The Founder of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Founder and Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, Global President of Kingsway International Christian Centre, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo and others are billed to attend the 40th anniversary of Abundant Life Gospel Church, Lagos, holding from October 21-27.
The theme of the event is ‘Next Level’.
In a statement issued ahead of the anniversary to The Nation yesterday, the General Overseer of Abundant Life Gospel Church, Rev Dr Janet Onaolapo, said the anniversary would have a positive impact on the nation due to the offering of intercessory prayers for Nigeria, as thousands of worshipers from the 20 branches of the church within and outside Nigeria, friends and loved ones were expected to be present.
She said: “For the past 40 years, God has constantly fought for us in these battles of life. This is our year of the supernatural and we shall all manifest. Get ready to meet the one who answers prayers, get ready for the next level. For 40 years, we’ve been walking in grace and witnessing great leaps.
“Join us for a powerful experience with the legendary Fathers of Faith and soul-stirring Gospel music ministers.”
The anniversary, according to the statement, will be held at the 25,000-seater church’s international headquarters, Peace Cathedral, 69, Iju Road, Agege, Lagos with activities such as impactful words, music concerts, special seminars on business, health talks, trade fair, among others.
Rev. Israel Akanji, President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, has hailed the dedication of the new auditorium at Triumphant Baptist Church, Akowonjo, as a significant achievement for the Convention.
Speaking at the dedication ceremony, themed “A Glorious Rehoboth,” Akanji emphasized the importance of church dedication, noting how every new church strengthens the larger body of Christ.
He said: “This is a milestone for the Nigerian Baptist Convention. A church of this size helps spread the message of Jesus Christ within the community, like lighting candles of joy in different places.”
He stressed the role of the church in evangelism, providing a space where lives can be transformed through the Word of God.
Akanji highlighted the need for a worship space that is both dignified and conducive to worship. “The Bible says, ‘Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
A church should provide an environment where people can focus on God without distractions,” he noted.
He also described the new auditorium as a growing seed within the body of Christ, symbolizing a source of strength for the Convention’s ongoing work.
Rev. Akanji also commented on the state of Nigeria’s refineries, expressing hope for their revival. “I believe it’s possible to repair Nigeria’s refineries, but there are deeper issues at play,” he said.
Encouraging the leadership of Triumphant Baptist Church, Akanji urged them to view this dedication as the start of a new chapter in their ministry.
He said: “This milestone is just the beginning. God has even greater things in store for the church. We must look ahead and embrace those future blessings.”
Aside from celebrating the church’s dedication, Rev. Akanji also addressed the ongoing fuel crisis in Nigeria, highlighting its severe impact on households, transportation, and healthcare.
He called on the government to take immediate action, acknowledging the challenges faced by the administration but urging for policies that would ease the burden on ordinary Nigerians.
“Fuel prices affect every aspect of life, and the government must do more to reduce costs for the common people,” he said.
Commenting on the state of Nigeria’s refineries, Akanji expressed optimism about their revival but acknowledged deeper systemic issues.
He cautioned against the greed of a few who may be profiting from the country’s difficulties, warning that the pursuit of wealth at the expense of the public could lead to destruction, drawing from biblical principles to underscore his point.
He warned against the greed of a few who may be benefiting from the nation’s misfortunes. Drawing on biblical references, he cautioned that the pursuit of wealth at the expense of the public would ultimately lead to ruin.
“Do the best for all people while you are in power. If you are merciless now, even your children may not benefit from the wealth you accumulate,” he warned.
He urged the nation’s leaders to invest in industries that create jobs, pointing out that relying solely on government employment is not sustainable.
Rev. Akanji called for a change of heart in the nation’s leadership. “We must put our trust in God and seek to uplift everyone,” he said. By promoting fairness and providing opportunities for the nation’s youth, he believes Nigeria can move toward a brighter future.
Earlier in his opening address, the Church Pastor of Triumphant Baptist Church, Rev Sunday Oladejo said that the new facility provides a modern space s of worship, and also enhances our capacity to serve the community through expanded ministry and administration capabilities.
He said: “There is no doubt that the successful completion of the new auditorium is a testament to the abiding grace of God and the church’s resilience, growth, and unwavering commitment of its members”.
It is such a relief that we are no longer talking about scarcity of fresh tomatoes/peppers but we are now researching how to process and preserve the excess. This gives credence to the saying that hardship will come but will surely pass away.
It is no longer news that the price of tomatoes and fresh peppers went up so high to the extent that many families had to resort to alternatives. This has dramatically crashed to the extent that the big basket that sold for N160 thousand naira in Lagos markets a few months ago now sells for between N21,000- N26,000.
Many wise women/men are buying baskets of tomatoes and peppers in order to preserve for the rainy day. Fresh tomatoes/peppers are in season and readily available. Most of the farmers and traders are even begging customers to buy because they do not have facilities to preserve them.
The question now is how do we preserve this perishable vegetable, especially in a country like ours where we cannot boast of a steady supply of electricity?
A housewife, Mummy Kene, said that she had already bought two big baskets of tomatoes, a basket of bonnet pepper, a big basket of bell pepper, and tatase from Mile 12 market Lagos.
I wash them very well, and take them to a big engine to blend as the quantity is too much to blend at home
“After blending them separately, I come home and bring the three vegetables to the boil separately after which I leave it to cool. Next, I pour them separately into a big sieve that must have tiny holes or a mesh. I left it overnight and by morning all the water would have drained out completely leaving only the tomato pulp and pepper pulp. I then portion them into different containers and leave them deep inside the freezer,” she said.
