A renowned cleric and Planter of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Grace of Mercy prayer mountain, Adamimogo prayer city, Lagos, Prophet Sam Olu-Alo, has empowered hundreds of youths and unemployed graduates with skills acquisition and start-up capital.
The cleric also catered for the spiritual needs of the young Nigerians in a power packed 30-day fasting and prayer programme at his church premises on Lekki Epe expressway, Lagos.
Speaking with journalists at the event, the Cleric said this year’s edition of the fasting and prayer programme tagged: “Sure Mercy of David” is the eight edition as the Prophet recalled that not less than 5,000 Nigerians benefit yearly from his humanitarian and spiritual benevolence.
According to him, the beneficiaries are being trained to acquired various vocational skills including tailoring, welding, cell phone repairing, among others.
He said: “The beneficiaries would, as usual, be given Start-Up capital as well as kits to start their various vocations and then become empowered to cater for themselves, families and be useful for the country. Artisans who do no have means of starting their vocations are also benefitting from the humanitarian gestures.”
The cleric urged youths to acquire vocational skills with tertiary institutions’ certificates for them to be job creators instead of job seekers.
He said acquiring University certificates is not enough to secure jobs for graduates in Nigeria, adding that combining this with vocational skills would make brighter future for young Nigerians.
He appealed to wealthy Nigerians to support the nation by using part of their wealth to create jobs and empower youths around them just as he has been doing for eight years now.
Some of the participants at the yearly fasting and prayers programme commended the philanthropic gesture of prophet Sam olu alo, urging him to continue to do more.
The cleric also tasked Nigerians to be more patriotic and shun acts capable of disrupting the peace currently being enjoyed in the country.
One of the beneficiaries, Oladokun Oyekunle, said he got employed on a platter of gold at the private radio station of the church in Ado-Ekiti Ekiti State.
According to him: “I am an ardent follower of Prophet Olu Alo on the social media. I came here for this program from Ado-Ekiti to surprise my mom who is a regular attendee of the programme. Last Friday night during the prayer programme, my mummy was one of those the Prophet spoke to and asked if his son was here.
“When I heard that I ran out to join my Mom. And then the Prophet prayed for us. After the prayer, the Prophet asked if l was a graduate and l said yes. Right there, the Man of God promised to employ me in his private radio station in Ado-Ekiti.
“I have been learning about Prophet Olu Alo ‘s philanthropic gestures to people, how he blesses many with foodstuffs, cars and several lifeline, I never knew I would one day also benefit from his generosity and love. Before now, l have nothing to sustain me.
“This is a miracle for me because he even directed that l should be given automatic employment. I have been watching and following his programmes since 2019. I hold HND in Accounting.”
Glamour, royalty, glitz were all on dis[play last Sunday, as Lions Club International District 404 B2 Nigeria held a presentation ceremony for their new District Governor for Lions Service Year 2025/2026, Lion Oluwakemi Eribake.
The occasion, held at Classique Events Place, Alausa, Ikeja, also doubled as installation ceremony for club presidents, cabinet officers as well as a Fundraising for the Districts Legacy project.
Notable guests at the event include the chairperson of the day, Prince Dr. Feyisayo Samuel Soyewo, the Olori Omo Oba of Ago-Iwoye MFR; Guest Speaker, Mr. Muyiwa Adeseyoju (Country MD, DHL Express Nigeria); Chief Launcher Dr. Otis Ojeikhoa (MD/CEO Brands Optimal Group), Royal Father HRM Oba Olusegun Ogunye Ilufemiloye Ojutumoro of Abigi Ijebu Water Side and the Special Guest of Honour, Engr Razaq Adeshina, (Managing Director ADRAAF Nigeria Limited).
Delivering her Acceptance Speech after being officially presented by the Multiple Council Chairman, Lion Ibrahim Jide Bello, Lion Eribake said: “It is with deep humility, profound gratitude, and an unwavering sense of duty that I, Kemi Eribake, stand before you today to formally accept the mantle of leadership as District Governor of Lions Clubs International District 404B Nigeria. This is not just a title to me; it is a sacred trust, a call to serve, and a charge to lead with vision, compassion, and unwavering dedication.”
She stated further the Lions motto of ‘We serve’ had for long resonated deeply within her, “and now more than ever, I embrace it with a renewed sense of purpose, as I step into this role. I reaffirm my wholehearted commitment to our shared mission to serve humanity, uplift the vulnerable and drive sustainable change within our district.”
On the targeted N150million fundraiser, the new District Governor urged guests and members to donate generously.
“We have dreams to fund, lives to touch and legacies to build. I urge you to give generously today. Whether it is toward sight preservation, youth empowerment, diabetes awareness, environmental sustainability, or feeding the hungry; every donation counts. No gift is too small, and every gesture of support brings us closer to our goals.”
