The 7^th Inaugural Lecture, as presented by Professor Olusola Olarinre Ayo-Obiremi, was titled: “Empower Them or Lose Them: Children, Family Ecclesiology, and the Challenge of Discipleship in Contemporary Nigeria”. The programme, which held in the institution’s Multipurpose Hall held on June 2, 2026. The programme started at exactly 2:00 pm with a procession of the officiating personnel, followed by the singing of the Nigerian national anthem. The Seminary Registrar, Rev. Olusegun Okunlola, read the profile of Prof. Ayo-Obiremi, professor of Christian Education and ushered her in for the inaugural lecture at about 2:09 pm.

Prof. Ayo-Obiremi, in appreciation to God, noted that she was the second female ordained Nigerian Baptist Convention minister, the first female Professor in the Age Grade and Family Life Department of the Seminary, and the first female professor to present an inaugural lecture at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso. Prof. Ayo-Obiremi noted that “Empower Them or Lose Them” emphasises the direct and urgent need to intentionally empower children in the home and church through exemplary lifestyle and discipleship that culminates in their spiritual formation, so that they are not lost to the “competitive formative system”.

The divine mandate is given to the family through parents. They are to EMPOWER by E – Exemplifying Christlikeness, M – Motivating children (and teenagers), P – Providing structure of an intentional environment for their spiritual development, O – Offering opportunities for their growth and participatory engagement, W- Worshipping God and helping the young people to worship Him, E- encouraging and making room for young people to Engage spiritually in evangelism and discipleship and R – Reinforcing values and releasing children to serve in ministry.

A caution was given that if early discipleship of children is ignored, it is tantamount to “courting generational rupture and ecclesial decline”. Prof. Ayo-Obiremi gave recommendations to the family, church and theological institutions to EMPOWER children, not to lose them. The lecture ended with felicitation at 2:46 pm. In confirmation of her commitment to discipleship, Seminary children from the discipleship group she leads in Bowen University Teaching Hospital Chapel presented a choreography to Jason Ingram’s, Benjamin Fielding et al’s  song ‘I will Sing of the Goodness of God’ rendered by Dr Walton Asomdwee and Pastor AnuOluwapo Amusan of the Faculty of Church Music.

The President, Prof. S. Ola Ayankeye, received a copy of the inaugural lecture from Prof. Ayo-Obiremi, which he gave to the Registrar, who in turn gave it to the Librarian for safekeeping. The President as the presiding officer made some comments in which he acknowledged the presence of some dignitaries. Dignitaries present included the husband, children, grandson  and mother of the inaugural lecturer, Mrs Elizabeth Omoladun Fadeji, as well as the inaugural lecturer’s extended family members. The immediate past Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Bowen University teaching Hospital, Prof. Akin OlaOlorun, the erstwhile Seminary President and his wife, Prof. Emiola and Dcns Eunice Nihinlola, also graced the occasion. Members of the NBTS Governing Council represented by Prof. Abel Ogunwale, Provost of the LAUTECH College of Agriculture, Iseyin and many other professors from LAUTECH and the Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) attended also. The closing hymn sung was ‘Soldiers of Christ’ and a closing prayer was said by Prof. Emiola Nihilola at 3:23 pm after which the academic procession recessed in reverse order.

Report by

Precious Violet, PhDRE1

for NBTS Advancement Centre