The mother of four who said she preserves tomatoes and pepper like this every year added that once in the freezer, the tomatoes/pepper can remain frozen and fresh for over six months. “Keep the ones you will be using regularly separate and leave the ones you are saving for the rainy day deep inside the freezer or in a separate freezer,” she advised.
In case, the all-powerful electricity provider strikes as they sometimes do for days, Mummy Kene advises that one buy ice blocks in the worst scenario. “However, if the pulp has been properly frozen for weeks, intermittent power disruptions from the electricity DISCOs will not do harm to it,” she further revealed.
Another woman, Mrs. Inifeme Ade said that instead of sieving the tomatoes and pepper after grinding, she boils until the water dries out after which she allows the pulp to cool and then scoop into plastic containers and leave them in her freezer.
However, some people do not even grind the fresh tomatoes/pepper. Those people just wash them, package them in nylon bags and store them in the freezer for months.
Not everyone has a freezer of course. So another method for home preservation is drying. This can be done through the natural sun and wind or through a food dehydrator, oven, or microwave. Low humidity, low heat, and good air circulation are critical for successful drying.
Cut the tomatoes into slices, one centimeter thick, leave in the open sun to dry very well, or use a food dehydrator, oven, or microwave. Once dry, store foods in a dark, cool location in containers that keep out moisture and insects.
Tomato is a highly perishable fruit and prone to post-harvest spoilage and decay if proper handling and storage practices are not followed.
A tomato farmer in Kwadon town of Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, Muhammad Abdullahi, said the lack of proper storage facilities usually leads to significant losses at the end of every harvest.
“Tomatoes are highly perishable and require specific storage conditions to remain fresh for an extended period. Without adequate storage facilities such as refrigeration or appropriate packaging, tomatoes are at risk of spoiling quickly, leading to significant losses,” he said.
Abdullahi added that with insufficient storage capacity, farmers may not be able to store their harvested tomatoes effectively, leading to wastage. “This not only results in financial losses for the farmers but also contributes to food waste and inefficiencies in the supply chain.”
According to him, due to the lack of storage facilities and companies that will buy the tomatoes in large quantities and process them, farmers are vulnerable to fluctuations in tomato prices.
“Without the ability to store surplus produce during times of oversupply, usually during harvest season, and release it gradually when demand is high, farmers may face price crashes, impacting their income and sustainability.
“As such, the lack of proper storage always limits our access to distant markets with higher demand and better prices for the tomatoes. Without adequate preservation options, farmers may be restricted to selling their produce locally, missing out on potentially profitable opportunities elsewhere,” Abdullahi lamented.
In what has been described as a display of brand affinity, Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) has orchestrated what may be the largest direct brand-to-consumer event on the African continent with the Golden Penny Soup Festival 2.0, held over the weekend at the Harrow Park in Abuja.
The event which is also the continuation of the celebration of Golden Penny Semovita’s 60-year heritage has become a nationwide celebration of Nigerian cuisine, culture, and community.
Devlin Hainsworth, Managing Director (Food Division) of FMN, reflected on the brand’s journey: “Mega brands stand the test of time. But you have to keep them relevant and fresh. This iconic brand has so much meaning, and you have to evolve them in a way that keeps true to the core, but also moves with the time and looks forward.”
Hainsworth highlighted the emotional aspect of the brand’s connection with consumers: “Golden Penny is a love brand and it brings so much in terms of nutrition, in terms of emotion and family, and also in terms of quality, substantive value. At events like this, I’m happy we can really bring over in an experiential way that combination and also help to say thank you to our consumers.”
The Abuja edition of the Golden Penny Soup Festival 2.0 saw thousands of consumers interact directly with the brand in a vibrant, multisensory experience. This event, following successful outings in Lagos and Ibadan, represents a strategic shift in FMN’s approach to brand building, prioritizing immersive experiences over traditional advertising.
Ilyas Kazeem, Marketing Director (Food Division) at FMN, emphasized the significance of this approach: “Seeing this crowd today, seeing them having fun and the brand at the centre of everything—it is what we stand for as the Golden Penny brand. We represent quality, nutrition, and fun. This is what we are, celebrating Nigeria’s spirit, diversity, and culture through food and experience.”
The festival showcased Golden Penny Semovita’s versatility by pairing it with an array of soups from across Nigeria, including kubewa karkashi, miyan geda, eforiro, ewedu, egusi, black soup, white soup, oha, edikaikong, and fisherman soup.
Kazeem elaborated on this aspect: “Made from the finest premium wheat, easy to mold and swallow, fortified with essential vitamins and nutrients, Golden Penny Semovita gives you that perfect combination, that perfect mix, that perfect pairing with that pot of soup, regardless of where you are coming from across the country.”
The event was hosted by the energetic social media sensation, Kie Kie, alongside Abuja’s own Chuks Da General who kept a lively atmosphere throughout the day. Adding to the excitement, special guest performer Segun Johnson delighted the crowd with his musical talents.
The highlight of the festival was an electrifying performance by Nigeria’s musical export and Abuja’s beloved ‘Gwagalada’ crooner, Kizz Daniel, which sent fans into a frenzy of excitement.
