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

Dr. Olukoya matches preaching 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, there were dry taps everywhere including communities and approved the drilling of Iwaya and Onike; old suburbs of the Lagos metropolis, which the boreholes across a nexus of streets are just a nudging distance from Yaba, the central business surrounding the church premises. district of the Mainland. These areas have for long been hooked to Among those that benefitted from the the network of the Lagos State Water Corporation, which supplies gesture are Chi Quality Cool Spot, water from Iju Water Works to different parts of the state. opposite First Bank, Andoyi, Akintunde But for various factors, among which is the notorious official red and Johnson streets. tape, inefficiency, lack of funds, poor management, the sight of Although the water point installations gushing water from the public taps and within homes in these also serve the needs of the church neighbourhoods became a rarity! members, especially during special If it ever comes, it is in fitful drops, and on occasions when the programmes, they have become primary corporation takes pity on the populace, which has sources of water on which In the face of this acute water scarcity, a line in the Ballard of the Old Ancient Mariner - "Water, suffered for so long. We're indebted to “ residents, families as well as those who ply their trades in the nearby water everywhere, yet not a drop to drink" Dr. Olukoya for popular Onike market becomes a common dirge among residents of ending water scarcity depend. the communities, which border the swampy nightmare in TESTIMONIALS 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 Iwaya/Onike “ “When they have a programme, a lot of people come to fetch water here. Since it is close already living there to relocate. But a remedy was on the to the market, you will see way market women, young boys and girls in Olukoya/MFM to the Rescue evening queuing to fetch water here. The But the groans of the landlords and the people turned into joy some church has helped the people with the years back when the MFM, through its Corporate Social provision of water which was one of the Responsibility (CSR) programme provided a set of boreholes to problems we had before, " - Timi alleviate their sufferings of residents where its headquarters was Emokenighan, security guard, INITS located. Computer Office. The General Overseer, Dr. Olukoya, took immediate steps to Amember of the committee involved in restore water sanity. He ordered a survey of the needs of the 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 ever since" - Lekan Fasinro, plumber "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" – Ade, tailor custodian of the

borehole project sited on Johnson Street

"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 the project to my shop. God blessed us with that man" - Mrs. Adebimpe Olasunkanmi, Trader The water facilities have been attracting people from far and wide. Though many are abusing the privilege but it is free, but it is one the best things to happen to us here” - Mrs.

Olasunkanmi, Resident

"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 for yourself. However, measures are being taken to control the influx of people coming from other areas to spoil the protect. There is a particular time in the evening when the tap is opened to every resident of this area. Everybody takes

In the 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.

full advantage of the General Overseer's largesse. We cannot thank him enough” -

Chinecheremu, Hotelier

Other areas where Dr. Olukoya's water revolution is making waves include RANSOME KUTI, COMPUTER CENTRE, FAGUNWA HALL MOREMI HALL and SPORTS CENTRE, all in the University of Lagos. Other locations are OGIJO, SHAGAMU, IKORODU and MOWE.

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.