Let There Be Water: ATestament of Olukoya’s Water Revolution

Let There Be Water:

A ATESTAMENT OF OLUKOYA’STESTAMENT OF OLUKOYA’S WATER REVOLUTIONWATER REVOLUTION

n the following pages we present, in perspectives, the social impact of this spiritual vessel in matching preachments of

Christian love, compassion, charity and humility on the pulpit with practical deeds through a silent revolution by which he is redefining evangelical vocation and philanthropy. Here are highlights as captured through the lenses and voices of some of the numerous beneficiaries .

By Kolawole Igandan

In the beginning were dry taps everywhere. Iwaya and Onike are old suburbs of the Lagos metropolis. A Noting that the church could not look askance at the plight of the “ nudging distance from Yaba, the people, the founder, central business district of the Dr. Olukoya, ordered Mainland, these areas have for long a survey of the needs been hooked to the network of the of the communities and State Water Corporation's mains approved the drilling supplying water from Iju Water Works of the boreholes across to the different parts of the city. a nexus of streets But for various factors notably the official red tape, inefficiency, lack of funds, poor management responsible for the crippling of public utilities, the sight of gushing water from the surrounding the church premises. “ public taps and within homes in these neighbourhoods was a rarity! If and when it sometimes came, it came in fitful drops and that, on occasions when the Water Works authorities took pity on the long suffering inhabitants to pump some ration into the areas. In face of this acute water scarcity, the Ballard of the Old Ancient Mariner- "Water, water everywhere, yet not a drop to drink" became a common dirge sung by residents of the communities, which border the swampy shores of the Lagos lagoon. Although a fairly high density area, demand for accommodation began to drop as the dire situation scared prospective tenants away and forced others already living there to relocate.

“We're indebted to Dr. Olukoya for ending water scarcity nightmare in Iwaya/Onike”

Olukoya/MFM to the rescue But the groans of the landlords and the people turned into joy some years back when the MFM, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme provided a set of boreholes to alleviate their suffering and hardship of the communities where its headquarters was located.

Noting that the church could not look askance at the plight of the people, the founder, Dr. Olukoya, ordered a survey of the needs of the communities and approved the drilling of the boreholes across a nexus of streets surrounding the church premises. Among those that benefitted from the gesture are Chi Quality Cool Spot, opposite First Bank, Andoyi, Akintunde and Johnson Streets. Although the water point installations also serve the needs of the church members, especially during special programmes, they have become primary sources of water on which residents including the young and old, families as well as traders in the nearby popular Onike market depend.

Testimonies “When they have a programme, a lot of people come to fetch water here. Since it is close to the market, you will see market women, young boys and girls in evening queuing to fetch water here. The church has helped the people with the provision of water which was one of the problems we had before," says Timi Emokenighan, a security guard at INITS Computer Office opposite Andoyi Street where one of the boreholes is sited. Lekan Fasinro, a plumber and member of the committee involved in the installation of the borehole project at 14, Akintunde

Street, probably captures the grateful feeling of the residents at the ending of their hitherto harrowing experience. "We have had persistent water problem here. In fact, there are times we do not get water from the Water Corporation for three months. The General Overseer (Dr. D.K. Olukoya) sent his representatives to come and find out what our immediate needs are. We told him, water was a source of constant headache for us and he immediately gave us this borehole. We have been enjoying it," he enthused. Corroborating, Fasinro's statement, Ade (a tailor) who doubles as custodian of the borehole project sited on Johnson Street, declares: "Dr. D.K. Olukoya has tried his best for us here. If you ask anyone around here, they would tell you that water is scarce in the entire Onike/Iwaya area. Since Dr. D.K. Olukoya gave us water, things have changed. People come from as far as UNILAG area to fetch water here. We also maintain the equipment by ourselves." Mrs. Adebimpe Olasunkanmi, who sells groceries on the same street, cannot hide her sense of relief occasioned by the MFM gesture: "In fact, it is as if Baba (Dr. D.K. Olukoya) had me in his mind when he told his people to give us borehole water here. Look at the proximity of my shop to where the project is located. God blessed us with that man." Mrs. Olasunkanmi, says the water facilities have been attracting people from far and wide, but regrets that they have become subject of abuse due to the heavy and constant pressure on them, apparently due to their being cost- free. "Many people come here from far and near and since they know the water is baba's philanthropic gesture, some people abuse the privilege by leaving the tap opened and even damaging the tap at times," she laments However, the market woman discloses that measures are being taken to control the influx of people coming from other areas and protect the projects. Chinecheremu, who runs Chi Quality Cool Spot, an eatery and relaxation centre opposite First Bank where another borehole is sited, drew our reporter's attention to the gravity of the problem residents would still have been battling with, had MFM not come to their rescue, during a visit to the site. "You can see that this area is a very busy place. The borehole serves almost everyone here. You can come here in the evening and see things yourself.

In face of this acute water scarcity, the Ballard of the Old Ancient Mariner - "Water, water everywhere, yet not a drop to drink" became a common dir ge sung by residents of the communities , which border the swampy shores of the Lagos lagoon.

There is a particular time in the evening when the tap is opened to every resident of this area. Everybody takes full advantage of the General Overseer's largesse. We cannot thank him enough," she says.

Since Dr. D.K. Olukoya gave us water, things have changed. People come from as far as UNILAG area to fetch water here. “ “

“ “ In fact, it is as if Baba (Dr. D.K. Olukoya) had me in his mind when he told his people to give us borehole water here.

