HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH,

FESTAC TOWN, LAGOS.

EVOLUTION

The hosting of the “Festival of arts” and Culture by Nigeria in 1977 whereby Federal Housing Authority (FHA) sold the houses used for the festival to Nigerians on Owner-Occupier basis after the festival necessitated the establishment of the Seventh - day Adventist church in FESTAC town.

Some of our members who were fortunate winners of the houses relocated to this festival town and met on how to establish a fellowship centre. The members were Elders Oyelakin, I.I. Mbata as well as Brothers R.O. Ndukaku (late) and S.O.C. Nwaokomah.

This proposal got to Yaba district council through the District Pastor A. Akintunde where the decision to establish a company in FESTAC town was taken. This took off in September 1977 at a temporary place in FHA restaurant along 202/ 111 Road.

The inauguration of the Branch Sabbath School (BSS) out of this company came up on the 10th of October, 1978, by Elder S.O. Nwaojigba. Elder I.I. Mbata was then appointed to lead the Brach while Brothers Esionye and R.O. Ndukaku (both late) were appointed as associate leaders. The First Choir Master appointed was Elder A. Nwankwo.

Because of its proximity to FESTAC town, Apapa church was mandated to play the role of the “ Mother Church ”.

ORGANISATION OF THE CHURCH

In the middle of 1982, the Yaba district council under the chair of Pastor (Dr.) A.A. Alalade gave the approval to the organization of the BSS to a full-fledged church. The President of the West Nigeria mission, Pastor D.O. Babalola, organized the church on the 9th of July, 1983 . The programme was concluded with a Holy Communion service. Elder S.O.C. Nwaokomah was vested with the leadership of the Church as the lay Pastor.

The church memberships during the organization are as follows:

Brothers: T.K. Popoola, S.N. Enyioha, M.C. Etekwuru, G.U. Onwuegbuchulam, A.N. Nwankwo, Y. Adejuwon, L. Ogbonna, R.O. Ndukaku, G.C.K. Nwachukwu, T.O. Adedayo, C.A. Nwaogwugwu, A.N. Nmelu, A. Onwuso, O.O. Achaw, P. Enyinaya, E.C. Igbandu; Sisters: A.F. Popoola, C.E. Nwaokomah, J.O. Adejuwon, O. Adejuwon, O. Enyioha, B. Ndukaku, A. Ogbonna, F.N. Onwuegbuchulam, C.M. Adejuwon, F. Adaramola, G.E. Nwaogwugwu, and S.A. Ayeni.

In 1985, a supervisory Pastor in person of J.O. Lawal was appointed for the Church while Elder S.A. Ogidi was made the Choir Master. The church hosted the First Camp Meeting for that year at Ojo town.

WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE

From its inception, a permanent place of worship was the major problem facing the Church. For instance, in 1986 alone, the Church worshipped in four (4) different locations in the FESTAC town namely, 202 road, 5th Avenue Primary School, 512 Road and 3rd Avenue extension. No wander the Church was named a “ Mobile Church ”.

INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH

FESTAC tow was seen as a virgin land yearning for exploitation and to make the ADVENT message to be known by all the members of FESTAC community, an international three-week outreach was sponsored by Dr. Sherman Negel, which took place on the HFA sports ground along 23 Road in 1990. Pastor Dubosque took charge of the preaching with Dr. Nagel in charge of Health Messages. All the other Churches in Lagos state were fully involved in the programme. The new members were especially cared for at a centre located at Jemgi Primary School by J.O. Ojewole and were nurtured to join the Church in fellowship.

