The University of Ibadan has honoured the President of Christ Apostolic Church, Worldwide, Pastor Abraham O. Akinosun,
the Supreme Head of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Prophet Solomon Alao, and a 92-year-old professor of Church History from Scotland, Andrew Walls.
the Supreme Head of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Prophet Solomon Alao, and a 92-year-old professor of Church History from Scotland, Andrew Walls.
Other religious leaders honoured on Monday are, the National Vice-President, The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Pastor Emmanuel Awojide; President and Primate, Church of the Lord (Aladura), Most Revd. Okikiola Ositelu.
They were inducted as Distinguished Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Church History and Missionology, an integral part of the Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts, UI.
The institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, while speaking during the event, emphasised the importance of religion in nation building.
Olayinka, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Adebola Ekanola, urged the religious leaders to pray for the university because the establishment of UI was divine.
Setting the tone for the award, the Head of Department, Religious Studies, Prof. Samson Fatokun, said the awardees were carefully selected after evaluating their contributions to the growth of Christianity in the country.
He described them as national leaders of Nigerian-initiated churches of the earliest 20th century origin.
“Historically evaluated, the four selected Nigerian instituted churches, have in their formative years in the country, significantly played pivotal roles, in laying the foundation for indigenous Pentecostal Christianity in the Nigerian church which in turn ignited the flame of ‘spirit-renewal movement’ as we have all over the country today.
“The honorees are, “indeed men of ‘timber and calibre’ who have significantly contributed through their respective church denominations to the advancement of the Nigerian indigenous Christianity both in African countries and overseas, as evident in their numerous branches outside Nigeria with striking Nigeria indigenous identities.”
Fatokun added that all researches conducted so far extolled the late St. Moses Orimolade as a true prophet of God.
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