Chapel of Freedom Commence 34th Church Conference, as Bishop Ibenu Urges Governments Scholarship
By Boluwaji Obahopo
The General Overseer of Chapel of Freedom International Churches, Lokoja, Bishop John Ibenu, has renewed his appeal to governments at all levels to revive scholarship schemes and expand educational support for indigent students, saying such interventions remain the surest pathway out of poverty.
Speaking ahead of the church’s 34th anniversary and annual convention, themed “Born to Reign,” the cleric drew from his personal journey from a struggling village school teacher to a bishop, insisting that scholarships transformed his life when poverty almost ended his education.
”Please, remember the children of the poor; education remains “the greatest tool of emancipation for humanity.”
Ibenu recounted how he completed secondary school in 1978 but was unable to proceed because his father could not afford tertiary education. To survive, he accepted employment as a primary school teacher using his mock examination result, earning just N78 monthly – far below the N100 paid to holders of the West African School Certificate.
His fortunes changed after gaining admission into Murtala College of Arts, Science and Technology. Having exhausted his savings on tuition and basic needs, he received a scholarship worth N260, which sustained him through the academic session.
”I even returned N60 to my father to support his farming because I no longer needed to depend on him,” he recalled.
According to him, the experience taught him the true value of government support.
”While some students spent their scholarship money carelessly, those of us who knew where we were coming from used it to secure our future.”
The story repeated itself at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where scholarship grants enabled him to complete his university education despite severe financial hardship.
He disclosed that securing admission alone required enormous sacrifice, with his father struggling for three days to raise N60, while an uncle and his guardian contributed the balance needed for registration.
”It took scholarship for us to make up for our insufficiency. Whether it is for one student or one thousand, scholarship is scholarship.”
The bishop said the experience explains why he consistently advocates scholarship programmes whenever he meets governors and other public officials.
”I always tell them, ‘Please remember the children of the poor.’ There are brilliant young Nigerians whose dreams are dying simply because they cannot afford education.”
Addressing young Nigerians, Ibenu urged them not to surrender to economic hardship or blame the system for their circumstances.
”Life has never been easy for anyone. Every generation has faced its own challenges. We need to inspire young people that they can still succeed.”
His passion for education, he noted, extends beyond advocacy.
Through Chapel of Freedom International Churches, the ministry established Freedom Nursery and Primary School and later Freedom Faith Secondary School in Lokoja, institutions he described as among the most affordable in the area.
He said the secondary school, founded in 2004, has produced more than 13 graduating sets with consistently impressive performances in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), while the church also offers scholarships to deserving students.
Ibenu recalled that before the construction of an access road by the Kogi State Government under former Governor Ibrahim Idris, the church personally undertook annual grading and maintenance of the road leading to its premises between 1997 and 2008.
Speaking on the forthcoming convention, he said the week-long programme would focus on equipping believers with practical wisdom for leadership, financial discipline, wealth creation, creativity and purposeful living.
He also expressed concern over what he described as the declining culture of mentorship among young people.
”The current generation does not like mentoring because they live in hype. Many now have social media mentors they cannot even meet physically. Yet, in every endeavour, we need mentors.”
Family values will also feature prominently during the convention, with his wife, Rev. Margaret Ibenu, expected to speak on building “the reigning family” and the importance of honouring parental guidance regardless of one’s achievements.
Ibenu, who has maintained a mentorship relationship with Bishop David Oyedepo since 1983 and was ordained by him in 1991 before his episcopal consecration by Archbishop Sam Amaga in 2001, said the convention seeks to produce believers who will reign through wisdom, discipline and godly character.
For the cleric, however, the anniversary carries a message that extends beyond the church. His life, he said, remains proof that a single scholarship can change not only one person’s destiny but generations to come.
End
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JUNE 28TH 2026)
