Provost of West Africa Theological Seminary in Ipaja, Lagos, Dr. Olufemi Emmanuel, has reaffirmed the institution’s dedication to its foundational purpose: preparing godly leaders live holy lives and carry the message of the gospel to those who have yet to encounter it.
According to Dr. Emmanuel, the mission to raise men and women who embody holiness and reach the unreached with the gospel is not just a noble aspiration, it is the very essence of why WATS exists.
This objective, he emphasized, must remain untouched by shifting trends or superficial goals. Nothing, he said, can substitute the call to develop leaders for the Church who are grounded in holy living and committed to global evangelism.
In a formal communication titled Renewed WATS, released through the seminary’s media department and signed by Israel AdeDunai, Dr. Emmanuel described the ongoing efforts to return to the founding principles laid out when WATS was established. He made it clear that every plan, policy, and practice at the seminary will now be firmly aligned with this original vision.
The Provost expressed deep conviction that holiness is not merely a theological concept or a church practice. Rather, it is a lifestyle that must shape the everyday conduct of believers. He insisted that reducing holiness to religious observance has been a long-standing error. Holiness, he maintained, is life itself. It is meant to be reflected in every action, decision, and space that Christians occupy.
Speaking on the potential societal impact of the seminary, Dr. Emmanuel noted the influential backgrounds of many of those who receive training at WATS.
He revealed that military chaplains, academics, politicians, police officers, legal practitioners, and professionals from various sectors are among those who pass through the seminary’s leadership training programmes. This, he believes, presents a unique opportunity for these individuals to take the message of holy living back to their fields and communities, thereby transforming society from within.
“Until Christianity begins to truly affect the broader society, it has not fulfilled its mandate,” he said, stressing that the ultimate goal of the seminary is to empower Christians to become agents of change not only within their churches but across all levels of public and private life.
In pursuit of this vision, the seminary has set an ambitious goal of equipping up to 4,000 students annually.
Dr. Emmanuel explained that the focus is on mobilising the Church and engaging Christians across the professional and marketplace spectrum to take advantage of the resources available at WATS.
Founded nearly four decades ago by American missionary Rev. Professor Gary Maxey, who has since become a naturalised Nigerian, WATS continues to operate as a multi-denominational and cross-cultural hub for theological education.
As part of its renewed commitment, the seminary is placing fresh focus on reaching those considered unreached. Dr. Emmanuel clarified that this group includes both individuals who have never heard the gospel and those who have been exposed to it yet remain unconverted.
In his words, the day a person hears and embraces the message of salvation is the day they are truly reached. That, he said, is the standard by which the seminary measures its effectiveness and purpose.
