Nathaniel Bassey Explains Why His YouTube Channel for Hallelujah Challenge Remains Unmonetised

Renowned gospel singer and minister, Nathaniel Bassey, has revealed the reason behind his decision not to monetise his official YouTube channel, despite the massive global following of his annual Hallelujah Challenge.

The 2025 edition of the prayer and worship programme, which ran from October 7 to 31, drew millions of participants across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. As of this report, Bassey’s channel boasts over 4.7 million subscribers and averages 1.5 million views per live session. Analysts estimate that the singer could have earned as much as ₦1 billion if the channel were monetised.

However, Bassey insists that his mission is purely spiritual, not commercial. During the 23rd-day session, he addressed the criticism, saying:

> “People are dragging me because I didn’t monetise my YouTube channel for the Hallelujah Challenge. I won’t monetise it; God didn’t tell me to.”



He also cautioned viewers about fraudulent accounts streaming fake versions of the event, warning that the only authentic page remains NathanielBasseymain.

> “Some crooks have cloned our channel to make money from fake live streams. If you’re not on NathanielBasseymain, that’s a scam. They’re trying to merchandise the grace of God,” he warned.



Bassey further explained that he would not yield to public pressure or financial temptation:

> “When you monetise, they say you’re doing ministry for money. When you don’t, they still talk. I am not led to monetise. God will bless us another way.”



Since its inception in 2017, the Hallelujah Challenge has grown into one of Nigeria’s largest online Christian gatherings, uniting millions in worship and prayer. Bassey has consistently maintained that the programme’s vision is to promote worship, not wealth, and to inspire believers to draw closer to God.