Attendees were treated to a variety of engaging activities and the chance to win impressive prizes. Cash gifts in hundreds of naira were awarded, along with specially packaged Golden Penny branded bags filled with goodies.
Lucky participants also took home electronics such as refrigerators, microwave ovens, gas cookers, blenders, mobile phones, and sound speakers.
The festival featured dancing competitions, singing contests, mystery hunts, and raffles, keeping the energy high throughout the event. These activities not only entertained but also reinforced the connection between Golden Penny Semovita and the joy of shared meals.
Beyond the entertainment, the Golden Penny Soup Festival 2.0 offered valuable educational opportunities. Attendees participated in masterclasses led by renowned Nigerian chefs and experts including Omoboyede Olusanya, GMD of Flour Mills of Nigeria, Chef Maah, Naija Celebrity twins chef and Jemila Lawal.
Fearless Energy Drink, one of the leading Nigeria energy drink brands from the stable of Rite Foods Limited, has clinched the coveted “Outstanding Energy Drink of the Year 2024” Award at the recent Marketing Edge Awards held at Sheraton Balmoral, Lagos, recently.
Fearless Energy Drink with the Fearless Classic and Fearless Red Berry variants emerged as the winner in its category, after a thorough rating and evaluation of the highly saturated energy drink market, where the brand made entrant in 2017 with the first-ever packaged polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle packaging that has been the standard for competitors.
The recognition stems from the brand’s unique flavour, originality, and numerous contributions to the industry in talent promotion, human development, and sustainability initiatives that have significantly impacted human and national development.
Extolling the brand for the win, Mr. John Ajayi, the organiser, and publisher of Marketing Edge Magazine affirmed that the Fearless Energy Drink brand has truly demonstrated its market leadership in all ramifications, surpassing its competitors through sponsorship of effective strategic initiatives.
He stated that the feat was also due to the brand’s distinctiveness, innovation, and the positive energy it offers.
While receiving the award, Olaniyi Aderuku, the Brand Manager of Fearless Energy Drink, expressed gratitude to Marketing Edge for the acknowledgment of the brand as the number one in its category, a position that has earned it numerous accolades and has also defined the market standard.
He said, “Fearless Energy Drink will continually strive for taste superiority, excellence, and innovation in providing exceptional experience to its consumers, adding that the laurel attests to its strong commitment to consumer connection and satisfaction.”
He stated further that “Our Fearless Energy Drink with its tagline ‘Embrace The Thrill’ offers its consumers the unquenchable desire to make a difference in their endeavours, with the positive energy it provides, through credible platforms that resonate with its values of courage, leadership, and the willpower to succeed”
The Fearless Energy Drink brand has garnered so many awards that validate its profile, including Media Consortium Awards 2024:’Energy Drink Brand of the Year’; Brand Exchange Awards 2024; ‘Best Value for Money’; the ‘Most Outstanding Energy Drink in Consumer Engagement’ in 2023; Best Value for Money – ‘Energy Drinks Brand 2023’ ; and the ‘Most Outstanding Energy Drink Brand of the Year’ in 2021, among other laurels.
In celebration of the outstanding contributions of teachers in society and commemoration of World Teachers’ Day, observed on the 5th of October, Nutri-Yo, one of Nigeria’s leading yoghurt brands made its way across Lagos and environs to fete deserving teachers with included brand new computer laptops, cash prizes, a generous supply of Nutri-Yo beverages packs of Nutri-Yo, award plaques among others, in the second edition of its “Nutri-Yo Thanks-A-Teacher” campaign.
The initiative which started last year was launched on the brand’s social media platforms where members of the public were to nominate deserving teachers who exemplified excellence in their profession.
After a thorough selection process, five of the teachers were chosen as winners while eight others received consolation prizes. The Nutri-Yo team and caravan made their way through schools to specially recognize and celebrate these teachers that include Osemeke Vivian from Ilupeju Junior Grammar School; Adeleye Okikiola from Estate Junior Grammar School, Ipaja; and Martha Onuwabuchi from Local Government Primary School.
Ifeoluwa Oghene Tejiri of Abba’s Heart Montessori School; Oluwafemi Titiloye of Royal’s International Learning Hub; and Emmanuel Ehiwuogo of Winsford Comprehensive; Agida Feyisayo of Shining Light Nursery and Primary School; Aderonmu Damilola Emmaro of God’s Own High School; Temilope Igbeara of Lumen Christi Satellite, Oyesanmi Epitope of Bless David College; and Adeyinka Damilola Opotoro of Noble Prevailer College are others who received consolation prices.
Speaking about the campaign, Jennifer Egbuonu, Brand Manager for Nutri-Yo, said that the brand is passionate about celebrating growth, excellence, and people who have done more to become who they are today.
Her words: “Like we did last year, we decided to celebrate outstanding teachers in commemoration of Teacher’s Day which was on the 5th of October. We recognize the immense efforts teachers put into shaping the lives and destinies of the next generation.
Egbuonu, who said the campaign has come to stay, revealed that the brand has plans to extend this gesture of celebrating teachers to the six geopolitical zones in the country.
On her part, Kemi Okunade, Digital Marketing Manager of Nutri-Yo, said that the ‘Nutri-Yo Thank-A-Teacher’ Campaign gets more massive each year. “This year, we decided to take it a notch higher, we increased the prizes and also decided to accommodate consolation winners. Five teachers got five laptops and 8 teachers got consolation prizes for cash and other prizes respectively.”
