Saying ‘happy birthday’ is wrong, Nigerian evangelist warns

Controversial Nigerian preacher, Evangelist Helen Ukpabio, has condemned the popular birthday greeting “happy birthday,” calling it the “language of the devil.”

Ukpabio, who is the founder of Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries based in Calabar, Cross River State, made the statement during a recent church service, a clip of which has since gone viral on social media.

In her sermon, the evangelist told her congregation that she rejects the idea of celebrating birthdays annually and instead opts to simply thank God on her birth anniversary.

“I am not somebody that does birthday every year like zombie,” she said. “I don’t sell out my soul to the devil like that. Don’t use the language of the devil. You won’t see birthday there. You will only see ‘thanking God at 60.’”

Ukpabio went on to criticize Christians who sing “happy birthday” even in church, describing the phrase as spiritually harmful and rooted in what she termed “modern-day idolatry.”

“You see people saying happy birthday! Happy birthday!! Who is giving you happy and birthday? Those are pleasantries that people exchange in this modern-day idolatry,” she said.

The sermon has since drawn mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians questioning her interpretation, while others praised her for taking a bold spiritual stance.

Ukpabio is known for her hardline evangelical views and has previously made headlines for controversial teachings, including claims about spiritual attacks and witchcraft.