMI, Osene also led the musical traveling team, Idahosa World
Outreach singers. Under her leadership, this group of talented and
anointed singers ministered all over Nigeria, Africa, Europe and the United
Kingdom with the Archbishop. Locally, she was lead vocalist and music director
of CGM Faith Arena in Benin City. She was to later serve as ministry facilitator and
Psalmist at the House On The Rock Church in Lagos and Psalmist at Victory Christian fellowship Church in Newcastle, Delaware.
Ordained as a Pastor by Bishop M.E Idahosa, Osene has ministered
alongside notable men and women of God all over the world, such as Archbishop
Duncan Williams and Helen Baylor, to name a few, and she has sung before
presidents, statesmen, councilmen and everyday people on the streets. Her
vocal timbre and unmistakable anointing releases a powerful message through
song and leads people into the presence of God and into the truth of His
kingdom.
Osene also holds an undergraduate degree in zoology, is the
author of the book Praise...It’s What I Do, and has released
several music CDs. She is the founder of NuSong Ministries, a gospel
music consultancy/outreach ministry and hosts a monthly worship gathering,
(Times Of Refreshing) in New Castle, Delaware.
Married to Pastor Peace Ighodaro, Osene resides in New Castle,
Delaware with her three beautiful daughters, Praise, Shalom and Danielle.
When she is not ministering, Osene enjoys spending time with family, traveling
and meditating on the Word.