Why I renamed Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital after Pastor Oyakhilome–Chief Igbinedion

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.

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“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.”