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By Vera Wisdom-Bassey
THE General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called on Nigerians, particularly the youth, to embrace diligence as a pathway to success in life and career.
Speaking at the 80th birthday thanksgiving service of Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Adeboye emphasised what he described as the five D’s of success, including diligence in hearing the word of God, diligence in serving God, diligence in prayers, diligence in worship and diligence in holiness.
According to him, these are the essential pillars that lead to the top.
“Becoming successful in life is not a day’s job; it is something you must consistently work at if you must get to the top,” he said, referencing Proverbs 22:29: “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
He cautioned against the increasing commercialisation of church service, lamenting that unlike in his youth when choristers willingly served without financial expectations, many now demand payment before rendering service in God’s house.
Adeboye, who has been a long-time friend of Bishop Okonkwo, described their bond as inseparable, comparing it to bread and water.
He noted that he could not have missed celebrating the milestone, describing September 7, 2025, as a day of joy, adding: “the devil never wanted me to see today.”
He recalled how Okonkwo once requested that he preach during his episcopal coronation service, an experience he described as meeting his match in ministry.
The service also featured tributes from other prominent clerics. The President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Pastor Wale Oke, praised Bishop Okonkwo as an octogenarian who is “still waxing strong and not sitting in a wheelchair,” praying for a new chapter of glory in his life.
In his response, Bishop Okonkwo expressed gratitude, stressing that his lifelong desire had been to positively impact people. “If you touch one, you touch all. You can have buildings, but without people to fill them, they are a waste. For me, I love people, and everywhere I go in the world, I meet people who recognise me, even when I try to disguise myself,” he said.
When asked about the secret to his youthful outlook, Okonkwo advised against accepting old age as a limitation. “Never say you are old. As long as God has given me grace to be alive, there is still something to offer. I keep learning and re-learning. I have never had a time when I said I have arrived.”
The thanksgiving service was marked by pomp and pageantry, with the Police Band leading a procession that ushered Okonkwo into the church. The Royal Children’s Choir and the adult choir inspired the congregation with soulful renditions, while goodwill messages poured in from dignitaries and church leaders, including Bishop David Oyedepo, who described Okonkwo as a seed of David.
The event drew high-profile attendees, such as the Governor of Abia State, represented by Lagos Liaison Officer, Mrs. Adaeze Okonkwo; Ogun State Governor, represented by Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, Head of Service, Ogun State Civil Service; Pastor Adeboye and his wife; PFN President, Bishop Oke; and Bishop Olumide of Souls for Christ Ministry, Italy, among others.
