The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) has urged stakeholders to place greater emphasis on providing quality education, saying it is essential for the future of children and the overall development of society.
The church stated that it would not take a position on calls for the return of mission-owned schools to their original proprietors, noting that the real priority should be building a functional and progressive society.
The Regional Overseer of MFM Southwest Region 42, Akure, Pastor Jesugbemi Samuel, made this known on Tuesday during the MFM Student Leadership Summit held at Oyemekun Grammar School in Akure, Ondo State.
Samuel said the main concern should be the standard of education, not who manages the institutions.
“I cannot comment on the calls for the return of schools to missionaries because we also run our own schools — from nursery and primary to secondary and university levels,” he said. “Whether schools are returned or not, what matters is that society understands the value of education. Our focus should be on building an ideal society, not on whether schools are managed by government or missions.”
Speaking on the summit, which brought together prefects from 30 secondary schools across Akure, Samuel said it was part of MFM’s ongoing mentorship efforts to groom young leaders through moral instruction, leadership training, and personal development.
He noted that many student leaders in Nigeria learn their duties only after assuming office, which he described as insufficient. “Students should receive proper training before taking up leadership roles so they fully understand their responsibilities,” he said.
According to him, each participating school was represented by three students and a supervising teacher, while the host school, Oyemekun Grammar School, had eight students in attendance.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of the Planning Committee, Mrs. Mojisola Aribo, said the programme reflects the vision of the church’s General Overseer, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, who has long prioritised the spiritual growth and leadership development of young people. She noted that Olukoya continues to invest time and resources in mentoring teenagers to become responsible future leaders.
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“If parents expose their children to sound religious guidance, they will gain wisdom and knowledge that will help shape them into good leaders, which ultimately benefits the entire society,” she said.
Also speaking, the Administrative Secretary of the Ondo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Akindele Ige, praised the organisers for their efforts and said the summit would positively impact participating students. He added that the state government had already begun returning some schools to their original owners.
“In Ondo State, we have returned two schools—Aquinas College and St. Louis Grammar School—and they are doing well. The government is still reviewing and aligning with the process,” he said.
