A Professor of Systematic and Biblical Theology at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, Professor John Oluchi Enyinnaya, has avowed that the failings of the church in Africa are essentially due to its theological ineptitude.
He made this assertion at the delivery of the 3rd Inaugural Lecture of the Seminary, on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the Multi-Purpose Hall.
Insightfully, through his lecture titled “Theological Incongruence in Africa and the Search for a Theology Fit for the People of God,” Professor Enyinnaya called attention to the theological and doctrinal inconsistencies in African Christianity in 5 significant ways.
First, the incongruence between the long history of Christianity and its impact; Second, the paradox of growing emphasis of prosperity gospel and increasing poverty; Third, the failure of the phenomenon growth of the church in Africa to produce corresponding expected spiritual, moral, political, economic and social development of the countries in Africa. Fourth, the ineffectiveness of African Christian theology to combat theological ineptitude of the church for over sixty years; Fifth, the conflicts between the orthodoxy and orthopraxy of many Nigerian Baptists over 120 years of theological education in the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
Having spent 24 years wrestling with the foregoing concerns through his extensive breadth of research, teaching, and students’ supervision, Prof Enyinnaya submitted that a new approach to the church’s theological task must be engaged. In his words, “what is needed is a theology focused on God and the uniqueness of his redemptive purpose through Jesus Christ. We need a theology that respects the Bible as God’s reliable and authoritative revelation to humanity and as the bedrock of all theological engagements.” Specifically, theology must be threefold focused: as doxological, catechetical, and missional. Accordingly, he recommended a revision of theological methodology and the curriculum.
This third inaugural lecture of the seminary was well viewed and attended both online and onsite by colleagues, students, friends and family of the Inaugural lecturer.
Born on June 1, 1971 in Abia, Abia State to Mr Daniel Enyinnaya Orike and Mrs Esther Orike, Professor Enyinnaya bagged his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1995; Master of Theology at the NBTS Ogbomoso in affiliation with the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kentucky, USA in 1999; Doctor of Philosophy in Systematic Theology and New Testament Language and Literature awarded by NBTS in affiliation with the University of Jos in 2006. He also had a Postgraduate certificate in Theological Education from Belfast Bible college, United Kingdom and a Master of Arts in Theological Education jointly awarded by the London School of Theology and University of Middlesex, both in the United Kingdom.
Prof Enyinnaya began his teaching career at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso in 1999. He rose through the ranks to become a full professor in October 2016.

Watch the lecture here