She also revealed that close to two thousand teachers were nominated this year by either their past or present students.
Of particular interest is one of the winners, Martha Onuwabuchi , who was nominated by a student she taught 19 years ago. A visibly excited Martha couldn’t hide her joy as she received her laptop and other prizes.
She said her students whom she taught decades ago are doing well in various industries and have not forgotten her impact on their lives.
She encouraged other teachers to give their best to impact the lives of their students.
She also expressed her gratitude to Nutri-Yo for such a kind gesture and promised to continue to give her all to her students.
Grateful for the recognition, Adeleye Okikiola, who has been in the teaching profession for over 10 years in both private and public schools, said he was happy that the efforts he and other teachers are putting into bettering the lives of the students are not going unrecognized. “What Nutri-Yo has done today means a lot to me. This recognition is propelling me to do more. We have great teachers in Nigeria. I must say it’s a privilege for me to be nominated by my students and for Nutri-Yo to pick me as one of their winners today.”
Osomeke Nkechi Vivian, who is not new to being recognised for her good work, has been a teacher for over 11 years. She said teaching was her passion and grooming future leaders was her delight. She said the recognition showed that teachers’ rewards have started here on earth and not just in heaven.
She expressed her profound gratitude to Nutri-Yo for making her years of effort and hard work count.
Prophet Peter Abiola Adebisi could be described as a bit of everything to all who come in contact with him. Whether in the area of philanthropy, counselling, sports promotion or evangelism – his main calling, Adebisi is at home. In this interview with GBOYEGA ALAKA inside his massive church tucked in Ojodu area of Lagos, he shared his story of rough beginning, his call to evangelism, how he predicted Keshi’s AFCON victory and love for football.
Today is Nigeria’s 64 anniversary and things are not so pleasant with the vast majority of Nigerians. The economy is not friendly, inflation has gone up due to the removal of fuel subsidy and devaluation of the naira; what is your advice to the people?
First, let me congratulate Nigeria and also celebrate myself because I was born in a time and season like this, when Nigeria was getting its independence. To your question, one thing I have come to realise in life is that spending longer time with God helps you to know what to do and how to navigate through seemingly hard times. Nigeria at the moment, I believe, has not lost it; we’re talking of a 64 year-old nation; America is over 200 years. So the major issue here is we need to come together in unity, work together and get things done. I learnt something from American citizens; no matter what is happening to them, they say, ‘God bless America’. We should not be bitter to the extent of cursing our nation. I strongly believe that it is going to end well. The situation may be volatile, but I can tell you that we’re on course. There is a difference between having not started and being on your way. And when you are on your way, it means you will soon be at the arrival point. So hope is not lost – Jeremiah 29: 11. Nigeria is going to be number one; I strongly believe so.
What is your advice to the Nigerian leadership?
Number one, the situation we are in is not a today issue. It is the outcome of something that has been piling up, but now erupting. I see is that we are at a bend, not at the end of the road. God has a plan for Nigeria. And to the government, my advice is that they should vigorously pursue their manifesto and plan to realise their lofty ideas. Truth is that governance is no tea-party. It is like a 4x400meter race; it depends a lot on the way you start it. If the first leg runner had started losing it, the subsequent and last leg would have a lot to do, if they must do well in the end. It is for this reason that I said we should bless our country. These days, you see people who are so angry that they’re cursing their country; but that is not good enough, because the spiritual controls the physical sometimes. So we should rather bless our nation, and pray hard for her. And the citizens themselves must find a way to contribute their own quota towards the betterment of their country. Go to junctions and see how okada riders (commercial motorcyclists) are breaking traffic light laws. That is not acceptable.
Talking about citizens; people are destroying properties, vandalising utilities and looting innocent people’s businesses, all in the name of protests. What do you have to say to such people?
That’s exactly what I’m saying; if you travel to a country as small as Benin Republic, their law officers don’t even carry guns, just batons, but the bike riders and car drivers obey the law to the letter. So I pray that God helps us the citizens as well, because if we leave everything to the government, then we’re deceiving ourselves. The citizens will play their part; the government will finish or perfect it. So, damaging facilities and looting government or private people’s business in the name of protest is not good. Irrespective of what we are going through, let’s be patient.
It’s been said that you were one of those who gave your backing to the current president; how true?
I have no power to back any person or government; I have no such strength; I only rely on what God tells me. God told me that Nigeria is going to be number one. It might be hard to believe now, but later it is going to be visible for everyone to see. I am only following the footprint of God, irrespective of whatever government that is in power. And don’t forget, no place can be compared with your home.
You are renowned for your generosity; is this your own way of helping the poor or you’ve always being like that?
I just told you that leaving everything to the government is tantamount to a crime. Number two, I was born poor and I wouldn’t have gone to any school as a child if not for the UPN/Governor Bola Ige’s Free Education programme. Having grown up in such a humble background, and God helping me, I have to help other people.
You just spoke of your humble childhood; that brings me to the fact that you came from Muslim background, and here you are, a prophet of the Christian faith, overseeing such a huge church – Christ Miracle Church Mission (CMCM) worldwide. Did you encounter problems with your parents when you converted?
