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By Chinyere Anyanwu
Quality education that touches on the physical, spiritual, mental and social well being of the people has been described as one of the ways to bring the populace up to a level where they can understand their full potential and be blessed by God.
This was the submission of the President, General Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventists, Pastor (Dr.) Ted N. C. Wilson, who was on a visit to the church’s private university in Ogun State, Babcock University (BU), on Sunday, November 5.
Speaking on Babcock University’s attainments in the educational landscape of the country, Wilson said the institution is now one of the highest in standard, noting that Seventh-day Adventists have established an educational system that caters for the total man.
According to Wilson, “there’s a wonderful way the Seventh-day Adventists educational system, which covers the whole church of about 210 countries of the world with over 22 million members, and we have a extensive educational system helping people socially, physically, mentally and spiritually.”
Projecting into the future of Babcock University, he expressed hope that the institution “will become the most stellar institution in the entire country, and that it will not only be academically of a high standard but it will help the students proudly understand their obligation to serve others and to serve God.”
During his address, Pastor Wilson encouraged the students, faculty and administrative bodies of the university never to give up in the face of any challenge in the course of their daily pursuits.
His words, “I want to challenge you that despite that you are studying very hard, and the tests are very hard, don’t be discouraged because everyone of you has a God-ordained plan for your life. He knows you better than you know yourself. Faculty and admin, you may have challenges that you seem not to have solutions to. Don’t be discouraged.”
Quoting from the Bible book of Jeremiah 32: 27, which says, “Behold, I am the Lord thy God. Is there anything too hard for me to do?”, the SDA GC President advised: “When faced with undescribable situations, turn to the one who says, ‘is there anything too hard for me?’ When you feel discouraged and uncertain of the future, call on God as he has said in Jeremiah 33: 3 that he will deliver you and show you great and mighty things you don’t know about.”
Wilson appealed to the states’ governors and Federal Government to give room for freedom of conscience and religious liberty, which will provide accommodation for those who have other religious convictions.
Said he, “when you have religious liberty and freedom of conscience, you have established a tremendous platform for progress, growth and true peace among the people.”
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of BU, Prof. Ademola Tayo, expressed joy for the privilege of receiving the visiting GC President, an event he saw as “an opportunity for us to celebrate our shared values, beliefs, humanity, and to hear and learn from the wisdom of a spiritual leader, who has touched the lives of so many and impacted our Church in many indescribable ways positively. Elder (Dr.) Wilson is for us a beacon of hope for those seeking guidance in their faith journey. He continues to inspire us with his knowledge, devotion and understanding to a life filled with purpose and love.”
Commenting on the level of progress recorded by BU, Prof. Tayo noted that the institution which started as a small senior college with a population of seven students on September 17, 1959, has grown in leaps and bounds over the past 24 years as Nigeria’s premier private university with a student population of over 12,000 at full session.
“In acknowledgment of the power of education as veritable tool for enlightenment and mobilisation, Babcock University has been establishing secondary schools in strategic places in southwest Nigeria. We now have three secondary schools in Lagos, one of the most industrialised and populated cities in Nigeria. The 4th secondary school in Lagos will soon come on stream. There are other two Babcock secondary schools in Ogun State, and one in Ondo State,” Tayo added.
There were side attractions including musical and cultural renditions, among other, events.
The GC President, Pastor Ted Wilson, also visited the Lagos Headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Maryland, where he inspected guards of honour mounted by the church and commended the worshippers for their faithfulness to God.
Speaking to the Maryland audience, Wilson said, “you have demonstrated your love and faithfulness to God,” and admonished them to “be true to your family, community, local church and above all, be true to God. Always cast your mind on the word of God.”
