Bishop Asaju laments state of Nigerian church @ WATS graduation ceremony, tells seminarians to change the narrative

Bishop of Ilesha Diocese of the Anglican Church , The Rt Rev Dapo Asaju has challenged graduates of the West Africa Theological Seminary to change negative story of the church by living out what they have been taught in the seminary.

He made the call as guest lecturer at the seminary’s 34th and 35th graduation ceremony which took place at the seminary’s main campus  in Ipaja, Lagos on Saturday November 29

Theology queen of all professions

Asaju spoke highly of theology at the event describing it as the  queen of all professions. 

“Theology produced medicine, produced accountants, even the structure of governance we have in many countries of the world was derived  from Isaiah 33v22 where the Bible says, For the Lord is our judge, our lawgiver and our king, it is he who will save us. There you find the three arms of government. The legislature, the judiciary and the executive. The Lord God is your King, implying the executive,  He is your lawgiver implying the  legislature and  righteous judge-implying  judiciary. There is nothing you think of that cannot be traced to the Bible.”

While noting that the seminarians  have been equipped with the raw materials with which they could explore life he lamented the deplorable state of the Church and the corruption that has enveloped many ministers of the gospel across the globe.

He warned the graduates that  their theological exposure in the seminary notwithstanding, the Bible remains sacrosanct  while urging them to “Beware of those who want to rewrite the Bible”

He counselled further, “Your primary purpose is to go back to the basics and to do things the way Jesus Christ and the apostles did it. Your knowledge is to make you make a difference in all parts of the society.”

Paul made a difference

Still underscoring the importance of theology, Asaju noted that the wisdom, the knowledge.and  theological erudition of Paul the Apostle made a difference in the evangelical efforts of the early followers of Jesus. 

“There’s a professor in the University of London who has been doing nothing more than teaching the book of Romans for the past 45 years. He is Professor of the Book of Romans. What then do you say of Paul, who wrote the book ? “

He urged the graduands to continue their education under the University of the Holy Spirit. “He will guide you and interpret a word into your heart. He will tell you where he wants you to work.”

He took time to read from the book of Jude spelling out the warning of Jude to followers of Christ. He deplored the pervasion of the gospel by homosexuals and those sympathetic to the ungodly lifestyles

The Anglican Bishop however expressed optimism that the graduates will make a difference. “You will recover the church. You will not teach theological nonsense. This seminary stands for truth and holiness..”

Speaking further, he urged his listeners not to be swayed by title, position and materialism while pleading with them to embrace the simplicity of Jesus’ lifestyle. 

“He Is the one who gave us the Commission. Don’t glory because of your achievement. Glory because your name is written in the book of life.”

He emphasized the need for them to place premium on the fruit of the Spirit stating that “All the gifts of pentecostalism cannot match one fruit of the Spirit-love, peace, humility, patience, gentleness, endurance, love, long suffering, kindness. It is your fruit that makes you a Christian. Theological knowledge exists for the church. Fruit of the Holy Spirit exists for the society.”

Asaju who was one time lecturer at the Lagos State University and later Vice Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University underscored the great impact of Jesus on the world while at the same time calling the graduates to go and make a difference in the society.

Christian persecution

On the trials being faced by many  Christians globally, Asaju said, “There were persecution in the early Church. Christians were thrown to the lions. Some of them were beheaded. Some of them were murdered. The apostles suffered martyrdom.”

After the era of persecution, the church had many other great men of God even from Africa who defended the faith and helped to form the theology that is being enjoyed today. 

“Unfortunately, we slept and Islam came, took over North Africa, took over Asia Minor. Europe is losing Christianity.” he said 

Asaju deplored the killings of Christians in Nigeria as well as the lackadaisical attitude of Church leaders. 

He said, “It is a shame that our leaders are still building empires. They are still gathering crowds. They are still buying private jets when our brothers are being slaughtered in the north, in the middle belt, the evidences are clear. They’ve been killing us for a long time.

“They’ve been taking over villages in Plateau, in Benue and we are pretending as if it doesn’t matter. They imposed upon us a Muslim-Muslim ticket. And all those who are sponsors of Boko Haram, many of them are involved in leadership of the country. Many of them are in the military, and we are looking at them. Nobody is saying anything.”

He decried the injustice in Nigeria saying, “You can put Nnamdi Kanu in Sokoto prison. But Those who are carrying AK 47 are walking around the place and nothing is being done to them. When there is serious injustice in the society, God himself will one day step in and scatter everything and rearrange things because the leaders who are supposed to talk are not talking”

Docility of the church 

He observed that the non-challance of church leaders in Nigeria may put the church into more crisis if care is not taken. 

Asaju recalled how as a 26 year-old lecturer and chairman of the Academic Staff Union of LASU, he led the fight for an enhanced pay for lecturers during the military regime of President Ibrahim Badamosi.

He then prayed, “ May you be radical! May you not be Christian gentlemen, may you be radicals like Jesus. May you take koboko and drive those who are selling in the temple. May you not market prophecy. May you not be those who are just feasting on tithe and offering. May you not be those who are living at the expense of the congregation. May you be like Jesus, like the apostles in the name of Jesus.”

Trained pastors 

He observed that there is a paucity of trained pastors and the proliferation of churches that are making little impact in the society. “That’s why our children today are saying, church is a scam.”

Drawing from some of his interactions with church leaders and churches, he said many pastors are living large at the expense of their congregation. 

“Money that would have been used to build churches, to help those who have been persecuted, to comfort those who are in distress and to help the orphans are being used to buy vanities”

He shared the story of how the Church Missionary Society (CMS) was established in 1779 by eight boys in their 20s; all graduates of Oxford University. They were the ones God used to stop slavery and take the gospel round the world. William Wilberforce was one of them. He was the one who raised the motion for the abolition of slave trade in the House of Common in the UK”

In his address at the event the Provost of the seminary, Dr Femi Emmanuel took time to appreciate all those who have over the years been instrumental to the success of the seminary. 

He noted that the seminary had witnessed unprecedented transformation since he came on board in terms of upsurge in students enrolment both at the graduate and undergraduate level. 

The school according to him has also undergone massive infrastructural development in the last couple of years and have enjoyed unprecedented local support since its founding.

He said more than ever before the seminary is committed to academic excellence and raising of godly leaders. “We are deepening the renewed WATS vision. We are strengthening the unity of purpose across all levels of leadership, deepening our hunger for scriptural holiness and attracting qualified students from across denominations.”

About 134 students graduated from the two sets put together. For the 2024 set three made a first class in BA Theology while one made a first class in the 2025 set for the same course.

About West Africa Theological Seminary (WATS)

WATS was established in April 1989 by Rev. Prof. Gary S. Maxey an American with the goal of providing sound theological training to as many pastors as possible on a nondenominational platform. It is currently located in Ipaja, Lagos, Nigeria. It initially began as Wesley International Bible College in Owerri, Imo State.

It is considered one of the largest and most strategically positioned non-denominational seminaries in West Africa, having trained thousands of graduates who serve in ministries across numerous countries.

WATS offers a range of programs, including: ​Undergraduate Studies​Postgraduate Diploma in Theology (PGDT)​Master’s Programs: Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, Christian Leadership, Intercultural Studies, and Christian Education.​Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)n.)

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