Incidentally, I had lost my dad before the call of God came upon my life. As for my mum, she couldn’t even understand the language of God calling someone. Mum was actually from a Christian family while my dad was from a Muslim family; so naturally, she became a Muslim after marrying my father. However, what God did in my life is beyond every human imagination. For example, aside losing my dad, three other prominent members of his family also died mysteriously in quick succession; such that the rest of the family members had to take the decision to elope from Ila, our home town. No one knew the cause of the mysterious deaths. I was a student at Ife, Oyo State College of Arts and Science, OSCARS, when the call of God came upon my life. But at that time, I couldn’t define it. Then of course I was a practicing Muslim, because my dad too was a revered and devoted Muslim. I had developed eye problems, which led me to seeking solution in a church.
Did you get the call before the eye issue or the eye issue before the call?
I got the calling before the eye problem, but I didn’t heed it because I didn’t understand it. On the day of the call, it was around 4 o’ clock, and I’d just come back from school at Omi Okun in Ile Ife, where my school was situated; suddenly I felt as if I was outside, whereas I was inside; it looked like it was going to rain, and I saw people running up and down, thunder running and striking the ground. And then I saw fire drop from heaven and touched the ground; I saw the fire moving; I also saw another fire descend from heaven, touched the ground and chasing the former one. At the point of it overtaking the former one, I heard a voice saying, “You have been given Peter’s power; I am sending you to the world; you are my servant.” However, I couldn’t understand it. The voice was so heavy for me, and I fell in that trance. After everything had died down, I came back to life and saw myself on the floor. I opened my eyes and I saw people gathered around me. The name of the person that we were together that day was Mr.Kayode He later told me he had gone to call some people. He also said he felt something like earthquake or earth tremor while I passed out. Let me tell you, the joy I felt that day, a million years will not be enough to describe it. Still, I really didn’t understand it and there was nobody to interpret who Peter or Jesus to me. After that, I forgot about the incident and went about my daily life. I even mistook it for an attack; and thought: isn’t this the way they killed my father? Back in school, one day my lecturer, Mrs. Ogunba, wife of Professor Oyin Ogunba, a professor of Literature at the Obafemi Awolowo University, was writing on the board, and I saw the title of ‘Dr’ written before her name; so as I stood up to answer her question, I addressed her as ‘Dr. Mrs. Ogunba. ‘But she replied that she was not yet a doctor. I however told her that I saw a ‘Dr’ prefix written before her name. She then told me she had tried several times for her PhD; I said to her, ‘No ma, go for it again.” Later she called me and asked: ‘Are you a prophet?’ But at that time, I didn’t even know who a prophet was; I didn’t know anything about the Christian religion. Not long after, she earned her PhD; so she began to see me as a religious person. One day, I left school and as I got home, I found I had developed an eye problem. It got so bad that I couldn’t go to school and even needed to be helped to find my way. That was how I found myself in the church. My first interpreter was Pastor Olu Ajayi, a lecturer at OSCARS; he was among the first to testify that truly I was called by God. Dr. Ogunba too used to come to our church in Ife. To the glory of God, here I am today.
There is a controversy going on about tithe as we speak. A pastor in Akwa Ibom State, Abel Damina, has been campaigning vigorously against it while another set is saying it is crucial to Christianity; what do you have to say to this?
At this point, the paying or not paying of tithe shouldn’t be a message anyone should carry like something fantastic. Salvation to save our people is the message we should be laying emphasis on, not somebody rising up and using the issue of tithe to flag other pastors. I think it is irrelevant. Besides, he himself has taken it before; so if he suddenly notices any error, there is a way you correct it, either with love or in some other softer ways, not by flagging them as if they are not of God. When you want to impact others, you do it with humility; Jesus came with high level of humility; he wasn’t flagging anybody or embarrassing them. Not even the tax collectors did he flag. See how he impacted their lives; look at Mary Magdalene that he cast seven spirits out of; see the way he embrace and treated her with love. So if you suddenly discover that what you have been part of is wrong, you don’t have to start flagging others as if you are a referee issuing yellow card to players. There is no sense in that. He could have first met with them privately. God once sent me to pastors to warn them that they were not taking fasting seriously enough; and what did I do? I wrote letters to them and even met with them. I told them ‘This is what the Lord told me; I am not God; neither am I an angel.’ Besides if he (Damini) really wants to be genuine, since he has taken it before, there is what we call restitution. He should gather the houses, cars and every other thing he bought with tithe money, sell them outor auction them and give the proceeds to the needy, and then start on a new note. That is what I will do if I get such a revelation. That is the only way you can show that you are convinced of the message. For all you know, he may be coming out with this message now because he has amassed enough and doesn’t need it again.
Related to the issue of tithe is the fact that people are seeing churches as a place to amass wealth, but I tell you, it is not. If you know the burden some genuine churches are carrying, what they are doing to ameliorate members sufferings…. Here we have a number of people on our scholarship. The other day when you came here, you saw the huge number I had to attend to; you also need to see the way we feed the people almost at every service; so where is the leftover.
The last time I came here, I witnessed how you attended to about 200 people, such that you were eventually not able to give me audience even though I came on appointment; where do you draw such energy from?
Look behind you; can you see the number or people still waiting to see me? For certain, I will not leave this place till evening. However, let me appreciate God for giving me the strength; it is a passion for me. I have a passion to change people. Attending to them is my own special area of helping my country. If they don’t get to see me, many may end up turning to crime; some may come back weeping; many of them have come with needs, and the little I can use to assist them will go a long way. Some of them that you see here may have gone to the police or gone to court, but by coming for counseling here, they get a new lease of life through our message of hope. Many may even have committed suicide. So I see what I do as an angle that God has placed me to help my country. And the passion of seeing that something is changing in their lives for the better is what gives me strength.
