Dr. Panam Percy Paul, the famous Nigerian gospel singer and songwriter has recounted how he rejected a lucrative record deal offer he received in 1995.

The singer in a chat with Pastor Emmanuel Iren claimed that he was offered a three-year contract worth £24 million, equivalent to approximately N7 billion at the time.

However, the deal came with a condition that would have compromised the singer’s faith.

Paul alleged that the record label asked him to reduce the number of times he mentioned the name “Jesus” in his songs.

The label reportedly suggested alternative names, such as “Righteous One” or “Greatest Lover.”

Paul stated that he was shocked by the proposal and promptly declined the offer, choosing to prioritise his faith over financial gain.

Paul said: “1995, I was at the peak of ministry, and success in the industry, I was offered 24 million pounds for a three year contract. 1995, 24 million pounds was equivalent to N7 billion.

“The catch was ‘can you reduce the number of times you call the name Jesus in your songs?’. And there is more where this came from. and one of them said to me, ‘you actually don’t need to mention the name Jesus. You can call him other names like Righteous one, Greatest Lover.’ I was shocked, so I told them, you can keep the money, while I keep the name”.

He noted that the industry has become increasingly commercialised with marketers and record labels dictating to artists what to do, how to sing, and when to sing.

He added: “Today, the extreme is that music ministry has now become music industry. Where the industry now dictates to the ministers what to do, how to sing and when to sing. For example, it was the marketers in Alaba that encouraged the musicians to add tongues to their songs”.