Special Edition

Focus On The D. K. Olukoya Central Research & Reference Laboratories, University Of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria – A Dedicated Infrastructure For Research & Development

Professor Wellington Oyibo (FIBMS, UK), Chair of the D.K. Olukoya Central Research & Reference Laboratories

This Laboratory infrastructure was donated by the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries and an alumnus of the University of Lagos, Dr. Daniel K. Olukoya.

The National University Commission (NUC) noted donated by the Dr. Daniel Kayode Olukoya, General that in terms of quality and quantity, the research Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles output of tertiary institutions in Nigeria was about Ministries, Onike, Lagos to his Alma mata. The facility the best in sub-Saharan Africa up to the late 1980s. The is a massive three-wing complex with three floors decline of research activities in Nigeria is a covering 1000sq metres located adjacent to the Faculty consequence of obsolete research facilities, especially of Engineering complex on the main campus of the in the Universities. Laboratories are not well equipped University at Akoka and commissioned in June 2014. to train students and conduct research. Thus, Known initially as the D.K. Olukoya Central Research inadequate infrastructure and out-of-date equipment Laboratory, it was re-named, the D.K. Olukoya was a major challenge to conducting research that is Central Research & Reference Laboratories by the tailored to address our national needs and those that can Senate of the University of Lagos in 2019 to properly support competitive global research. Early career The National University Commission (NUC) noted researchers and students scout for laboratories abroad that in terms of quality and quantity, the research output where they are accepted to carry out research along of tertiary institutions in Nigeria was about the best in with international supervisors for short to long sub-Saharan Africa up to the late 1980s. The decline of duration, and jointly publish papers. Though well research activities in Nigeria is a consequence of intended, it does not give the Nigerian Universities the obsolete research facilities, especially in the much-desired visibility, rating and capacity Universities. Laboratories are not well equipped to development opportunities. train students and conduct research. Thus, inadequate As part of the innovative steps of the University of challenge to conducting research that is tailored to Lagos to elevate research to capacity and capability address our national needs and those that can support development and implementation, the need to establish competitive global research. Early career researchers and strengthen a core Central Research Laboratory was and students scout for laboratories abroad where they imperative. The overall goal is to use good science to are accepted to carry out research along with drive multidisciplinary research and development international supervisors for short to long duration, and efforts toward product development/improvement, jointly publish papers. Though well intended, it does innovative services, and the elucidation of critical not give the Nigerian Universities the much-desired scientific queries. The physical infrastructure needed to visibility, rating and capacity development power this process was made possible through the D.K. opportunities. Olukoya Central Research & Reference Laboratories infrastructure and out-of-date equipment was a major

As part of the innovative steps of the University of Lagos to elevate research to capacity and capability development and implementation, the need to establish and strengthen a core Central Research Laboratory was imperative. The overall goal is to use good science to drive multidisciplinary research and development efforts toward product development/improvement, innovative services, and the elucidation of critical scientific queries. The physical infrastructure needed to power this process was made possible through the D.K. Olukoya Central Research & Reference Laboratories donated by the Dr. Daniel Kayode Olukoya, General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Onike, Lagos to his Alma mata. The facility is a massive three-wing complex with three floors covering 1000sq metres located adjacent to the Faculty of Engineering complex on the main campus of the University at Akoka and commissioned in June 2014. Known initially as the D.K. Olukoya Central Research Laboratory, it was re-named, the D.K. Olukoya Central Research & Reference Laboratories by the Senate of the University of Lagos in 2019 to properly reflect the strategic role the facility was primed to play as “the host for several National and Internationally relevant research, development, innovation and service platforms”.

Platform for cutting-edge multidisciplinary research and capacity development

The laboratory's primary mission is to augment research in chemical, biological and engineering disciplines at the University of Lagos by providing state-of-the-art research services to University's faculty members and facilitate interdisciplinary research, promote educational training opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, create corporate partnerships in research as well as pursue excellence in the science and technology research landscape with appropriate industry collaborations.

State-of-the-art Equipment for Research, Development, Training and Service

Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS), High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) with UV, Diode array and Fluorescence detectors, Gas Chromatograph- Flame Ionisation Detector (GC-FID), Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), UV/Vis Spectrophotometers.Type of services rendered varies from laboratory analysis of different types of samples, water, soil, materials, plants, foods, pharmaceuticals, professional advice through Consultancy and customized training programmes in several areas of competencies to clients. Some of the Platforms in the D.K. Olukoya Central Research & Reference Laboratories include: 1. Analytical Laboratory 2. Maritime Laboratory 3. Vita Foam Polyurethane Laboratory donated by Vita Foam and was commissioned by the Hon Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu. 4. Fab Laboratory for Innovation donated by the French Embassy 5. U.K Royal Academy of Engineering funded Thermal Energy Simulation Laboratory 6. Cell Biology Molecular Laboratory 7. Molecular Genetics Forensic Laboratory 8. Microbiology Laboratory 9. Botany laboratory Other nearly completed laboratories include: Genomics Laboratory of the Centre for Genomics of NonCommunicable Diseases, Air-pollution Monitoring laboratory, Biotechnology laboratory, Nanotechnology Laboratory among others. The core Central Research Laboratory of the facility is a UK-Royal Society of Chemistry accredited lab for training on Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometry; Federal Ministry of Environmentaccredited Environmental Assessment Laboratory and the facility is currently 1S0-17025 compliant with current plans for certification at this level. The D.K. Olukoya Central Research & Reference Laboratories infrastructure in the University of Lagos has indeed filled a huge gap in the Higher Education Learning Landscape in the country.