The donations time was therefore a beehive of activities, with Chief Launcher Dr. Otis Ojeikhoa, leading the way with a N10million donation.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Olusegun Ogunye Ilufemiloye Ojutumoro pledged a handsome donation, though decided not to mention publicly.
Though a Rotarian, who has served in different notable capacities, the monarch praised Lion Eribake, saying: “It is my pleasure being here to support our sister, and somebody that I mentored. Somebody that has passion in everything she does. Right from her tutelage days, she is a person that is reliable, dependable, very trustworthy. So I’m not surprised what is happening here.”
He stated further that he had to cancel all activities for the day to be present at her presentation.
•Beneficiaries say it has made schooling piece of cake
• Our parents can now focus on other things
Following the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, designed by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to make loans available to Nigerian students to pursue their educational dreams, about 300,000 students across the six geo-political zones of the federation are said to be currently enlisted and benefitting. Gboyega Alaka, in this insightful piece, takes a trip into the world of some of the beneficiaries, exploring how it is helping them assuage school fees and upkeep challenges.
One major thing that struck this writer during a search for beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loans Fund (NELFUND) students’ loan for interviews, was when he called its Abuja head-office and the anonymous voice at the other end simply replied, ‘Sorry we may not be able to help you. We don’t have direct contact with them… Usually they apply and we process.’
In Nigeria? That sounded like grandstanding. Weird, almost extreme…in a country where the ‘Man knows man’s’ syndrome has not only been established, but has become well entrenched, and almost like a norm.
Before then, this reporter had been struck by the story of Phoebe- surname withheld due to lack of permission. Phoebe is the daughter of Mummy Sarah, a cleaner in the Egbe neighbourhood of Ikotun, Lagos. As a struggling mother, Mummy Sarah struggles to make ends meet cleaning compounds. Information gathered by this reporter revealed that she makes less than N10,000, cleaning a whole compound. This, of course, includes sweeping, weeding and raking of the gutters. What this means is that the much she would make in a month depends on the number of houses in her care. She is also required to clean the compounds at least twice a week. So she works so hard and makes very little. As a result, though not young, she doesn’t come across much in looks or appearance – the type the North would refer to as the talakawa, or mekunu in the case of the Southwest Yoruba.
Somehow, not much is known about her husband, although information has it that she is married.
It was therefore a package of surprise, when someone asked after one of her daughters and she responded that “Oh, Phoebe? She has gone to school. She got admission to study in a university in Ondo State. ‘ Even though she couldn’t exactly recall the course, it was nevertheless cheery news – talk of the proverbial black pot producing white pap. She then went on to narrate how that was why she had to work so hard. She lamented how she had to work doubly hard to pay her school fees that first year.
Surprisingly, a concerned neighbour recently asked after Phoebe and how she was coping with school, and she stood up from her sweeping position, eyes radiant and said amidst laughter: “Ah, God has taken control. She told me it is the government that is paying her school fees now. She said Tinubu is giving them loan, and that they are also paying them a monthly N20,000.” As a result, she said a huge load had been taken off her shoulders.
For some reasons, this reporter couldn’t reach Phoebe in school for a direct interview; her phone was said to have been stolen and she only calls whenever she feels compelled or had access to a phone. However, the mother’s story was telling enough.
Lesson: the seamless method of the scheme and its accessibility makes it easy for everyone – the mighty as well as the lowly to access the facility.
From Lagos to Sokoto, Maiduguri to Calabar, the story has been of accessibility and relief – both for students and parents. At the last count, over 300,000 students nationwide are said to be currently benefitting from the scheme. In LASU (Lagos State University, Ojo), a staff of the university proudly announced to this reporter that her two children – a male and a female are currently enjoying the scheme. “There is a lot to do with money; let them use it. When they finish and start working, they will settle with the government.” Her exact words.
Not long ago, a video of a university up North emerged on the internet, where students were seen celebrating payment of the loan and their monthly stipend.
In Lafia, Aisha Suleiman, a 21-year-old 400-level student of English and Literary Studies at the Federal University, Lafia, is also enjoying the facility.
Speaking to The Nation from her Lafia base in Nasarawa State, Aisha said she applied for the loan, not because her father, a real estate practitioner and businesswoman mother weren’t able to pay, but because she saw it as an option and felt it would be nice to ease the pressure on her parents.
“Before I applied, my parents were paying,” she stated. “I came across the information on our general platform; I clicked on it and followed the instruction. And then one month later, they came out with a list of successful candidates and my name was there. Some three or four months later, I started receiving the loan. I started receiving the loan from first semester of my 400 level. In my first semester, they paid N45,000; this (second) semester, they paid N40,000. And then they give us N20,000 allowance monthly, although I am yet to receive payment for this month (August). So far I have collected the stipends for six months, starting from April or March. They even paid backlog.”
