Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) held a fundraiser on Friday, January 27, 2023, to support the quest of The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) for a Bible House. The event took place at Shepherdhill Baptist Church, Obanikoro, Lagos.

L-R: President and Board Chairman of The Bible Society of Nigeria, Bishop Dr. Timothy Banwo; former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR; the CAN President, the Most Rev’d Daniel Okoh, and the General Secretary/CEO of BSN, Pastor Samuel Sanusi

Speaking as the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Obasanjo said it was shameful that despite their large population in the country, Christians could not come together to build a befitting Bible House for BSN, where the Bible, one of the pillars of the Christian faith, is being produced. According to Chief Obasanjo, one Christian denomination is enough to build the Bible House.

He said that five pillars are very important to the Christian faith and sacrosanct to every Christian – God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, the Holy Bible, and the Church.

Chief Obasanjo said he was not impressed seeing where BSN operates from which made him throw his weight behind the effort to get a befitting edifice as a Bible House. He thanked the President of CAN, Most Reverend Daniel Okoh, who doubled as the Guest Speaker at the event, for gathering the Christian community to raise funds to build a Bible House for BSN.

While delivering his speech, Most Reverend Daniel Okoh commended Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR for being at the forefront of the project, adding that the former President of Nigeria had never hidden his love for the things of God.

The CAN President described the Bible as a mirror that shows who we are, and where we are going, and occupies a central part of our Christian faith. He added that the importance of the Bible cannot be overemphasised. The Guest Speaker said The Bible Society of Nigeria should be seen as an integral part of the body of Christ in Nigeria and urged everyone to see it as a privilege to be part of those who would build for the Lord.

He urged all Christians to emulate the passion of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and rally round the BSN to make the building project a reality.

Also speaking, the Founder of Love of Christ Church, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi, said she would send her Engineer to inspect the property to ascertain the level of support to give to the project.

Earlier, the President and Board Chairman of BSN, Bishop Dr. Timothy Banwo, who was visibly elated, welcomed everyone to the occasion and particularly thanked Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the CAN President for championing the fundraising event.

On his part, while briefing the attendees on the updates of the project, the General Secretary/CEO, Pastor Samuel Sanusi thanked the various heads of church denominations for their kind gesture.

The organisaton has been operating in a rented and unconducive office space since 2018 because its former corporate headquarters in Apapa, Lagos, built by The Canadian Bible Society in 1919 on behalf of The British and Foreign Bible Society and inherited by the BSN in 1966 could no longer support its operations, and as well became inaccessible to the members of the public it serves.

The Bible House is designed to have a corporate office space, a translation centre, Bible Museum, a Bible shop, a library, warehouse, among other operational facilities and it is estimated to cost N2.2 billion.

For further enquires and support to this project, please contact www.biblesociety-nigeria.org or email us at info@biblesociety-nigeria.org You can also talk to Lucky on 08159094126 or Mordi on 08159094116