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Founder and Presiding Bishop of Victory International Church, Taiwo Victor Adelakun, has urged journalists and other Nigerians not to allow economic hardship, professional difficulties and other challenges of life to discourage them from pursuing their goals, stressing that perseverance, patience and faith remain essential to overcoming adversity and achieving success.
Adelakun gave the charge during a thanksgiving service marking the 60th anniversary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, held at Wonder City, opposite Dominion University, along the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway, Ibadan, yester.
The service formally opened activities marking the council’s Diamond Jubilee and 2026 Press Week, with the cleric reminding journalists that the challenges encountered in the discharge of their professional responsibilities should not weaken their commitment to their calling.
Delivering a sermon entitled The Story and Glory, Adelakun said every meaningful achievement was preceded by a period of sacrifice, uncertainty and perseverance, urging the congregation to recognise that difficult experiences were often part of the journey towards success.
“The ultimate story is glory. Until you understand the story behind the glory, you cannot access that glory,” he declared.
Drawing from his personal experiences in ministry, the bishop recalled how he once struggled to raise N2,000 to rent a bungalow that would serve as both his business office and a place of worship.
He narrated how a man who had initially promised to lend him the money later withdrew the offer, leaving him disappointed and uncertain about how to proceed.
Adelakun said the setback eventually gave way to another opportunity when, following what he described as divine direction, he found a property where he could establish his ministry without making an immediate financial commitment.
The cleric also recounted the financial difficulties encountered during the establishment of his television ministry, explaining that members of the church’s finance committee initially considered the project beyond the organisation’s resources.
According to him, contributions from members, including N5,000 each from himself and his wife, eventually enabled the church to raise the money required to produce the first 13 episodes of the programme.
He said the television programme had continued over the years, describing the experience as evidence that determination and commitment could sustain a vision even when the resources required to pursue it appeared inadequate.
Adelakun further recalled surviving three armed robbery attacks and overcoming opposition at different stages of his ministry, maintaining that such experiences had strengthened his conviction that setbacks should not be regarded as the end of one’s aspirations.
He urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in difficult circumstances, stressing that every stage of life had its appointed time and that perseverance was necessary to realise worthwhile ambitions.
Quoting the biblical assurance that God “has made all things beautiful in his own time,” the cleric encouraged the congregation to remain hopeful and continue working towards their goals despite temporary disappointments.
In his thanksgiving address, the Chairman of NUJ, Oyo State Council, Akeem Abas, described the union’s 60th anniversary as a milestone in the history of journalism in the state, reflecting six decades of commitment to press freedom, democratic values, professional responsibility and service to society.
Abas said the Diamond Jubilee provided an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices of journalists who had contributed to the growth of the profession, including those who lost their lives in the course of duty.
He maintained that the council remained committed to preserving the legacies of its founding members while repositioning the union to respond effectively to changes in the media industry.
According to him, his administration had prioritised the welfare of journalists, professional development, digital transformation, capacity building and institutional strengthening, alongside efforts to promote unity, inclusiveness and mutual respect among members.
“Our anniversary theme, ‘Oyo NUJ @ 60: Celebrating the Past, Defending the Present and Shaping the Future,’ reminds us that our responsibility goes beyond celebrating history,” he said.
Abas stressed the need for a stronger and more technologically equipped union capable of protecting journalists’ interests, defending professional standards and responding to the challenges of modern journalism.
He called for sustained cooperation among members and stakeholders in the media industry to strengthen the institution and preserve its role in promoting accountability, democratic governance and responsible information dissemination.
The NUJ chairman also prayed for God’s continued protection of journalists, stronger media institutions and wisdom for leaders as the council commenced activities marking its Diamond Jubilee and Press Week.