Asked the conditions for the loan, Aisha said “Yeah, I know I have to pay back the loan, but I think the stipend is free.”
Did she have to lobby anyone to get approved for the loan?
“No. I just applied, and they responded. Months later, I started getting alerts,” she responded.
Several of her mates in school are also benefitting from the scheme, she confided in this reporter.
Twenty-seven-year-old Yusuf Kareem, going to 400 level Mass Communication student of the University of Ilorin is another beneficiary of the scheme who is full of praises for those who conceived the initiative.
Like Aisha, he learnt about it on her school’s platform, applied by following the steps, and Voila!
“I submitted my application in November 2024, and by March this year, 2025, I started receiving alerts in my account. They paid in the whole of my N218,000 school fees into my account at once. It was as if I was I dreamland. I never believed such a thing was possible, especially if you didn’t know any influential or powerful person. I also started getting the monthly N20,000 stipends from April this year, and it has been regular.”
However, unlike Aisha who is of the impression that the monthly stipends are non-refundable, Yusuf is of the belief that he will also be paying those back. But he is cool with it nevertheless.
So now, Yusuf looks forward to his final year without any fear or apprehension, having found a solution to his school funding challenges with the help of NELFUND.
He regaled this reporter with how he struggled to meet up with payments in his first two years, getting assistance only from an aunt.
Yes both his parents are alive, but they barely get by. Both operate provision stores, and struggle to make ends meet. So the NELFUND intervention is highly welcome.
“I also get to concentrate more on my education. With school fees worry out of the way, and the monthly stipends, I can reduce my level of working outside during school period.”
Is he aware he will be paying back? “Yes,” he replied, adding that he is committed too.
Does he think it’s a good project? “Absolutely,” he replied, adding, “Very good indeed.”
He also thinks the government should pump more money into it to reach more students.
Already, he knows many students currently benefitting, and believes many more would like to benefit.
I took the loan because it’s interest-free
Olanrewaju Ilyas, another Mass Communications student of the University of Ilorin, is also a beneficiary.
Based in Malete in Kwara State with a cab driver dad and trader mum, Olanrewaju feels taking the loan would ease his parents’ burden. More importantly, the fact that it is interest-free makes it endearing and comforting.
“I decided to apply for the students’ loan mostly because it is interest-free, and because I feel my parents are overburdened, and freeing them from that obligation will go a long way in easing the pressure on them, so they can concentrate on other things. Hopefully I will be able to pay back once I start working.”
Olanrewaju applied for the loan a bit late last year while in his 300-level, he told The Nation; so he didn’t start getting payment in time. As a result, he had to source and pay the money on his own. But he got refunded by NELFUND. He also started receiving his monthly stipend from the month of approval.
“Now, I’m in my final year and I’m expecting the payment for this academic year. I’m also receiving the monthly stipends of N20,000. As we speak, I have received it for six months.” he said with relish.
“Since I started collecting the stipends, it has really helped me financially. Now I only collect money from my parents when I run out of cash, and that’s a lot lesson them.”
Asked if he had to lobby anyone at NELFUND to get approved for the loan, Olanrewaju answered in the negative: “No. It took like three weeks before they verified me and but it took a while before they started paying me. Don’t forget I applied late.”
Of the programme as a whole, he said: “I think it’s a good programme and the government should expand it and make it get to more people. As it is, I’m going to 300-level, and I started enjoying the facility in my 200-level. What that means is that my parents only carried the burden in my Year 1.”
As for paying back, he said: “No problem. It’s flexible. It’s interest-free, and we only start paying two years after our NYSC. It’s also dependent on if you have a job by then. Also the deduction is minimal, just 10 percent from your monthly salary.”
‘Our HOD advised us to apply, that it’s nothing’
Muhammed Adesoji Jegede, a 200-level going to 300-level student of Mass Communication at the Lagos State University of Technology (LASUTECH), has some good words for his HOD, Dr. Steve Adesemoye. He, it was, who advised them to apply and impressed it on them that it was nothing to be afraid of or skeptic about.
So now, he has applied; has been approved, and is expecting his first payment.
“I applied this July; I am currently on SEWES, having just completed my 200-level,” he said.
About the stipends, Muhammed said, “They said they’d start paying it from next semester.
“Before now, my parents were paying my school fees. My dad is a Clearing and Forwarding agent and my mum is a trader. I however decided to apply for the loan as a way of assisting them and taking that load off their shoulders. Besides, I know they have a lot of bills to pick up.”
