Pastor Chris Oyahkilome has demonstrated his commitment to education and the empowerment of youth by financing a brand new engineering faculty. The development that began in October 2015 was officially unveiled for the new academic year of 2019. The faculty’s inauguration of the beautiful new engineering faculty was met with cheers and tears of joy from thousands of freshman students who are newly enrolled in the program.
A Step Forward
The faculty will help usher in a new phase of the university which has already been making leaps forward in the global academic playing field. The Engineering students of 2019 will be contributing to the already growing standard of the university. In addition to that, the BIU president, Bishop F.E. Benson Idahosa II has been playing an integral part in linking the university to other institutions around the world, such as the University of Delaware and even Tel Aviv University!
He has said that “a good strategic partnership can improve an institution by offering students an opportunity to participate in significant experiences abroad, through more innovative programs such as internship and double degree programs.” Adding that “partnerships also have the potential to make an impact on curriculum development, collaborative teaching programs and research networks”
As a major supporter of empowering the youth, Pastor Chris is behind several other campaigns and organizations geared to the advancement of indigent children. His efforts range from improving inner-city schools to nurturing young leaders in the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, to the creation of summer camps and youth programs that inspire the word of God, the power education and self-improvement to millions of “Loveworld” youths around the world.
The Impact of Two Great Men
Pastor Chris Oyahkhilome’s relationship with the university is indeed a special one. Pastor Chris studied the work of the legendary late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, the founder of the university at his Church of God Mission International (CGMI), a mega-church located in Benin, Nigeria. There Pastor Chris truly developed as the pastor we know and love today, the president of Loveworld Inc. Pastor Chris spoke extremely highly of the late Archbishop, recalling his earliest memories of working with the BIU founder.
“While working with him, I had the blessing and benefit of seeing the Archbishop pass by my table every day to his office,” he said. Pastor Chris added that knowing Idahosa impacted him greatly. “Archbishop Benson Idahosa was one of the most remarkable and inspiring personalities of the 20th Century. It is a fact of life that those who did not have the privilege to get to meet him, are blessed to meet him through many of us. The impact of the Archbishop on me as an individual is unquantifiable.” It was these values that the Archhsip founded the university on and what inspired Pastor Chris to be one of the most significant figures of today
Leaving Behind a Legacy
The incredible relationship between the two was certainly noticed. In fact, BUI recently bestowed upon the man of God an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Divinity from the University. The historic occasion paid tribute to Oyahkhilome’s life’s work and his commitment to the advancement of people’s wellbeing both locally and internationally.
In his speech, the BIU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ernest B. Izevbigie commented on the many similarities shared between Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and the values of the institution upholds. The occasion was an excellent opportunity for the university to publicly honor the Christ Embassy president, who in their eyes was “fulfilling the legacy left behind by its founder, Archbishop B.A Idahosa and declared that the best days of Rev. Dr Chris Oyakhilome were ahead of him.”
The President of the Institution, Bishop F.E Benson Idahosa II who bestowed upon the Loveworld founder his Honorary Doctorate in Divinity spoke on the impact of “Role of Models in an Age of no Models, saying “man is an imperfect being, made perfect by God”. Identifying the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa as a man raised by God to be a role model for the world and the next generation, Bishop Idahosa said, “like the Archbishop, Rev. Dr Chris Oyakhilome is indeed a role model, noting that the honorary awardee has not just used his faith to build edifices, but more importantly, he has built people.”
The World-Wide Impact
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome continues to contribute to the youth of society with economic aid, and countless organizations foundations that help impoverished children in struggling urban communities. The youth of the world is indeed blessed to be led by such an amazing figure.