The Vice Chancellor made the heartfelt appeal while delivering a deeply stirring lecture at the 4th edition of Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye Annual Birthday Public Lecture on Education
The event, held on Tuesday, 1st July 2025, at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Youth Centre, Redemption City, Mowe, Ogun State, commemorated the 77th birthday of Mummy Folu Adeboye, popularly called Mummy G.O, the revered wife of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.
Delivering the lecture titled *“The Character and Personality of Educators on the Outcome of Christian Education,”* Professor Olatunji-Bello, who also serves as the Zonal Pastor in charge of Zone 9, Lagos Province 1 of RCCG, lamented the growing moral decay in the nation’s education system and the absence of godliness in the upbringing of Nigerian children.
She identified lack of access to education and the prevalence of education devoid of godliness as part of many challenges confronting Nigeria
The Vice-Chancellor expressed concern over a generation of young Nigerians with technical skills but without a moral compass.
Citing troubling statistics from UNICEF and UNESCO, she noted that over 10.5 million Nigerian children remain out of school despite free and compulsory basic education policies.
"Worse still, those who are in school are often shaped by a system that values academic success over character development," she lamented
“Education is increasingly secular. It fails to answer life’s most important question: What is the purpose of life? The answer is to please God," she added.
Referencing Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” she decried the marginalisation of spiritual and moral values in schools, pointing to rising societal ills such as cybercrime, corruption, and thuggery as evidence of the consequences.
Professor Olatunji-Bello presented clear, Scripture-based recommendations for teachers, schools, and policymakers, advocating a return to values-based, faith-driven education.
To teachers, she emphasised the importance of personal spiritual growth, emotional intelligence, and modelling Christlike virtues such as integrity, patience, and empathy. “Educators must act in loco parentis. They must offer godly love and guidance, just as Christ and godly mentors like Sonya Carson did” she said.
To Christian schools, she recommended designing Christ-centred curricula, establishing holistic student support systems, and embedding biblical virtues such as honesty and compassion into school culture. She cited Christ the Redeemer’s Nursery and Primary School (CRNPS) as a shining example of this model.
Speaking directly to government and education policymakers, Professor Olatunji-Bello urged the official recognition of faith-based schools as vital partners in nation-building. She advocated for curriculum reforms that incorporate spiritual and moral development, improved access to quality education, and strategic partnerships with Christian institutions.
“We must allow room in our national education frameworks for schools to teach from a biblical worldview while maintaining academic rigour,” she stated.
In closing, she reminded the audience that Christian education can only thrive when those entrusted with teaching embody the values they aim to instil. “Educators are not merely instructors,” she said. “They are vessels of influence, raising not just scholars, but godly, compassionate leaders for tomorrow.”
Before stepping down from the podium, Professor Olatunji-Bello joined the RCCG family and the global Body of Christ in celebrating Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye. She described her as “an exceptional woman, a true Amazon for Christ, a symbol of godliness, humility, and unwavering service.”
The Vice-Chancellor was also presented with an award of honour at the event.
Dignitaries present at the public lecture included husband of Professor Olatunji-Bello and head of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Mr Olatunji Bello; wife of the former Vice-President of Nigeria; Her Excellency Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of the Ogun State Governor, Her Excellency Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, gospel minister Nathaniel Bassey; members of the RCCG Governing Council; Vice-Chancellors; traditional rulers, and other notable personalities.
On the Vice-Chancellor’s delegation to the event were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Adenike Boyo; the University Librarian, Dr Omawunmi Makinde; members of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office; representatives of the Momentous Women and Men for Good Governance in Lagos State Tertiary Institutions (MOWLAS and MOMLAS); and the Centre for Information and Public Relations (CIPR).
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