The Nigeria Baptist Convention recently held its 113th annual session at the Baptist International Conference Centre, BICC, Kubwa, Abuja. The spiritual gathering brought together Baptists from across Nigeria and beyond. The theme of this year’s convention was “Entering into Newness Through the Fruit and Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
Baptist work in Nigeria began in 1850 with the arrival of missionary Thomas Jefferson Bowen. However, the organised Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) was founded in 1914. Baba Dr Mojola Agbebi was elected the first leader (President) of the Yoruba Baptist Association in 1914. The YBA was the precursor to the NBC.
The Nigerian Baptist Convention is the largest member of the Baptist World Alliance. BWA. The NBC has about 15,000 plus cooperating Baptist churches in Nigeria with a combined membership of over 9 million. The church has continued to grow and evolve. The leadership of NBC was initially modelled after the United Nations hierarchical structure, with an elected (tenured) General Secretary at the helm of affairs, while a ceremonial President was selected (annually). This model, however, changed in 2012, and the NBC began electing a President with full governance and administrative authority.
Records show the following leaders of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
- Dr Mojola Agbebi: 1914
- Rev. Dr J. T. Ayorinde: The first indigenous General Secretary, took over in 1964 from the American, Rev. I. N. Patterson.
- Rev. Dr Emmanuel Dahunsi: Served as General Secretary starting in 1975
- Rev. Dr S.T. Ola Akande was GS from 1979 to 1991
- Rev. Dr S. Ola. Fadeji: Served as General Secretary from 1991 to 2001
- Rev. Dr Solomon Ishola: Served as General Secretary starting from 2001
- Rev. Dr Samson Ayokunle (2011–2021): Served as President of the NBC
- Rev. Dr Israel Akanji (2021–2026)
- Rev. Dr David Olusola Idowu (April 2026 -
The question many are asking is why only Baptists from a particular region/tribe of Nigeria produce NBC leadership. Why is it that Baptist ministers from other parts of Nigeria have not been General Secretary or President as it is designated? As Christians, we should allow the Holy Spirit to lead and be open to His guidance. The scripture says in Ecclesiastes 10 v 10 that "Wisdom is profitable to direct". God bless the Nigeria Baptist Convention.