WATS provost lists seminary’s giant strides @ 30/31st convocation

SA to the governor of Lagos State on Religious Matters, Very Rev Bukola Adeleke, Chairman Gov council, Pastor Dr Emmanuel Oluwayemi, Representative of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Adetutu Ososanya, representative of the guest speaker, Barr Felix Oshalomi, Provost of WATs Pastor Oluwafemi Martins at the combined 2020/21 Convocation ceremony of the Seminary today 11/9/21

Provost of West Africa Theological Seminary Rev Dr. Oluwafemi Martins has itemised many of the giants strides of the school in its 30 years of existence.

The seminary was founded by Professor Garry Maxey, an American.

Martins in his address at the 30/31 comvocation of the school stated that the school has come.a long way in training of manpower for the Church as well as impacting its immediate community of Ipaja, Lagos.

The provost who took over the leadership of the institution about two years ago said WATS has since become one of the largest and most strategically positioned seminaries in West Africa.

He disclosed that the school has trained over 2000 graduates, and has about 1200 of its graduates serving in ministries in 22 countties

According to him ‘ the seminary’s library remains the best stocked non denominational library in West Africa with theological materials that can only be found in some of the best universities in the world.’

He said also that the school has made a lot of impact in its immediate community with the WATS Hospital.

Presently, the hospital  according to Rev Martin’s attends to about 562 patients on a daily basis. It has so far about 542 in-patient admission while about 128 surgeries have been carried out by the hospital in the last five years of its existence. He disclosed also that the hospital has taken deliveries of 166 babies since inception.

He expressed confidence that if the hospital is well funded it will make significant impact on the health sector of the country.

The seminary according to him.also prides itself in being able to assemble resource persons across the globe which is made possible by the school’s high tech classrooms.

He urged the invited government officials to use their offices to reinvigorate the demand for setting up a distinct body for accrediting theological institutions in tandem with the function of the National Universities Commission.

This according to him will make the agenda for excellence in global leadership through theological education a reality.

The provost traced theological education to the old testament times of the Bible.

He said, ‘ Exodus 24v3 confirms Moses seemed to have engaged in some theological.education as he passed on the divine insructions he received from.God (exodus 19v3) to the people who as recipients agreed to the content and context of their lectures which were carefully written down by Moses’

Rev Martin’s stated also that the aim of the seminary is to create a synergy between spiritual and secular leadership .

He noted that the paucity of right theological education negates church influence on national discourse adding that  it’s part of the reason many political leaders are not getting right in government.