Asked what he thinks of the programme, Muhammed said: “I believe it is a good programme; I think it has really helped a lot of students. The other day, I overheard some students who are currently benefitting from it talking about it, and I think they really appreciate it. It is taking a lot off the shoulders of our parents.”
Sodiq Alabere is another University of Ilorin currently on the list of NELFUND. A Final Year Mass Communications student, Sodiq applied in August 2024, and although it took a while, he has already started receiving alerts.
“I learnt about it through a video online. A friend from Bayero University sent it to me, and after watching it, I decided it was worth it and followed the process. Like I said, it took a while, so I had already sourced money and paid my school fees, so that they don’t shut the portal. But the university later refunded me. As for the stipends, I started collecting four months ago, and since then, it has been regular.”
On why he applied, Sodiq said: “Actually, the assistance I am receiving for my education is minimal, so I knew I had to leverage on opportunities like this. My mum is late, my dad is alive but we’re not so close, so this loan will help me take care of my school fees needs without having to bother anybody.”
He also finds the fact that he never had to lobby anybody to be approved interesting. “That means things are looking up in the country. I mean, I just received the money in my account and I withdraw it at my pace.
“I think it is a fantastic initiative, but I think they should make the disbursement earlier, so that students would not have to be running around to source money to pay before deadlines. Yes they refund, but you know when they eventually do, the money would go to different things, which is not too good. They should make the disbursement as early as when the students resume for the academic session. We use portal system to pay and they can close it if we delay in paying.”
On paying back, Sodiq said: “The condition of paying back is very flexible and easy. You are to pay back exactly two years after NYSC; and that’s once you get employment. And even if you’re self-employed, you can be paying 10 percent of your income to the government. If you are company or government employed, it is your employer that will be deducting and remitting money to the government.”
Last word? “I know a lot of people benefitting from it and I think they should continue,” he said.
Government should ensure continuity
For 21-year-old Ahmad Ogungbayi, also a Mass Communication student of the University of Ilorin, the interest-free students’ loan programme is so laudable, “they must ensure continuity, irrespective of successive administrations.”
Now going to 300-level, Ahmad started collecting the loan this past session; April this year, to be precise.
“I used it to pay my-200 level tuition fee. I actually paid, N97,000, but later got a refund from the school, having been approved. I got the information from my mum, a civil servant and her friend. She encouraged me to apply, and I did.
“You can say that I took the loan to assist my parents – dad is a lecturer, so it’s not as if they cannot pay. But everyone can do with some little help, especially in this economy.”
Ogungbayi is aware of other students who are also benefitting from the loan scheme, and he thinks it’s a great initiative altogether.
“It will help students whose parents are not so buoyant or who have minimal assistance, prosecute their education with little hassles. Apart from that, we also get paid monthly upkeep N20,000; and they pay us even when we’re on holidays. I already got the one for this month even though I am on holiday.”
The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International Headquarters Annex, Wuye, Abuja, has awarded cash gifts and electronic devices to outstanding students of the Federal Capital Territory School for the Blind, Jabi.
The gesture, carried out through the church’s outreach arm, “We Care Ministry,” was part of efforts to support academic excellence and demonstrate compassion to the less privileged.
In a statement released on Sunday, the church announced that the overall best graduating student, Godwin Lazarus, received a new laptop, while the second- and third-best graduates, Miss Aishat Isah and Master Alfred Yahaya, were given cash rewards of N100,000 and N50,000, respectively.
All the graduating students were also presented with digital walking aids equipped with sensors to support their mobility and independence.
Presenting the gifts on behalf of the General Overseer, Dr Daniel Olukoya, the Senior Regional Overseer of MFM Wuye, Edwin Etomi, said the initiative was in line with the biblical injunction in James 1:27, which encourages believers to care for the needy.
He explained, “This award is a testament to the love and passion the General Overseer and his wife have for academic excellence.
“Beyond this, they have consistently provided scholarships and other support that have empowered many young people to achieve their dreams and contribute meaningfully to society.”
Etomi also highlighted Olukoya’s broader philanthropic impact across communities, noting that his focus had always been on welfare programmes that benefit the underprivileged, regardless of their religious background or ethnicity.
“It’s no surprise that Olukoya was honoured as one of the 100 most reputable Africans for his commitment to progress, innovation, and community development,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, the leader of “We Care Ministry,” Joy Uno, and her assistant, Collins Nwachukwu, described the group as a vision inspired by Olukoya to extend love and care to the needy.
“We Care Ministry is dedicated to social and community development through initiatives like Food Evangelism, where we feed inmates in correctional centres and police stations,” they said.
They also noted that the group supports orphans, the abandoned, and physically challenged individuals, including ex-inmates seeking to reintegrate into society.
