The National Vice President (South West) of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Presiding Bishop of Victory International Church, Bishop Taiwo Adelakun, today warned that the ongoing impasse between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government could escalate into a full-blown national crisis if urgent action is not taken to prioritise education.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the 36th anniversary celebration of Rehoboth Cathedral, themed, “The Glory of the Latter House”, Bishop Adelakun described Nigeria’s underfunded and neglected university system as a ticking time bomb, reports The Guardian.
“A nation that refuses to educate its youth is only postponing disaster. If the lifestyle of those in government does not change, and billions continue to be spent on irrelevancies while education suffers, then Nigeria is sitting on a time bomb,” he said.
Adelakun, who also serves as Chancellor of Dominion University, Ibadan, lambasted the federal government over its claim of insufficient funds, saying it rings hollow when juxtaposed with the opulence of public office holders and the high cost of governance.
“If the National Assembly and those in power can slash their own income, then maybe they can credibly say there’s no money. But when leaders live in luxury, no one will believe such excuses. The ASUU crisis will keep repeating itself.”
While expressing support for ASUU’s demands for improved funding and working conditions, the cleric also challenged Nigerian academics to reawaken their commitment to innovation and national problem-solving.
“Let us ask ourselves sincerely: how many of our universities are still engaged in meaningful research? If our mechanical engineering departments were serious, we should be producing cars by now.”
He described the failure of the education sector as a “collective tragedy”, insisting that both government and academia must take responsibility for its revival.
“Academics must sit up. Government must step up. Until both do the right thing, this crisis will keep returning.”
Bishop Adelakun also highlighted his ministry’s contributions to education and youth development, including the establishment of Dominion University, Victory Christian College, and Victory Christian Academy.
He explained that these institutions were founded out of a deep conviction that education remains the most effective tool for national transformation.
“Running a university is capital-intensive. Sometimes, what we pay our lecturers is equal to, or more than, what their colleagues earn in public universities. Any ministry that overlooks investing in the younger generation is being selfish. This is our relevance — to shape destinies and build a generation that will restore hope to the nation,” he said.
Despite the financial burden, Bishop Adelakun said the church remains committed to social responsibility, including offering scholarships, supporting widows, and running community outreach programmes.
Addressing the moral decay in governance, Bishop Adelakun blamed the desperation for wealth and power on both hardship and the manipulation of the masses by political elites.
“The temptation to be corrupt is fuelled by hardship and sustained by the manipulation of the elite. The problem is not lack of resources; it is a lack of sincerity and sacrifice.”
Reacting to recent comments by the United States alleging Christian genocide in Nigeria, Bishop Adelakun urged caution, noting that insecurity in the country affects both Christians and Muslims.
He said: “Banditry in Nigeria does not recognise religion. Both Christians and Muslims have suffered greatly. If the US government focused their data on Benue State, perhaps their assessment is understandable. But across Nigeria, the pain is widespread. We must not allow this narrative to divide us.”
The cleric also offered words of counsel to the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), urging him to lead with integrity.
He said: “The new INEC Chairman must be fearless and fair. The true umpire must never be biased. My prayer is that he will succeed and that integrity will guide his tenure.”
The press conference was part of activities leading up to the 36th anniversary of Rehoboth Cathedral, taking place from October 16 to 19, 2025, at Wonder Hall, Rehoboth Cathedral, Wonder City, Ibadan.
The four-day event will feature what Bishop Adelakun described as “four days of fearful praise and two mornings of appreciation”, culminating in the foundation-laying of a 16,000-capacity mega cathedral, which he vowed would be completed within a year.
In a solemn moment, Bishop Adelakun also paid tribute to the late Rev’d Uma Ukpai, a founding leader of the PFN, who passed recently, saying: “He was a fighter, a servant of God, a man who endured great trials. His homecoming will produce a thousand more voices for God in this generation.”