ACQUISITION OF A PERMANENT PLACE OF WORSHIP

The event that was to end this accommodation problem came up in March 1991, when Pastor H.O. Oyeleke (Yaba District Pastor), Elders S.O.C. Nwaokomah and T. Jegede met with Dr. Deji Adeleke of Pacific Merchant Bank for a loan of N300, 000 (Three hundred thousand naira). To the Glory of God ,the loan was secured and a piece of land was purchased along 23 Road by Messrs Ephraim Nwagwu, H.O. Oyeleke, S.O.C. Nwaokomah and Uche Ubani of FHA in 1991. The land was immediately cleared by the members for use. This effort resulted in the holding of the First service under rented canopies on the 16th of November, 1991 . The preacher that day was Elder C.O. Akoma and the sermon was titled “Promise land at last” while Brother G.E. Izebhor was the Sabbath School Superintendent.

DEVELOPMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURES

To secure the land from invaders and speculators, the land was fenced with two giant gates at the entrances along 23 road. This was followed by the construction of a lamb shelter, which was financed by Dr. Nagel and executed by Elders S.O.C. Nwaokomah and Brother Ephraim Nwagwu. The First service in the lamb shelter was held on thr 4th of July, 1992, with Elder S.O.C. Nwaokomah as preacher that day.

In a quest to erect a befitting sanctuary for the LORD in a metropolitan town like FESTAC, two building committees – External and Internal were set up with the following composition at various times;

External: Elder T. Jegede- Chairman, Engr. V.O. Oyenuga, Arch. Remi Oyewumi, Elders A.U. Onwunso, J.O. Adeyemo, A.C. Egbulefu, E.U. Ogboso, G.E. Izebhor, C.O. Akoma and the Church Pastor.

Internal: Elder A.C. Egbulefu (Chairman), J.O. Adeyemo, G.E. Izebhor, G. Anagha, S.O.C. Nwaokomah, E.U. Ogboso, F.F. Adewumi, Brother W. Amachree, Sister S.A. Ayeni, and the Church Pastor. With these committees in place, a luncheon was held to raise funds in support of the construction of the permanent Church building. It was at this forum that Dr. D. Adeleke promised to supply all the iron rods of different sizes required for the building.

These were supplied immediately and it gave impetus to the building project that culminated in the foundation laying ceremony that took place on the 15th of June, 1997 . As part of the construction, the Baptistery was dedicated on the 4th of April, 1998, by Pastor J.O. Eregare (Yaba District Pastor) which was followed by the baptism of 64 (Sixty four) Souls.

However, the Church building is nearing completion, it is hoped that the remaining work on the floor tiles, ceiling, painting and electrical fittings will be completed soon. When completed the Church auditorium can accommodate more than two thousand worshipers at a time. The current church membership is above three hundred (300) – baptized.

OTHER LANDMARKS

•  Adventist Women ministries (AWM) first mounted the Church pulpit in 14th of June, 1997 . Sister V. Ogboso (late) preached the sermon while Sister A.A. Adeyemo interpreted in Yoruba language.

•  The Church opened her door for Wedding services on the 2nd of April, 2000, with Brother Chinedu Emos and Sister Oluchi. The Marriage certificate was first issued on the 4th of April, 2004 .

•  On 1st of July, 2000 , Iba Branch Sabbath School was out of FESTAC Church with a membership of well over 50.

•  FESTAC Church became a District Headquarter when FESTAC District was inaugurated on the 25th of November, 2000, from Apapa District with seven Churches located at FESTAC, Ilasa, Ejigbo, Badagry, Okokomaiko, Okota and Iba new site.

CHURCH LEADERSHIP

Over the years, various Pastors and First (Head) Elders as listed below have led the Church.

PASTORS: J.O. Ojewole, S.O. Alofe, R. Atoki, K.O. Dare and Kehinde Alao – the current District Pastor.

FIRST (HEAD) ELDERS: S.O.C. Nwaokomah, J.O. Adaramola, I.I. Mbata, C.O. Akoma, J.A. Babalola, J.O. Adeyemo(Late), E.U. Ogboso, G.E. Izebhor (Under whose administration FESTAC Church was launced on the internet - 2006). To read about the history of the world Seventh-Day Adventist Church, click here.