Posted by By Philip Nwosu on
Spiritual astuteness and dynamism. These are the hinging pillars of Prof. Augustus Olakunle Macaulay, president of United Bible University located in Yakoyo-Sabo, Ojodu, a Lagos suburb.
Spiritual astuteness and dynamism. These are the hinging pillars of Prof. Augustus Olakunle Macaulay, president of United Bible University located in Yakoyo-Sabo, Ojodu, a Lagos suburb. For more than a decade now, the renowned Bible scholar has been involved in creating a tradition of excellence in theological education in a society where there is an avalanche of Bible colleges and theological institutions, where the average church leader does not consider his ministry complete until a Bible college or school of ministry is established.
Recently, Macaulay who described himself as a man on a mission to raise world-class theologians and Bible experts who will stand on the word of God to affect the world positively, added another feather to his cap when he teamed up with other theological experts to establish a regulatory body known as the Association of Christian Theologians with the acronym ACTS.
What drives a man like Macaulay? Perhaps the best way to understand him is to go to the very beginning, how it all started. "I am a man driven by excellence. The beauty about it is that even from my youth, I knew I was going to be involved in the teaching ministry. I was not surprised when I felt frustrated in the secular establishment even with a promising career," he says.
Background
Born August 14, 1937 to Pa Samuel Rowland Latunji and Madam Rebecca Taiwo Macaulay, of blessed memory I attended Methodist School, Yaba where I had my primary education between 1945 and 1954. In 1957, I gained admission into Methodist Teacher Training College, Ifaki Ekiti where I obtained my teachers certificate. I later proceeded to Paddington Technical College, London in the early sixties to read Automobile Engineering and in 1967 I was already an engineer.
My love for Nigeria brought me back 1968. And on my return, I was employed as the first Automobile Engineering instructor at the West African Portland Cement Training Centre, Ewekoro in Ogun State. My crowning moment came when I won the very first Motor Rally ever held in Nigeria in 1974 by ‘Shell 1000.'
This achievement brought rays of light on my name and my profession in Nigeria. My contributions to the motor industry in Nigeria were highly recognized and appreciated by the Federal Government. I am also a member of several professional bodies like Institute of Automobile Engineers and the Industrial Transport Association London to mention but a few. I had to abandon all these for a higher call in the Lord's vineyard. I was called by God to be his ambassador in imparting sound biblical knowledge to men and women who will in turn show the relevance of God's Word in achieving God's divine purpose for mankind.
I am a holder of doctorate degrees in Theology, Divinity, Christian Education, Political Science, Church Management and Administration. I studied at the University of South Pacific, Korea; Trinity Christian College, Texas, USA and Faith Christian Theological Seminary in Nigeria. I am also a fellow of the International Institute of Church Managers and Administrators.
United Bible University
United Bible University was established to set a standard of excellence in theological training in Nigeria. When I had the vision of the university, I first of all studied the environment, and found out that in terms of theological training, Nigeria is still lagging behind. I discovered that we need sound biblical knowledge, to impact our society positively. With the help of God and through his intervention, in 1994 the internationally acclaimed indigenous Bible University in Africa - the United Bible University was established. The university is an accredited member of various theological, evangelical and educational institutions both locally and internationally. United Bible University has been training and graduating experts since inception. It has produced powerful ministers and evangelists with proven track records in church and para-church ministries. All of them are accredited and licensed by Christian Soul Winners Worldwide Inc. and are members of International Ministers Association. God has given every believer gifts and talents. It is God's design to use these gifts to bless humanity. We believe that the United Bible University experience will help in stirring up the potentials of the believer, teach him the biblical way of harnessing these gifts that when applied to your ministry and environment will produce positive results.
Association of Christian Theologians (ACTs)
This is an association of men and women nationwide conceived, founded, registered and recognised by Federal Republic of Nigeria as a learned and professional body for theological and biblical experts. The association unites those with and insterested in biblical and theological education and also in the application of biblical and theological knowledge to develop individuals and Nigeria.
The vision of having a regulatory body for theologians in Nigeria came when I realized that there was no such body for theological institutions in Nigeria.
I therefore shared the vision with some reputable theologians who agreed to have a body capable of regulating and sanitizing the sector. Our first meeting was held in Ibadan, Oyo State with twelve theologians in attendance. Two other meetings held in Lagos after the first one constituted the body. In 1999, the trustees and executives were empowered to register the association by the government. The trustees prayerfully presented the constitution of the association, and in April 2002, the association of Christian Theologians (ACTS) was eventually registered.