I'm not in hurry to own private varsity

By Gabriel Dike

The presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo, says he is not under pressure to establish a private university.

He also disclosed that the National Essay Competition for Secondary School introduced as part of his birthday celebration has made a tremendous impact in the life of the students and participating schools nationwide.

Bishop Okonkwo made the declaration while interacting with some journalists at TREM Headquarters in Lagos as part of activities to herald his 80th birthday.

His words: “I am not in competition with anybody to establish a private university. Establishing a university is a good thing and a good idea.

“I am not going to put myself under pressure because others are doing it. The ministry is ongoing with several projects. Yes, university is important but it is not my priority for now.”

Okonkwo revealed that if he cannot establish one in the nearest future, those who will take after him can do so.

The Octogenarian said part of his ministry is to motivate the youths, award them scholarship and empower them with skills acquisition.

He acknowledged that the Mike Okonkwo national essay competition for secondary schools have challenged the students to improve on the reading culture and how to carry out research.

According to him, every year, secondary school students and their schools look forward to the essay competition and are eager to participate.

Okonkwo explained that the essay competition has exposed students on how to research, write and present their thoughts.

The entries for the 20th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for both public and private secondary school students in the country opened in March 2025.

A statement signed by Rev. Anthony Samuel of the Corporate Affairs Department, said the theme for this year’s competition is “The Nigeria of Our Dreams: Today’s Reality and a Responsible Pathfinder.”

Students are expected to submit an essay (maximum 1,200 words) along with the following details: full name, address, telephone number, school name, class, and the principal’s telephone number

With the new star prizes, the essay winner will go home with a cash prize of N1,000,000, a laptop, and a plaque. While the winning student’s school will get a desktop computer and a trophy.

The first runner-up will receive N600,000, a laptop, and a plaque, while the school will be presented with a desktop computer. The second runner-up will go home with N400,000, a laptop, and a plaque and the school will be presented with a desktop computer.

The Mike Okonkwo essay competition is part of the Bishop’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, aimed at fostering critical thinking and analytical skills in students to prepare them for success.

It also contributes to raising the standard of education in Nigeria. Additionally, this event is part of the activities celebrating the birthday of the patron, Dr. Mike Okonkwo, which is especially significant this year as he turns 80.

He is an Apostle to this generation, having impacted millions globally through his ministry. A father figure to many and a pastor to pastors, Okonkwo is a dynamic conference speaker, crusade evangelist, national spokesman for Nigeria, and advocate of balanced Christianity.

In his commitment to nation building, Dr. Okonkwo established the Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture in 2000. The lecture addresses key challenges facing the nation and proposes meaningful solutions.

Over time, the lecture has become a key platform for influencing government policy, bringing together distinguished individuals to discuss pressing national issues.

The essay competition was birthed from this platform, and both events culminate on the same day, with the essay topic aligning with the theme of the annual lecture.

The organizers of the national essay competition have described the 2025 edition as a special one, which marks the 80th birthday of Bishop Okonkwo, 20th edition of the competition and introduction of new prizes for winners.

According to the organizers, the competition has created a healthy rivalry among schools and students in their quest to win the star prize.

The organizers further disclosed that with the new star prize, the competition would in future attract more schools.