“Through regular outreach, we preach salvation, repentance, and restoration in Jesus Christ to those often forgotten by society,” Uno added.
In response, the Head Teacher of the FCT School for the Blind, Mrs. Hafsat Umar Isah, expressed gratitude to the church for its continued support and show of kindness.
The Senior Pastor of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Mount Mercy 1, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Sunday Ajayi, has announced preparations for the church’s 3rd Annual Convention, themed “The Mighty Power of God.”
Pastor Ajayi, who leads the church’s branch in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (USA), returned to Nigeria specifically for the convention, scheduled to hold from Monday, August 11 to Friday, August 15, 2025, at the Mount Mercy Campground, Ibafo Phase 1, Ogun State.
Speaking on the vision, he said the convention was divinely inspired and rooted in the legacy of his late father, Prophet Elijah Ajayi, founder of the ministry. “Baba started a quarterly programme called the ‘Week of Perfection.’ Over time, it evolved into what we now call our convention,” he explained. The programme’s launch was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic but began shortly after Prophet Ajayi’s passing.
Ajayi described the founder as a visionary who had prepared for the future by acquiring a vast expanse of land for the ministry. “He could see decades ahead; he was truly a rare gem,” he said.
He revealed that preparations for this year’s event are more advanced than in previous years, with heightened spiritual anticipation. “We’ve created an environment for divine encounter and are expecting a mighty move of God,” he said.
The five-day programme will feature targeted prayer sessions, powerful worship led by seasoned gospel ministers, and prophetic ministrations. Guest speakers include Pastor Dr. Bola Payimo, a teacher of the Word, and Prophet Adeniji, a revivalist, both from Ilorin.
Dr. James Akanbi, General Overseer of God’s Mercy Revival Ministries (GOMERM)—one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing churches with vibrant branches across continents—has revealed how he was once dismissed as “insane” for abandoning a promising accounting career to answer God’s call into full-time ministry. In this interview with ADEOLA OGUNLADE, Akanbi reflects on his journey from corporate boardrooms to the pulpit, the role his accounting background plays in managing a multi-million-naira ministry, and the vision behind GOMERM’s flagship annual Zion Power Conference.
There’s a saying that no knowledge acquired is a waste. Tell us how your accounting management background is imparting on God’s Mercy Revival Ministries (GOMERM).
That’s perfectly correct! The Bible says known unto God are all His works from the beginning to the end. That I will be on this table today, God already knew about it from the beginning. I attended a college of education and took some business-related courses, including shorthand and typing. Today, my typing speed in the ministry work is awesome, which I acquired from my training in the college of education. I write and type all my books by myself. I typed with my fingers all the books that I have written and published. God already knew that someday I would be an author.
I was in Jos in 199I when I went for an accounting job, stock trading, auditing and other professional vocations. I was in a hotel on one particular night when I saw someone showing me some packs of about 25 books with my name, James Akanbi, written on them. I told the person that I had never written a book in my life. He told me that these were some of the books I would write someday. Now, I have written and published about 56 books. God already knew that I would write books in the future. I also discovered that my accounting management background was also to prepare me for a time like this in ministry management. This is a ministry (GOMERM) where the budget can run into hundreds of millions in a year. If you do not have such an accounting background, how do you relate with figures?
I set up a system in the church account department. I’m not a signatory to the church account. I use the system set up in my previous workplace. When you set up a system, you have control. I set up a very good number of effective systems in the management and administration of GOMERM. Those systems are running on their own. So, I don’t have management problems. My accounting management background helps in the work of the ministry. My disciplines in accounting management, business administration and leadership, which I acquired from further studies and training, both home and overseas, up to two Phd degrees, help in the setting up of the church’s various systems. There is a business aspect to running and managing a ministry. I have been able to bring the entire knowledge and experiences that I had acquired in accounting, business management and leadership to bear positively on the ministry
How did you feel at the time you quit your accounting career for full-time ministry?
It was tough quitting, especially being the first African on the board, and a general manager designate at the time God instructed me to quit. The package for my new position was alluring, yet God told me to quit. One of the senior managers wrote an official letter to me, almost calling me insane for resigning from my lofty job at a relatively young age for full-time ministry. The company proposed that I could work three times a week and two times in church a week, instead of quitting my job in the company. I jumped at it, but later presented the proposal before God, and He sternly warned me that I was on my own if I accepted it. I do advise my protégés in ministry who are still working in secular jobs not to resign their job, and to go into full-time ministry until they clarify with God. And here was God telling me to quit my job for full-time ministry.
Like Jonah, did you attempt running away from God’s instruction to quit your job for a full-time ministry?