A popular consensus is that churches thrive on miracles; what will be the biggest miracle that God has used you to perform?
Wow! The biggest miracle that God has used me to perform and is still using me to perform is seeing people become born-again. You know, I used to be a thug; my nickname was Algeria. When I was in the secondary school, I used to be notorious and scattered the school, so to speak. I attended Igbanibi High School in Ila Orangun, Osun State. I was one of those that people used to regard as having future. So if God can change my life to become the role model that people are wishing to meet, I can only give praise to Him. So every time I preach and I see people take the decision to become born again and come out, I celebrate God. And to be honest with you, there is no miracle in the bible that God has not done through me. So if God can do the greatest miracle of all through me, all others are small small miracles. I just came back from Ori-OkeAbiola in OndoState; if you go on the social media, facebook, you will see the great things God did. One of the miracles was the case of a couple. God told me that one of our members and her husband should be fasting and doing night vigil to avert danger; while they were at it in the night, they just heard something fall through their roof, ceiling and straight to their bed. First what they saw was a cat, and as they raised the alarm and people came in, they saw the cat change to human being. The media: NTA, OSRC, was called in and when the woman was interviewed, she said she was just going to their meeting, when they called the name of Jesus and fire struck and cut her down.
You have very strong interest in sports; you also have a football team, Champions of Fire FC; what gave vent to your interest in sports?
You know, sports is a unifying factor; despite the state of our country, whenever the Super Eagles are playing, that is the only time you see Nigerians -Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba together. The friendship and brotherliness is always very high. Besides when I was in school, I was the captain of my school football team; so I know the joy and the power behind the sport. And we had quite a number of people with talent and flair for the game here, so I decided to do this as a way of helping them harness their talent and dream. Remember Alampasu the goalkeeper? He used to be one of the boys here. You know the height he later reached? He won the U-17 World Cup. So your little contribution can be of assistance to your nation. My advice to all is that anything you can use to assist or raise anybody, do it.
Another Pentecostal church, Mountain of Fire Ministries once had a team in the Nigeria professional football League; do you have any plan for your team to feature in the league?
Of recent because of my ministry assignment, revival and things like that, we have had to play down on that, but now we are reconsolidating and gathering momentum to put together a formidable team.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles are currently running short in the qualifying games towards the 2026 world Cup; do you think they still have a chance of qualifying?
Let me state first that I’m not prophesying. I talk authoritatively only when God has given me an insight. For example, I prophesied in this church that if Nigeria wanted to win the African Nations Cup (AFCON), they should look for Stephen Keshi. Somehow, Keshi learnt about the prophecy and came here all the way from the United States. He said he heard of the prophecy and asked how that could happen to him when he was not even the coach of the national team. And I said to him that ‘You will be’. I prayed for him and he left. Months later, he was announced as the national team coach. Again he came here and I prayed for him. And behold, every match he played, he would have called me and I would have prayed with him and told him what to do. And to the glory of God, from one match to another, they got to the final and he came home with the cup. Sometimes, God would have told him, you will win this match by 1-0 or whatever margin, and it usually turned out so. In fact, I would make sure the whole church was watching the match on the big screen here, and I would be talking to him on the phone. I was the one who told him that anytime Nigeria scored, he should point his two hands to the sky, meaning the glory onto God. If you look around now, that has become a popular way of celebrating goals. It started with Keshi. In a nutshell, I will only speak authoritatively if God has spoken to me. It’s like when Sunshine Football Club of Akure were going to play in Cairo or so; somebody told them about me and they came to my house in Ojota in two Civilian buses. I prayed with them but told them they would not win. I actually told them the only way out was if they did not play the match. That was the day I saw first (Godfrey) Oboabona, I think he was their captain; and I told him, ‘You will play for Super Eagles.’ I also anointed him. And you all saw what he did in that Super Eagles’ team. If God anoints someone for a purpose, no matter the difficulties or challenges, it will come to pass. So as it is now, may the Lord help our Super Eagles. However, I can say authoritatively that we have good players, and they have a good command of the game. They know what to do with the ball. I will also advise the Nigeria Football Federation to look into the area of a good motivator/psychologist for the team. I think they are lacking in that area. Look at how they lost the final game at the last Nations Cup. They had no business losing that game against Cote d’Ivoire. I think what is missing is a sound minded psychologist who can talk them up. And of course a good coach.
It was celebration unending this year, as the Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegeshin Ajibade Ogunoye III, yet again led his people in celebration of the annual Igogo festival. Taiwo Abiodun reports that this year’s celebration also witnessed the unveiling of the Oronshen statue.
Fear had gripped the whole of Owo Kingdom in Ondo State, especially the chiefs and Owo indigenes in Diaspora. This was due to the assumption that the annual Igogo festival, Owo’s Festival of Love, would not be holding this year. This was because His Royal Majesty, the Ojomo Oluda of Ijebu- Owo, Oba Kofoworola Oladoyinbo Aruliwo III had gone to court to restrain the Olowo of Owo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Gbadegeshin Ajibade Ogunoye III from leading the annual procession to Ijebu-Owo market to perform the 500-year-old ritual. Fortune, however, smiled on the kingdom, when the court turned down the Ojomo Oluda’s prayers and asked the Olowo and his Chiefs to proceed with the festival unrestricted.
