The General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Prof. Daniel Olukoya on Sunday splashed cash492 members of the church who made First-Class Honours and Distinction in both Universities and Polytechnics.
Speaking during the 35th anniversary/international convention of the church, entitled Power from on high, which started on August 16 and ended on Sunday, with a thanksgiving and Holy Communion, Olukoya said this was in keeping with the tradition of encouraging youths in the church to work harder for excellence.
The clergyman who is a first-class graduate of University of Lagos noted that the tradition of giving awards to first class graduates started in 2011.
Admonishing the church youths at International Headquarters of the church at Lagos, Olukoya said: “Of all churches I know of, MFM now produces the largest number of first class graduates every year.”
According to him, the gesture was in line with the 70-point agenda for the youths across all the nations in the world.
Speaking at the event, Olukoya said, “We are encouraging them to work hard. I believe MFM has the largest number of first-class graduates in Nigeria.
“In 2011, the Lord established a programme in MFM to encourage the youths. At the programme, I said to anybody who is a member of MFM and makes a first class, I will give them a car.
““At the inception, 19 students benefitted from the initiative while in 2015, it went up to 115 beneficiaries. I couldn’t withstand the burden so, I had to call for more sponsors to partner with me due to the rise of the first class graduates who have been so excellence in their various disciplines over the years.
”But by the third edition, the programme galvanised MFM students to start working hard. We had 77 of them, and I couldn’t afford to give them 77 cars. I started giving money.
“The next year, it became 106. By the fifth edition in 2019, we had 329, and we gave them ₦250,000 each. Today, by the sixth edition, the number has drastically increased to over 492 first class graduates across various tertiary institutions in the world.”
Straightnews gathered that each of the first-class or distinction graduates will home with N250,000 cash.
Olukoya’s wife, Pastor Shade was assisted in the presentation ceremony by Lagos State governor, Babatunde Sanwo-Olu; Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and Ogun State governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, respectively.
One of the beneficiaries who identified herself as Fashina Damilola of Afe Babalola University said: “I just want to thank God for using our general overseer as a source of inspiration to this generation particularly we the youths.
“It’s my great pleasure to be part of this honour. I also like to use this opportunity to advise my fellow colleagues to always strive for greatness and excellence.”
Another beneficiary, Rachael Umoren, a graduate of Macdonald University said, “I am pleased, honoured and humbled to accept this award and to join past recipients who I have long admired and respected. I do appreciate Dr. DK. Olukoya.”
The convention, which started on Friday experience a huge turnout of worshipers from all over the country while host of others were following the activities through the various alternative channels of the church.