Somehow, instead of quitting the job as God instructed, I attempted to set up a haulage business for the company. I wanted to buy two haulage trucks for the company; one for Jos and one for Ibadan. But I got yet another shocker. God told me the two trucks would have an accident one day. I had already priced the trucks, but here was God telling me to back out. At that point, I had to obey God’s instruction. So, I eventually resigned from my appointment and came into ministry full-time.
Looking back now, do you have any regrets about resigning from your job for full-time ministry?
No regret at all other than it has entered into my record with God that I didn’t have enough faith back then to jump at His word immediately. I do blame myself for arguing with God initially. I should have obeyed Him instantly without any reservation.
While serving as President of a Christian Fellowship on the campus, did you envisage leading a massive church like GOMERM in the future?
Point of correction: this work (GORMERM) isn’t massive yet. I can’t see anything massive where we are now. I’m still telling God ‘Please, forgive me. I haven’t gone as far as I ought to have gone. God showed me a lot of things at the beginning of this commission, most of which I haven’t accomplished yet. Maybe I haven’t paid enough prices to achieve all of them massively. Maybe I haven’t fasted or prayed enough. Maybe I have to give up, to go up. Probably, I haven’t given up enough. That’s why I haven’t seen the massive work yet. I know what he showed me, and this work is yet to near it. When I was the leader of a Christian fellowship on the campus, I didn’t come close to thinking of leading either a big, medium or small church someday. I gave my life to Christ in February 1979. By September 1979, I was on the school campus. I had not fraternized or interacted with any ministry to know the work of God or how to lead a church at that time. All I was doing then was serving in whatever capacity that was given to me. The only thing that was close to whether I will lead a church, either small, medium or big someday, was in 1982 when I was rounding off, and on a particular night, the Lord said to me, ‘Well done, son! You have done a good job on this small work.’ The time is coming when I will set you over a bigger work. That’s what probably could look like an inclination; an idea that looked like something that would happen in the future.
GOMERN’s annual ZION Power Conference every August is a flagship of the ministry. Tell us what inspired this yearly meeting, and how it all started?
In GOMERM we work by vision. We follow vision in everything we do. All you see at work in this commission are products of visions. Our coming to this location was by vision. So, our yearly Zion Power Conference was by vision. Our Campground was by vision. There is nothing we do here by ambition or by copying others. Sometimes in March 2000, I saw in a vision a flyer face down. I picked it up and saw it written on it; God’s Mercy Revival Ministry Power Conference Year 2000. An old man came closer and asked me, what is that in your hand? I showed him the flyer. And he said to me that will be the yearly name of the coming together of all of the sons and daughters in the ministry. That was how the yearly Zion Power Conference started from that vision.
How will you describe the conference’s impact over the years with testimonies?
Testimonies are natural and common occurrences at our yearly ZION Power Conference. I can’t describe or limit the work of the Holy Ghost. However, in one of the past conferences, there was a testimony of a participant from whom a plate of steel inserted in his knee in an accident was removed. There was also another testimony of an 80-year-old herbalist who attended one of the past conferences with eye problems. During the word ministration a light flashed on his eyes, and he started screaming I can see! I can see! We have a testimony of a participant healed of brain problems for 18 years. He is now a pastor in this ministry. There are several other and diverse testimonies.
What should the participants expect at this year’s meeting, particularly at the Building the Builders Ministers Summit featuring some great men of God as speakers?
The topic for this year is Divine Supernatural. That’s exactly what God will demonstrate in the lives of the participants at this year’s power conference. God will work strange miracles of salvation, healing, restoration, deliverance in the lives of people and also meet their long expectations. The power of God is coming to do great and mighty things in the lives of people like in the days of old. Divine Supernatural is God’s authority over the natural. God will cancel the law of nature, the law of Satan and all manners of human laws; including economy law. The supernatural is coming down to swallow different kinds of problems in the lives of the participants at the conference. We are expecting the divine supernatural to override the satanic supernatural. The conference will feature three sessions daily. Morning session from 8am: Enough is Enough powerful prayer programme to deal with stubborn problems in the lives of people; followed by Building the Builders Ministers Summit and revival service later in the evening all at our Mery Revival Centre (MRC), Alake Lakonko, Ikotun, Lagos
Briefly, share with the profiles of some of the guest ministers at this year power conference
The guest ministers are not the regulars but consultants and specialists in their various fields of ministry and calling. They include Pastor Odeshola of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) with over 4,000 churches under his watch covering Nigeria and Middle East, and a veteran in the ministry Pastor Isaac Omoleyin, who started his experience with the supernatural when all the birds he wanted to use for his final year project in the university died. He had attended university an old man. While kneeling down in tears, his tears dropped on the dead birds and they all supernaturally resurrected. He is coming to talk to us about Divine Supernatural. Pastor Samson Ajetumobi is coming from Ibadan to teach us Leadership in Pastoral ministry at the Building the Builders Ministers Summit.
Gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey has announced a special edition of his Hallelujah Challenge, dubbed the ‘Kirikiri Edition.’
This one-day event is scheduled to take place on August 27, 2025, at the Kirikiri Medium Security Prison in Lagos.
Bassey, on Instagram, revealed that hosting this special session with inmates is a personal birthday wish, driven by his desire to bring hope and liberation through praise and worship.
The programme promises to be a powerful experience, featuring a special session of praise and worship, distribution of food, and the awarding of scholarships to some prisoners.
He added that the event may not be streamed live due to security concerns, but encourages participants to join in spirit through prayer.
Bassey believed the event would bring liberty to the spirits of the inmates and result in a massive harvest of souls.
The regular Hallelujah Challenge is set to return in October 2025.
He wrote. “Later this month, 27th August 2025, I will be leading my brethren in the Kirikiri medium prison in a Hallelujah Challenge Praise and Worship Special session.
“This is my heart’s desire for my birthday. We will praise, eat together and afterwards give out some scholarships.
“The first ever Hallelujah Challenge was in Acts 16:25-26, when Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God. Though we may not stream this for security reasons, you can pray along with us as we go. We trust God for liberty of the spirit and massive harvests of souls in Jesus’ name. Meanwhile, are you ready for the October edition?”
It was mayhem and total disorder as traders at the popular rice market Daleko, Mushin, Lagos, vehemently resisted a team of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission [FCCPC] officials, accompanied by armed policemen and journalists from carrying out an enforcement exercise regarding the illegal sale of rebranded rice.
The traders came out in their hundreds insisting that their shops would not be sealed nor any enforcement carried out till the Federal Government officials got a clearance from the Iyaloja of the market [Jumlar] who unfortunately was not present in the market at that time.
The FCCPC team had aimed to crack down on traders allegedly rebagging rice in different brand names and reproducing rice bags of companies like Mama Gold, Caprice Royal Stallion Rice, and Royal Stallion Rice, a company that has been in Nigeria since 2015.
Royal Stallion rice had actually placed advertorials in leading newspapers and the social media some years back, informing the public that they were no longer producing rice and any rice with their name was not authentic, but despite that, bags of rice bearing their name are all over the Nigerian markets.
Also, these rice traders bag substandard rice under the brand names of high quality rice and sell at exorbitant prices. For instance, at Shop 63 in the market, low quality grains of rice was bagged under the brand name of the popular Ma’choice rice and was selling for N85,000, per 50kg bag. The same thing applies to other popular brand names.
Not just that, they also engage in so many negative practices to defraud consumers, tampering with their measuring scales and weights.
However, despite the resistance from the traders, the FCCPC team successfully sealed Shop 117 that was involved in reproducing empty branded rice bags of different companies.
Many empty branded rice bags recovered from the shop had the names of Big Bull, Original Tomatoes, Royal Stallion, Rising Sun, Tomatoe Aroso, Caprice amongst others.
The owner of the shop, a female, threatened to unseal the shop as she had not done anything wrong. She claimed the bags were for those who wanted to bag into smaller sizes.
The traders and makers of these fake branded bags are having a field day as they openly make these bags and also sell them openly, at Daleko Market. Our correspondent saw many of these bags littered in every part of the market and sold to anyone who cared to purchase without flinching.
Mrs. Margaret Aboluwade, the FCCPC Southwest Zonal Coordinator, told newsmen that the market leadership and the traders would face the wrath of the law.
“The traders resisted us from carrying out our constitutional responsibility. We’ll get to our headquarters, and the needful will be done. We will not say what will happen now, but I know that the needful will be done. Also, some of them alleged that they were not the only ones selling rebranded Stallion and Cap rice products.
“As we all know, these companies have folded up or left the country since 2015, and we still see their rice products in the market to date. They obstructed the officials from carrying out the exercise due to their population in the market, but we don’t want it to result in violence.
“Both Stallion and Cap rice are no longer in the market; they are not functioning any longer. What they do is get local rice and rebrand it as Stallion or Cap rice,” Aboluwade noted.
According to her, they rebrand Nigerian rice and expired imported products by packaging them and selling them to innocent consumers.
The zonal coordinator further explained that the FCCPC would not relent in its mandate to protect the interest of consumers.
“We are here to protect the rights of consumers, the reason why we are here is to seal up shops that sell products of companies that have ceased functioning several years ago because what the traders are now bagging under their names are not authentic rice,” she emphasized.
One of the market leaders, who chose not to be named, said that the matter would be resolved by both the government and the market stakeholders.
She added that efforts would be made to curtail the illegal activities in the market, as the leadership would ensure the market is free from the alleged rebranding.