The court’s decision sent wild jubilation across Owo and among its indigenes in Diaspora.
Before the disagreement that led to the court case, the two royal fathers, who are historical blood brothers, had celebrated the festival of love together and had good relationship.
In the words of the Olowo, “The Ojomo went to court to obtain an injunction that Ijebu is never a part of Owo and has no relationship with Igogo festival, and that Ijebu celebrates only Ogun festival. But the court ruled that they cannot restrain me and that this Igogo festival has been on, even before the creation of Ondo State and that Ijebu market is a public place.”
Olowo ‘s moment of joy
That said, this year’s festival attracted more visitors and tourists than envisaged. The festival’ s chief celebrant, Olowo Ogunoye III, was dressed in a rare expensive costume and specially-made beads called Sesekiakon. Additionally, he was armed with a special sword (Udamaloore ), attached to his immaculate white skirt meant exclusively for a respected and powerful king of his status .
Naturally, his neck and wrists were bedecked with assorted yet unique coral beads, which are symbols of honour, royalty, authority while three Urere Okin (Peacock feathers ) were tucked in his plaited hair. In his hand was a shining gold metal gong, which he clanked at intervals, as the entourage sang along. For those who do not look close enough, the royal father could be mistaken for a female in his immaculate whirling skirt, as he pranced around like a skilled dancer.
The monarch indeed epitomised the rich culture, wealth cum beauty and glamour of the ancient kingdom. His chiefs and subjects were ecstatic, as they chanted panegyrics and showered prayers on him amidst thunderous shouts of ‘Ologho Baba oooo Waaarehinodi ( Olowo our father , You will conquer your enemies ).
The monarch along with his retinue of chiefs, kinsmen and well-wishers danced in a procession from his palace to Ijebu- Market to perform the usual rites and prayers for the progress and peaceful co -existence of the town.
History of the festival
According to the Monarch , the celebration took roots over 500 years ago, when the first Olowo Rerengenjen married a strange woman, Oronshen, whom he had met when he went on a hunting expedition. The Monarch had married her because of her beauty. However, Oronshen, before consenting, read out her ‘dos and don’ts’ to the king, which included that ‘firewood should never be thrown before her, okra must not be prepared in her presence and water must not be splashed before her very eyes;’ all of which the king agreed to, including keeping her secrets. Aside these, Oronshen excreted expensive coral beads, which made the town become prosperous in wealth. However, the other wives of the king became jealous of her and devised means to uncovering her secrets. So they got the monarch drunk and craftily made him reveal Oronshen’s secret taboos . Then one day when the king went out, the other wives broke the taboos, throwing firewood, splashing water and grinding okra in her presence.
This infuriated the woman and she hurriedly ran out of the palace.
When the King returned and discovered what happened, he was angry with his wives; he then called the palace guards ( Ayoyo) who went after the woman. As they went searching, they came to a place where they found her fallen headgear, and through it, traced her to a bush now called UgbóLaja ( Ulaja forest).The king begged her to return, but Oronshen’s voice was heard saying she could not come back, although she vowed to perpetually be of assistance to the town and ensure its progress, on the condition that the king celebrates her every year.
Oba Ogunoye explained that this is why the festival is known as a celebration of Love. To herald the festival, announcements are usually made – leather drums must not be beaten, caps must not be worn by men, and there must be no shooting of guns.
The name Igogo, derives from the use of iron metal in place of drums.
Oronshen statue
As a way of further entrenching the festival and story behind it, the monarch this year, unveiled the Oroshen statue in the town.
Oba Ogunoye said: “The idea came to my mind that we should take practical action on our cultural/tradition physically, not just through stories, to internalise it. The statue shows the beauty of the famed wife of the Olowo as history describes her. “
Biodun Omolayo (Wahab) the Chief Creative Officer at Omolayo Gallery, Lagos and a well known international artist, described the statue thus: “The elegance, beauty and regality are well captured in the sculpture. Aside from being a queen and a deity, she is the symbolism of love, and the total beauty of the Owo woman.”
According to Omolayo, the statue is comparable to others of international repute such as that of Queen Elizabeth III by the late Ben Enwonwu , Queen Amina by Ben Ekanem at the National Arts Theatre (now Wole Soyinka Centre); bringing to life the nature and character of Queen Oronshen, whose story has been told since time immemorial.
According to the Olunaun of Unaun, Prince Olanrewaju Abegunde, himself a historian, this year’s Igogo festival will go down as the best in recent memory. “The Igogo festival showcases virgins who wear beads. In the days of yore, the virgins left their upper chest bare and wore only beads as underwear; but today we have changed everything, as they now wear beads on top of their dresses as an indication that they’re still virgins.”
He also emphasised that: “We don’t use human being as sacrifice anymore like in the days of yore ; we use animals, of which the chief Priest of Igogo festival, Wande Ajana is in charge. Prayers are offered to the community and people for peace, love and progress.”
Tourism booster
During this period, Owo Cultural Ambassador, Tunde Onibode, said businesses boom in the town while assorted beads, souvenirs, arts and crafts sell briskly. There are also other side attractions such as traditional wrestling, Oronshen Beauty Contest, Ayo game, football match among others. Patricia Adedolapo Aragun Ogunoye emerged as this year’s Miss Oronshen.
