Abuja, December 15, 2025 – Nollywood actress and politician Tonto Dikeh has opened up about her personal battles with addictions and emotional struggles, testifying to what she described as divine deliverance during a Sunday service at Streams of Joy International Church on December 14, 2025. The 40-year-old star shared her story during the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations (NSPPD) programme, led by the church's founder, Pastor Jerry Eze, in a moment that has sparked widespread reactions online.
In a video circulating from the service, Dikeh revealed that she began smoking at the age of 13, a habit that persisted for 27 years. She attributed the start to exposure at home, noting that her father was a smoker and cautioning parents about the influence of their habits on children. "I started smoking because my dad was a smoker. Something as little as that habit can inhabit the lives of your children," she said.
Dikeh further disclosed struggles with alcohol addiction, masturbation—describing experiences of sexual intercourse in dreams since childhood—and deep-seated anger that she called "demonic," which severely impacted her relationships and life. "An anger that destroyed my life. Everybody had to feel it," she confessed. At 40, she declared, "I have never known peace until now. I am living in it."
The actress credited her turning point to spiritual renewal, particularly after attending the Ghana Prayer Conference, where she experienced a breakthrough from what she termed years of "spiritual oppression" or "demonic oppression." She noticed the cravings for cigarettes and alcohol vanished: "My body does not ask for it. Today, it is broken."
Dikeh admitted hesitation in sharing publicly due to her celebrity status but chose transparency: "The devil tried to tell me that I was supposed to protect my image. But I told myself, what image? The God that gave me the image is the same God that can take it away." Her testimony was both an act of thanksgiving and inspiration for others facing similar challenges.
Following her account, Pastor Jerry Eze prayed over her, declaring freedom from the "body of sin" and affirming her as "a voice in her generation."
After the service, Dikeh posted photos from the church on Instagram, captioning them: "A living testimony of mercy. One God spared, restored, and commissioned." This aligns with her recent public expressions of renewed faith, including modest appearances and active participation in NSPPD prayers.
Reactions to the testimony have been mixed, with many praising her courage and viewing it as inspiring evidence of transformation, while others questioned the public nature of such personal confessions.
Dikeh's journey reflects a broader shift in her life, marked by philanthropy, political involvement, and spiritual growth amid past controversies in her career and personal relationships.