“We are widows and single mothers; this is the business we do to cater for our family, and we will put more effort into sanitizing the rice business in the market,” she said.
The incident underscores the need for cooperation between regulatory agencies and market stakeholders to protect consumers from unfair practices as the alleged sale of rice bagged in the names of companies no longer operating in Nigeria raises concerns about consumer protection and the need for transparency in labeling and marketing practices.
FCCPC also stormed the Utako Market in Abuja following a tip off that traders were rebagging local rice in branded imported bags and rebranding expired rice for sale. Among the major brands involved were Royal Stallion and Mama Gold.
Leading the operation in Abuja was the FCCPC Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Mrs. Boladele Adeyinka, who stated that the act was a serious offence under the FCCPC Act, attracting administrative penalties and fines. At least 10 shops were sealed during the raid
The FCCPC warned Consumers to avoid purchasing these products as they are either expired or deceptively rebagged local rice sold at exorbitant price.
The News Central Television has been recognized for its contribution to public engagement and communication at the prestigious 2025 PR Power List Awards, an event that celebrates Nigeria’s most influential public relations and communications professionals.
The awards ceremony, held recently at the Alliance Française, Mike Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos, highlighted 50 top individuals and organizations reshaping Nigeria’s communications landscape with innovation and impact.
News Central’s inclusion alongside leading media houses and communicators underscores the station’s rising prominence and excellence in storytelling and public engagement. This accolade reflects the station’s unwavering commitment to delivering credible and insightful journalism, as well as its influential role in shaping public discourse across Nigeria and beyond.
Curated by GLG Communications in partnership with The Guardian and Edelman Afrique, the PR Power List recognizes professionals who have consistently driven meaningful change and elevated the standards of public relations and strategic communications.
The awards spotlight categories such as Rising Voices, Changemakers, Community Impact, and Fourth Estate, acknowledging diverse contributions that enhance transparency, trust, and influence within the media and PR sectors.
Rosemary Egabor Afolahan, News Central’s Director of Commercial and Communications, appreciated the organizers for their recognition of the station. She also thanked the News Central team for their achievement at the event, which further cemented its position as a key player in Nigeria’s media industry and reinforces its dedication to impactful and responsible journalism.
This recognition is evidence of News Central’s quality and the strategic communication efforts that continue to elevate its brand nationally.
The PR Power List awards reinforce Nigeria’s leadership in Africa’s PR and communications sphere, celebrating industry trailblazers who are shaping narratives, driving social impact, and connecting brands with society in innovative ways. News Central’s accomplishment at the 2025 edition is a well-deserved honor that promises to fuel further excellence in the station’s journey ahead.
Knorr, Nigeria’s leading seasoning brand is on a mission to help people find joy and confidence in the kitchen.
At the heart of this mission is a simple belief: everyone has cooking potential, and Knorr wants to help bring it to life.
From tasty jollof rice to efo riro, Knorr has been a staple in Nigerian kitchens for generations.
Now, Knorr is going further, not just as a flavour enhancer, but as a true kitchen wingman. One that supports, encourages, and helps people see home cooking as joyful and easy without pressure for perfection.
To amplify this mission, Knorr has partnered with a diverse group of creators and collaborators who remix tradition, celebrate culture and turn everyday meals into moments of joy.
These creators will share relatable tips, easy recipes, and behind-the-scenes moments that show cooking does not have to be perfect to be rewarding, solidifying Knorr’s position that there’s a cook inside everyone and good food can be easy, joyful and flavorful, with Knorr as their wingman in the kitchen.
The unveiled creators’ lineup includes: Tobi Bakre, Taymesan, Anu Bakre, Kaylah Oniwo, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Nancy Umeh, Chef Derin, Chef Cupid, Chef Roux, Chef T (Diary of a Kitchen Lover), Chef Zeelicious, Chef Fregz, Dr. Robert, Inidima Okojie, Chef Amaka, Chef Dee, Ibrahim Suleiman, and Daniel Ochuko.
Speaking at the Knorr Content Creators Gig organised to onboard the new creators, Damilola Dania, Foods Demand Creation Lead, Unilever Nigeria Plc, said “At Knorr, we believe cooking shouldn’t feel complicated or intimidating. We want every Nigerian to know that their next tasty meal is just within reach and that Knorr will always be their trusted kitchen wingman. That is why we’re working with everyday creators—our kitchen co-wingmen and co-wingwomen—to share real recipes, easy hacks, and true moments that help people cook with more joy and confidence.”
With Knorr, everyone can discover the cook within and serve up delicious memories every day. So, whether it’s a quiet family dinner, a lively hangout with friends, or a big celebration; bring out the cook within you with Knorr as your wingman, one meal at a time.
