Sometime around the early 1930’s, the Late Pa Okotie Esikighre (a Baptist Deacon, Organist, & Primary School Headmaster) was a member of the Old Eku Baptist Church. His pastor , the late Rev. Owhonana announced in church, one Sunday, that the church was in need of a piece of land. He voluntarily gave up his land to the church at no cost with the philosophy of, “As long as this land is being used for God’s work, they can have it for free”. That was his spiritual theory when it came to giving to God‘s kingdom.
According to Chief Mrs. Queen Inaba-Akerele (presently age 68: the only granddaughter of Pa Okotie who lived with him for many years during her childhood days), this vast forest land spanned from the big massive tree in Okorore called “Okpagharode” (beside the old road) to where the Baptist Theological Seminary is right now.
Later in the 1940’s the Old Eku Baptist Church earmarked the land for the building of the Eku Baptist Seminary. (Detailes not known by our family). Pa Okotie, at that time, thumb printed an agreement for the church and so his decision could not be reversed by any of his family members.
Evidence:
This story was told over and over to many members of my family, including my father Late Frederick Omonigho Okotie (who first told me this story) which was confirmed by my cousin in London, Chief Mrs. Queen Inaba Akerele. The story was told to her by Pa Okotie multiple times. Our maternal grandmother Evwiemete also repeated this story to her anytime they rested at “Okpagharode” on their way to or from Eku town by foot.
Like Father Like Sons:
Sometime in the early 80s, the founders of Okorore Baptist Church approached my father and his elder brother, Late Deacon Jonathan Okotie who was ordained at Central Baptist Church, Benin City, Edo State for the land beside our family compound in Okorore for church planting. My father and his brothers decided to follow their father’s footstep and gave the land beside my grandfather‘s compound in Okorore to Okorore Baptist Church at no cost. The church is situate beside my grandfather’s compound till date.
Like Grandfather Like Son:
In 2014, I traveled to Nigeria for my younger sister‘s wedding and decided to go into the seminary to visit my college friend Ovuoke Eruotor (now Rev. Dr.): we read Microbiology together at Ambrose Alli University and graduated in 1996. I immediately observed that the seminary needed a lot of assistance and I made up my mind to give my little contribution to this same seminary my grandfather had donated his land towards many decades ago.
Follow Up of the Legacy:
I returned to BTS Eku in 2015 when I came to Nigeria for my elder sister’s funeral and paid a formal courtesy visit to the seminary. The then Seminery President, Dr. Goodfriday Aghawenu took me around the school and introduced me to his faculty members. I met the them Bursar who was my childhood friend from Ebenezer Baptist Church, Sapele.
Follow Up of the Legacy:
I returned to BTS Eku in 2015 when I came to Nigeria for my elder sister’s funeral and paid a formal courtesy visit to the seminary. The then Seminery President, Dr. Goodfriday Aghawenu took me around the school and introduced me to his faculty members. I met the them Bursar who was my childhood friend from Ebenezer Baptist Church, Sapele.
Lil & Fred Okotie Foundation:
In 2016, Lillian Agoba Okotie (my spouse) and I decided to make contributions to BTS Eku in form of this scholarship program, but actually did the first scholarship presentation in 2018. I learnt that many of the seminarians were finding it difficult to pay their school fees. I was additionally informed by Pastor Jolomi Edema (now Revered) who is a graduate of the seminary that some of the students had to withdraw from the seminary due to their inability to pay school fees. He went on to also inform me that the seminary president, Rev Dr Goodfriday Aghawenu was very sympathetic towards such withdrawals. On this note, I felt very strongly and still feel very strongly to date that “any man or woman who have dedicated his or her life to the service of God, should not have to worry about ordinary school fee”. I believe that it is our responsibility, as laymen, to provide for the clergy who hae chosen the path of the service of God in place of comfort. I decided to tqke the bull by the horn and contributed my quota.
Preparation for Awards:
A team was formed at this time to ensure that the proposed scholarship funds only went to deserving students. The team was and is still made up of: Hon Nurudeen Ohwavborua, (Board Chairman), Ovie Fred Okotie (Founder & Financier), Rev Jolomi Edema; (Co-ordinator), Rev Dr Ambrose Akpotor (Adviser). A memo was passed out to all students and pasted on the school's and student body's notice board inviting students to apply for this scholarship if they felt they needed it. Interested students submitted applications to the Coordinator and were invited for a follow up interview. The Board reviewed the application and interview performance and selected the students based on the severity of their needs. This process is still being used till date and any form of compromise is not acceptable. I decided to withdraw my self from the selection process to foster transparency: I only know the names of the seminarians receiving the scholarship on the day of the presentation. I also do not know any of the students and none of them is related to me to the best of my knowledge.
