25 February 2003: Pastor Inalegwu Omakwu, the charismatic founder of Family Worship Centre (FWC) in Abuja, goes to be with the Lord. Known for his vision of a “family” church that bridged social and economic divides in Nigeria’s capital, his death led to his wife, Pastor Sarah Omakwu, succeeding him in leadership, where she continues to expand the ministry’s impact today.
25 February 1570: Pope Pius V issues the papal bull “Regnans in Excelsis”, excommun!cating Queen Elizabeth I of England and declaring her a usūrper. This was a pivotal moment in the Reformation as it officially released her Catholic subjects from their allegiance to the Crown, marking the last time a Pope attempted to “depŏse” a reigning monarch and solidifying England’s path as a Protestant nation.
25 February 1894: Hannah Catherine Elizabeth Elton is born. As the wife of Pa S.G. Elton, often called the “Apostle of Pentecostalism in Nigeria”, she was instrumental in their missionary work in Ilesa. Her support was foundational to her husband’s role in mentoring the first generation of Nigerian Pentecostal leaders, including the founders of several major indigenous ministries.
25 February 1985: Pastor Isaac Oyedepo, the second son of Bishop David Oyedepo, is born. After serving within the Living Faith Church, he was commissioned in 2023 to lead the Isaac Oyedepo Evangelistic Ministries (IOEM), a mandate focused on “reclaiming a generation” and igniting revival.
25 February 2015: St. Augustine University, Epe, founded by the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, is approved by the Federal Government through the NUC. This approval was a milestone for Catholic higher education in Nigeria, leading to its official license on 5 March 2015 and the commencement of academic activities later that November to provide value-based education.
25 February 1908: BIOLA University is founded by Lyman Stewart and T.C. Horton as the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Originally established to provide foundational biblical training for laypeople amidst the rise of theological liberalism, it has grown into a premier global center for evangelical scholarship and apologetics.
25 February 2008: Obong University, Akwa Ibom State, officially commences academic activities as the first congregational Christian university in Nigeria. It was born out of a partnership with the Rivergate Church of Christ in Tennessee to provide affordable, faith-based education to the Niger Delta region.
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