Professor Emmanuel Oyemomi is the Rector, Baptist College of Theology, Lagos. In this interview with TRIBUNE CHURCH, he speaks on the impact of theological education, the role of the Baptist College of Theology in raising competent leaders and the 25-year journey of the college.
WHAT is the impact of Theological Education in governance and for leadership in Nigeria?
The impact of theological education is multifaceted, as theological education gave birth to several churches. It also gave birth to proliferation of schools. These are the immediate impact but in the 1950s, primary schools in those days were virtually free education.
The missionaries gave scholarship to children, especially the intelligent ones. As a nation, we have no value for education. The people who had primary education to standard six in those days can be compared with a graduate today. The missionaries hired such standard six graduates and so many lives have been uplifted. Missionaries hired them for several jobs in the public sector.
The impact has been there through the establishment of mission schools across the country where students were trained about the right way of living and the need to reverence God in all their pursuits. The missionaries impacted several values and seeds of godliness in the students who have since become notable leaders today.
How can theological education help our leaders?
Theological education must be given a space to shape leaders. We need to watch the track records of our leaders. Our leaders even boast that our votes mean nothing to them. We have a crop of leaders who have no track records and all they do is manipulate.
Theological education has been ostracised. In the last few years, war has been waged against Theological education. It is a threat/war against the source of peace, which is God.
Theological education can have great impact on our leaders which is a study about God. It is education that gives a transformation into godliness. In theological education, you are taught how you must have concern for fellow human beings; when utilised, the impact is huge. Theological education indicates that God is indivisible; most people with sound theological education act right.
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Theological education can train people who will use and lead the people. Theological education has produced leaders for the country who are functioning in various places. It has helped people to be versatile, but they are being massacred due to selfishness, nepotism and tribalism in the country. God authenticates theological education as we will all return to God.
What is the role of Baptist College of Theology, Lagos since inception in shaping lives and impacting the society?
The impact of BCT Lagos has been enormous. The goal is to produce Godliness, character formation and spiritual formation for Christian ministry. The college also provides sound spirituality to mold people’s lives for 25 years. It has continued to raise giants for the Lord. We have produced a lot of godly people around the world, not only in Nigeria. We have our graduates in all states in Nigeria. Some of our products have become prominent persons within the denominations and also in government. Several of our students have been trained and they are using their God-given training to help government and be supportive. We have our products across the globe. Most of them are in key places across the world and this shows that the training we provide is first class.
BCT Lagos has been accredited with Association for Christian Education in Africa (ACEA), in Nigeria. It has also been a campus for Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso. We have secured full accreditation and having partnership with several global bodies-having strategic focusing programme is to train people to know more about God. The college has 360 degree impartation. We have trained over 1,500 graduates since inception. Our calendar of activities is stable and is not disrupted in any way. We just graduated 72 this 2022 to join the workforce to make impact. We have also planted almost 20 churches since inception.
Some of our graduands in the public sector/private sectors develop skills for others and equip them. We also train the working class who after graduation are advancing the kingdom of God and contributing to the nation’s growth. Our graduates are the salt of the earth. We also have our trained pastors working with Federal Government and contributing their quota. The college turns 25 this year and we are showcasing it through several activities.