Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.); former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; the Senior Pastor, The Covenant Nation Global, Pastor Poju Oyemade, and other prominent Nigerians, have hailed Bible Society of Nigeria as it turned 60.
The ceremony brought together prominent national leaders, church figures, captains of industry, scholars, development partners and friends of the Bible Society.
Gowon described the Bible as far more than a religious text, calling it “light in darkness, hope in despair and truth in confusion,” as The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) marked its 17th Founder’s Day Annual Lecture and Awards Ceremony in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, which also crowned the Society’s 60th-anniversary celebration with the theme, ‘Celebrating Impact and Building a Legacy of Hope,’ was held recently in Lagos.
The Chairman of the occasion, former President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, was represented by Lt. Colonel Paul Edor Obi (rtd.).
Gowon said the relevance of the Scriptures had never been more critical in a world grappling with moral decline, conflict and loss of values.
“The Bible is not merely a book. It is light in darkness, hope in despair and truth in confusion,” Gowon said, adding that national renewal begins with moral renewal, which in turn starts with hearts transformed by the Word of God.
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Looking ahead, Gowon called for stronger partnerships, innovation and deeper youth engagement to secure the future of BSN.
He also appealed for support for the proposed Bible House project, describing it as a legacy infrastructure that would serve generations yet unborn.
“When we support the Bible Society, we are investing not just in an institution, but in the spiritual and moral foundation of our nation,” he said.
In a goodwill message, Mr Jonathan, said that BSN had quietly but powerfully shaped Nigeria’s moral conscience through Bible translation and literacy promotion.
He highlighted the recent translation of the Bible into Ogwe and Epie languages, pledging continued support to ensure their publication.
He said that faith-based institutions such as BSN had contributed significantly to national development by promoting integrity, compassion and justice.
In his remarks, CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, described BSN as one of the most consistent Christian organisations in Nigeria, noting that CAN, established in 1976, has enjoyed a strong partnership with the Bible Society over the decades.
“Even though CAN was formed ten years after BSN, we have seen in BSN a very solid partner,” Okoh said. “If Christians in Nigeria are asked to present their testimonies, BSN will certainly be one of them.”
He shared a personal testimony about how access to Braille Scriptures and audio Bibles sustained his family after his elder sister became visually impaired, describing BSN’s work as deeply impactful and personal.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Senior Pastor and Founder of The Covenant Nation Global, Pastor Poju Oyemade, described BSN as a quiet but powerful force shaping Nigeria’s moral conscience and civilisation.
Using the biblical imagery of light and salt, Oyemade said while the work of the Church as light is visible, the work of salt—preserving society—is often unseen but indispensable.
“That invisible but powerful work is what the Bible Society of Nigeria has been doing for decades,” he said.
He highlighted the importance of Bible translation into indigenous languages, noting that BSN has made the full Bible available in over 27 Nigerian languages, with New Testaments and portions in many others.
He paid tribute to early pioneers such as Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther and other translators whose work made it possible for Nigerians to encounter the Bible not as a distant foreign text, but as a living voice within their own cultures.
“The power of translation cannot be overstated,” Oyemade said. “Scripture truly comes alive when it speaks the language, culture and worldview of the people. God Himself demonstrated this by coming to save humanity in human form.”
According to him, translating the Bible into indigenous languages aligns with Christ’s command to “teach all nations,” explaining that the original meaning of “nations” refers to peoples, tribes and tongues, not a generic global audience.
He noted that the democratisation of access to Scripture has strengthened accountability within the Church, as believers can now personally examine the Word, just as the Berean Christians did in the Book of Acts.
“Today, no leader can easily manipulate Scripture because the people also have access to the same texts,” he said, adding that this openness has helped prevent the kind of spiritual darkness that characterised periods when the Bible was restricted to a privileged few.
Oyemade also commended BSN’s inclusive efforts, including the production of Braille Scriptures for the visually impaired and ongoing work on Nigerian Sign Language translations, stressing that access to Scripture must leave no one behind.
Earlier, BSN General Secretary/CEO, Pastor Samuel Sanusi, welcomed guests and described the Founder’s Day celebration as a moment to reflect on lives touched, communities transformed, and hope restored over 60 years of service.
“Legacy is not built in a day. It is built through consistent acts of kindness, courageous leadership and unwavering commitment to a better future,” Sanusi said.
Awards were presented to the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh; Chairman of LAWNA Territory, Pastor Gabriel Uyeh; General Overseer of Love of Christ Chapel International Ministries, Prophet P. A. Olowoporoku; Chairman of Padua Petroleum Nigeria Limited, Engineer Paul Ajisafe; and Dr Dare Ajiboye, former General Secretary of BSN and Business Manager of The Apostolic Church, Nigeria.
