Why do we go to university? I have listened to a few clever people and here is what some of them have said.
Many blame the Nigerian factor. An invisible force that makes nothing work and corruption thrive. My question is this. How has the telecommunication industry managed to put a phone in the hands of so many Nigerians? I was once stopped by a beggar in Lagos who I showed my money and apologized for lack of change. He brought out a mobile phone and asked someone to bring down some change. This is proof of the now ubiquitous presence of mobile phones. Now compare this to the days of Nitel. Next question is how come Governor Fashola of Lagos appears to be ‘working?’ How come the dreaded Nigerian Factor did not hamper the above examples? What about the music and film industry? There must be something that works for Nigeria and all these examples need to be studied.
So why not study the Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church worldwide aka Winners Chapel; Bishop David Oyedepo? He sits at the helm of a large organisation that appears to be growing without the usual African tonic of foreign aid and expatriate workers. I watch their services on line early on Sunday mornings and they start as advertised. That bursts the myth of African time. The ministry is a growing entity and has established schools and universities. What is the secret? Their ministry is a Christian one and it will be too simplistic to just say that it is the blessing of God making the ministry grow. From comments on social media, he has many detractors and I am not writing this to woo them over, neither am I on a mission to recruit new members for his church. I am just saying that success in a place with a reputation for failure needs to be examined.
From my observations-
David Oyedepo works hard for long hours
Is a problem solver
Is a patriotic Nigerian who has a vision. He claims that the universities he founded would compete with the best universities in the world. I found this particularly inspiring having grown up in Nigeria during military rule. That was a time when the leadership of the country had no respect, regard or ambition for Nigerian education.
He watches no day time television as he claims to be too busy to spend precious time watching busy people.
He writes books and through the ministry’s printing facility has been able to make books affordable to members of his congregation.
The ministry is well organised.
He tells his congregation that he expects them to be world class players in whatever sector of the economy they work.
The question is why should all these be happening in Nigeria and where was the Nigerian factor when all the above were happening?
I visited Winners Chapel aka Canaan land in Ota for the Sunday morning service on 26-9-2010 with my friend Mr Enate Ogedegbe and was quite surprised at what I saw. After the service we drove around Covenant University and went to get something to eat. I saw the students and they were quite respectful. The university had an ambiance that was conducive for learning. Why? When we see things that are organised in a place famed for disorder we need to ask why. The answer can then be applied to every other sphere of Nigerian life.
Another thing that I have noticed is that the Bishop’s wife does not appear to throw her weight around even though she is one of the most powerful women in the country by virtue of her position and the strength of the churches' population. Why?
Education is all about developing curiosity. The Nigerian students should all ask why? Why a thriving Nollywood, why kidnappers and armed robbers, why 419ers, and why Winner’s Chapel? The answer can then be used as a template for what to avoid (as in the case of 419ers) and to emulate and reproduce as is the case for Bishop David Oyedepo and his ministry.
Dr Wilson Orhiunu
Babawilly
26-6-2014
- To learn things that will improve us as individuals
- To learn things that will give us the skills to learn more things at a later date i.e. make one educable.
- Acquire specific skills to aid the fulfillment of professional roles in society such as teaching, engineering or Banking.
- Provide the country with a work force that enables it to compete with the rest of the world.
Many blame the Nigerian factor. An invisible force that makes nothing work and corruption thrive. My question is this. How has the telecommunication industry managed to put a phone in the hands of so many Nigerians? I was once stopped by a beggar in Lagos who I showed my money and apologized for lack of change. He brought out a mobile phone and asked someone to bring down some change. This is proof of the now ubiquitous presence of mobile phones. Now compare this to the days of Nitel. Next question is how come Governor Fashola of Lagos appears to be ‘working?’ How come the dreaded Nigerian Factor did not hamper the above examples? What about the music and film industry? There must be something that works for Nigeria and all these examples need to be studied.
So why not study the Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church worldwide aka Winners Chapel; Bishop David Oyedepo? He sits at the helm of a large organisation that appears to be growing without the usual African tonic of foreign aid and expatriate workers. I watch their services on line early on Sunday mornings and they start as advertised. That bursts the myth of African time. The ministry is a growing entity and has established schools and universities. What is the secret? Their ministry is a Christian one and it will be too simplistic to just say that it is the blessing of God making the ministry grow. From comments on social media, he has many detractors and I am not writing this to woo them over, neither am I on a mission to recruit new members for his church. I am just saying that success in a place with a reputation for failure needs to be examined.
From my observations-
David Oyedepo works hard for long hours
Is a problem solver
Is a patriotic Nigerian who has a vision. He claims that the universities he founded would compete with the best universities in the world. I found this particularly inspiring having grown up in Nigeria during military rule. That was a time when the leadership of the country had no respect, regard or ambition for Nigerian education.
He watches no day time television as he claims to be too busy to spend precious time watching busy people.
He writes books and through the ministry’s printing facility has been able to make books affordable to members of his congregation.
The ministry is well organised.
He tells his congregation that he expects them to be world class players in whatever sector of the economy they work.
The question is why should all these be happening in Nigeria and where was the Nigerian factor when all the above were happening?
I visited Winners Chapel aka Canaan land in Ota for the Sunday morning service on 26-9-2010 with my friend Mr Enate Ogedegbe and was quite surprised at what I saw. After the service we drove around Covenant University and went to get something to eat. I saw the students and they were quite respectful. The university had an ambiance that was conducive for learning. Why? When we see things that are organised in a place famed for disorder we need to ask why. The answer can then be applied to every other sphere of Nigerian life.
Another thing that I have noticed is that the Bishop’s wife does not appear to throw her weight around even though she is one of the most powerful women in the country by virtue of her position and the strength of the churches' population. Why?
Education is all about developing curiosity. The Nigerian students should all ask why? Why a thriving Nollywood, why kidnappers and armed robbers, why 419ers, and why Winner’s Chapel? The answer can then be used as a template for what to avoid (as in the case of 419ers) and to emulate and reproduce as is the case for Bishop David Oyedepo and his ministry.
Dr Wilson Orhiunu
Babawilly
26-6-2014
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