Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin and the chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, has explained why he renamed the Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital after Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, founder of LoveWorld Ministries, also known as Christ Embassy.
The Esama of Benin said he took the decision as a recognition of Oyakhilome’s sterling qualities and his significant contribution to the upliftment of mankind as well as his exceptional devotion to the healing ministry.
Chief Igbinedion who gave the explanation during the convocation ceremony of the institution’s 2021/2022 academic session also donated a parcel of land to the LoveWorld Ministries at Okada for the propagation of the gospel in the school’s vicinity.
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Igbinedion University, Okada, also conferred an honorary Doctor of Science degree on Oyakhilome for what the first Nigeria private university council described as his great works and contributions to humanity.
According to the Esama of Benin, the teaching hospital is now to be called Pastor Dr. Chris Oyakhilome Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital in recognition of his sterling qualities and his significant contribution to the upliftment of mankind and his exceptional devotion to the healing ministry.
Pastor Oyakhilome, in his response, recounted his experience with the Esama of Benin and chancellor, Igbinedion University when he met him on a wheelchair in 2019.
Pastor Oyakhilome said, “I met him in 2019 on his request and met him on a wheelchair but left my presence on his feet.”
He said further: “From my arrival at this place, I was received by the founder of the university himself, Chief Igbinedion, and I had a wonderful experience, he drove me in his car; that was a most amazing moment for me.
“My heart was full of joy just to see him today. I met him for the first time in 2019. If you ever lived in Benin City, there is no way you wouldn’t have known about Chief Igbinedion.
“We grew up knowing his name and then in 2019, I got a message that Chief Igbinedion wants to see you, I asked if he wants to see me? I was in South Africa so I thought maybe there was a miscommunication, so I asked many questions to be sure.
“We set a date and he came, Chief was in a wheel chair, he has been incapacitated. When he came, he couldn’t walk. He said my knees, I looked at him, we sat together, I sat close to him, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. I put my hands on his knees, he has faith like a child, he got up, walked out of that place to his car.”