The Nigerian Baptist Convention is the second largest Baptist convention affiliating with the Baptist World Alliance, and the third largest in the world after the Southern Baptist Convention, USA, and National Baptist Convention, USA. Conservative estimates of the size of the Nigerian Baptist Convention claims three million baptized believers and a worshipping community of more than six million. Virtually all Nigerian Baptists belong to churches affiliated with the Nigerian Baptist Convention. A Baptist is a member of a Baptist church or any follower of Jesus Christ who believes that baptism is administered by the full immersion of a confessing Christian. ... The Baptist World Alliance was formed in 1905 at Exeter Hall in London, England during the first Baptist World Congress. ... The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a United States-based cooperative ministry agency serving Baptist churches around the world. ... The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. ...

Administration

The main officers are currently Rev. Dr. Reuben Ishaya Chuga, President and Rev. Dr. Solomon Ademola Ishola, General Secretary (and chief executive officer). The headquarters of the Nigerian Baptist Convention is located in Ibadan but the convention also operates administrative buildings and bookstores across the country. The Nigerian Baptist Convention has several conferences constituting subsidiary organizational structures. Ibadan (Èbá-Ọdàn), reputed to be the largest indigenous city in Africa south of the Sahara, is the capital of Ọyọ State. ...

Origin

The Nigerian Baptist Convention started in 1850 as a foreign missionary project of the Southern Baptist Convention of the United States of America. The Nigerian Baptist Convention was officially formed in 1912. The Nigerian Baptist Convention is now completely self-governing, self-propagating, and self-supporting. It has started other Baptist conventions in West Africa notably in Ghana (now the Baptist Convention of Ghana), and in Sierra Leone, now the (Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone). 1850 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... For the American magazine, see Foreign Policy. ... A missionary is a propagator of religion, often an evangelist or other representative of a religious community who works among those outside of that community. ... The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a United States-based cooperative ministry agency serving Baptist churches around the world. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...  Western Africa (UN subregion)  Maghreb West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. ...

Theological & medical institutions

The Nigerian Baptist Convention operates nine theological training centers for pastors, the largest being the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary in Ogbomoso, which grants undergraduate, masters’ and doctoral degrees. In the 1950’s survey of African seminaries by Bishop Stephen Neill for the Theological Education Fund, the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary was ranked as one of the best seminaries in Africa. The Nigerian Baptist Convention also operates several hospitals and medical training institutions across the country. The Baptist Hospital in Ogbomoso remains one of the leading hospitals and is used as a university teaching hospital by the Ladoke Akintola University jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states (coincidentally named after a Baptist and post-independence premier of the Western Region whose hometown was Ogbomoso). The Nigerian Baptist Convention operates another top flight Baptist Hospital located in Eku and several other minor hospitals across Nigeria. Theology is literally rational discourse concerning God (Greek θεος, theos, God, + λογος, logos, rational discourse). By extension, it also refers to the study of other religious topics. ... A seminary is a specialised university-like institution for the purpose of training candidates for positions within a religious context. ... A Teaching hospital is a hospital which provides medical training. ... Ọyọ State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria, with its capital at Ibadan. ... Osun State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria. ...

Educational institutions

The Nigerian Baptist Convention has founded and operated thousands of primary and secondary schools most of which were taken during military dictatorships and operated as public institutions. The Nigerian Baptist Convention now operates Bowen University, named in honor of Rev. Thomas Jefferson Bowen, the first American Baptist missionary from the Southern Baptist Convention. Bowen University is located at Iwo in Osun State, and is housed in the old 1,300 acre (5 km²) campus of the Baptist College, a teacher-training institution on a beautiful hill just outside the city. Bowen University opened in 2002 as a residential institution with 500 students with a current enrollment of about 3,000 students, and a target capacity of at least 5,500 students. The idea of a Nigerian Baptist university was conceived in 1938, and endorsed in 1957 by the Nigerian Baptist Convention. Bowen University is “conceived as a centre of learning and research of distinction, combining academic excellence with love of humanity, borne out of a God-fearing attitude, in accordance with the Baptist tradition of ethical behavior, social responsibility and democratic ethos”. Bowen University is a private Nigerian university owned and operated by the Nigerian Baptist Convention. ... Iwo is a city in Nigeria. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The word tradition, comes from the Latin word traditio which means to hand down or to hand over. ... Ethics is a general term for what is often described as the science (study) of morality. In philosophy, ethical behavior is that which is good or right. ... Social responsibility is a doctrine that claims that an entity whether it is state, government, corporation, organization or individual has a responsibility to society. ... Democracy is a form of government under which the power to alter the laws and structures of government lies, ultimately, with the citizenry. ...

Prominent and Famous Nigerian Baptists

• Chief Olusegun Mathew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo, President of Nigeria; alumnus of Baptist Boys' High School, Abeokuta, Nigeria's first Baptist secondary school
• Rev. Prof. Yusufu Ameh Obaje, former chaplain of the Nigerian presidential chapel in Abuja, former President of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary in Ogbomoso
• Rev. Dr. Solomon Ademola Ishola, current General Secretary (and chief executive officer) of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
• Rev. Dr. Paul Omieka Ebhomielen, first indigenous Missions Secretary; pioneer of Baptist work in the Ishan area of Edo state, delegate to the 1974 International Congress on World Evangelization, Lausanne, Switzerland, former Conference Secretary Bendel (now Edo/Delta) Conference.
• Rev. Prof. Osadolor Imasogie, first Nigerian president (now President Emeritus) of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso; former Vice-President of the Baptist World Alliance
• Rev. Dr. James Tanimola Ayorinde, first Nigerian General Secretary (and chief executive officer) of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (1960's); national delegate to the 1974 International Congress on World Evangelization, Lausanne, Switzerland
• Rev. Dr. Solomon Adeniyi Babalola, former Nigerian missionary to Ghana (1952-1955); national delegate to the 1974 International Congress on World Evangelization, Lausanne, Switzerland; 17-year veteran pastor of one of Nigeria's top Baptist Churches, the Oke-Ado Baptist Church, Ibadan; the former Director of Academic Affairs of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary in Ogbomoso
• Chief Deacon Gamaliel Oforitsenere Onosode, former Presidential Adviser on Budget Affairs and Director of Budget, Nigeria; Member of the inaugural Provisional Governing Council of Bowen University, Iwo. He is currently Chairman of the Global Missions Board of the Nigerian Baptist Convention; Chairman of the Governing Council of The Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso.
• Dr. Onaolapo Soleye, former Minister of Finance, and former Minister of Industries, Nigeria
• Rev. Dr. Mojola Agbebi, founding member of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Lagos who changed his name from David Brown Vincent during the wave of African Nationalism in the late 1880's. He was also a founding member of member of the Native Baptist Church (First Baptist Church), Lagos.