Speaking on the tourism benefits, Onibode said: “Over 30 Owo indigenes in diaspora came home to celebrate with the Olowo of Owo, while the town also received visitors from all over Nigeria.”
President of World Council of Owo Associations (WOCOA), USA, Bayo Ogunmolawa, who travelled all the way to Nigeria from St. Louis , Missouri , USA, to attend the festival said: “Over 100 Owo indigenes living abroad were present. After 40 years of absence, I witnessed the Igogo Festival and I couldn’t believe what I have missed all these years. As indigenes in diaspora, we will try our best to bring in foreigners and turn Owo into a globally renowned tourist town.”
Igogo’s satiric innuendos
Chief Sunday Olamiju Olawoye (the Ajewole Ogwamaiye of Owo kingdom) who resides in Lagos but travels to Owo every year to be part of the festival, said: “This is my 30th year of celebrating Igogo Festival . We sing abusive, folkloric and innuendo music laced with proverbs and morals. For example, we would sing and mention names of those who stole tubers of yam or who snatched other people’s wives or husbands or who did certain wrong things during the year. Many who come for the festival actually come to listen to Igogo songs to know those targeted by the songs. All manners of songs are rendered while we would be hitting the ground with sticks, which replace the drums. But the music will not go beyond the festival period. We also kill cows and cook food for everybody to eat and entertain visitors. In fact, we exchange gift items. It is a period of expressing love to friends and family members.”
Messrs. Ahmed Murtala and Mathew Obajuluwa who is Oluode (leader of hunters) of Ijebu-Owo who both witnessed the festival, appealed to the two royal fathers (Ojomo and Olowo) to sheath their swords and cooperate in other to move the town forward.
Alhaja Aminat Abiola Mosaku is of the Lagos Island royalty, daughter of the late Onimole of Lagos, Chief Kayode Adeshina Onimole. Last week, she gave out free soap-making training to 100 Lagos Islanders. She explains why to Gboyega Alaka.
What is the reason for this gathering?
It’s exactly one year since my mum, Olori Chief Mrs. Matilda Kehinde Onimole passed on, and this is to commemorate the day. My dad passed eleven years back and after his passing, we instituted a foundation in his name and we hold programmes at least four times in a year. We call it the Chief Kayode Adeshina Onimole Foundation. So the foundation in collaboration with my own company, Bcube Bubbles, decided to organise this empowerment for Lagosians in her memory and to mark the day. BCube Bubbles, by the way, is into cleaning; we produce all kinds of cleaning products, from liquid soaps tile washes, carwash agents, kitchen agents, various cleaning agents.
What exactly are you giving out?
It just occurred to me to empower people on how to make these cleaning agents free. Even I never knew I would be going into this; I had gone for a mosque programme, where we were taught how to make soaps, liquid soaps. I picked up some skills, and shortly after, we had a family party, where my dad’s elder sister was celebrating her 90th birthday; instinctively, I decided to put the skills into practice; produced some soaps, bottled them well, came up with a label and distributed them to guests as souvenirs. Almost immediately, I started getting orders; people were requesting that I made for them; and they were making swift payments. That was how I found myself in the business. I then took the decision to go for further training to learn all other related skills. At the end of today’s programme, I’d be bottling the things we produce and giving them out to the participants.
So this is a way of empowering the people with skills so that they can pick it up from there and begin to make money for themselves?
Exactly, we want to give them new skills which they can now leverage on as a means of livelihood. If you look over there, you would see my various products, so anybody who picks genuine interest can take the cue and pick up from there. I know some people with whom I had the training back then, who now run their big organisations, supplying big supermarkets and stores. Mine is still at this level because I’m not doing it fulltime.
How did you select the participants?
I don’t stay on Lagos Island, so I got in touch with my sister’s pastor; he’s a youth pastor, to help me send words out. It was he, along with my siblings, who gathered the people. We have participants from as far as Campos Square, Adeniji Adele, Balogun and of course Isale Eko. Here where the training is holding is my parents home, our family house. We actually gave out 100 access cards, so we’re looking forward to 100 persons.
Is this a one-day programme?
Yes it is a one-day programme. You may be wondering if they can learn enough in one day; but I have a handout prepared for them to take away as guidance. That is also why we have requested for their WhatsApp numbers, so that we can send the pdf document prescribing all they need to know, measurements, how to mix set by set, because that was how I was taught too. Those that don’t have android phones/smart phones, we have the manual. I have about 15 products in that manual, although we can only treat a few today.
Growing into discovering purpose and living it is a great deal for humanity.
Faith Oluwaseyi Adeniyi who is popularly known as SimplyFaith, is an international gospel musician, making waves in the UK music scene with inspiring story and soul-stirring music.
Born in Kaduna, SimplyFaith grew up in Lagos and later moved to Ibadan, where she got married.
Her spiritual journey began in 2000 when she gave her life to Christ. As the choir leader at Winners Chapel International Sheffield, SimplyFaith’s musical talents have blessed countless lives.
SimplyFaith’s academic achievements are impressive with degrees from Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ibadan, and Sheffield Hallam University. Her music career is marked by dedication and divine guidance.
“I’m humbled by the opportunity to share my music with the world,” said SimplyFaith. “My mission is to lift the name of Jesus high and encourage people through gospel music.”
SimplyFaith recently released her EP titled “The Redeemed” a 6 track EP which converse the message of redemption across the world.
The EP was produced by award winning producer Philipage and Sam Adewuyi.
