The humanitarian activities of Apostle (Dr.) Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, founder, General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries (OPM), were brought to limelight on Tuesday, July 30, when the University of Port-Harcourt (Uniport) honoured him as Crusader of Social Gospel.
The Department of Religious and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Port-Harcourt, held a conference at Ebitimi Banigo Auditorium to so honour the popular man of God in which the theme for the conference was “Pentecostalism and African Pastorate Profile” with sub-theme, “Apostle (Dr.) Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, Social Gospel and Neo-Pentecostalism”.
The university community led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ndowa Lale with dignitaries from different walks of life were at the fully-attended conference at the Ebitimi Banigo auditorium to so honour a man who is famous for free giving.
Prof. Lale who declared the conference open stated that Apostle (Dr.) Chinyere would be celebrated and honoured because of his numerous philanthropic activities in which he said the General Overseer of OPM is “Crusader of Social Gospel”.
Describing him as great champion of good causes, Prof. Lale said repentant militants and commercial sex workers benefitted from his generosity.
“His humanitarian and corporate social responsibility ministry have combined to positively impact so many, especially those at the very bottom of the social hierarchy”, he noted.
Describing the ministry as providing mercy and salvation, Prof. Lale said the University of Port-Harcourt commends him for taking the gospel to the poor and not trying to enrich himself.
He said he was pleased the Department of Religious and Cultural Studies in the university created relationship between “town and gown”.
Earlier, acting Head of Department of Religious and Cultural Studies, Dr. Ngozi Iheanacho, said that they decided to honour the General Overseer of OPM because they saw that his “ministerial thrust and strength” was on social gospel in which he said they acknowledged his legacies as an untiring liberator of social problems, an icon of free education and rehabilitator of the human person saying that they thank God for his “spiritual vigour”, “numerical strength” of followers and programmes of the church.
Apostle (Dr.) Chinyere again received commendation when Nigeria’s former ambassador to United States of America, Israel and Cyprus, Ambassador George Obiazor, who was chairman of the occasion said that he was proud of the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries.
“He has used his blessings for the benefit of mankind and to the glory of God. Indeed, if you look at him, you can see goodness and mercy”, he said about the General Overseer of OPM, noting that Apostle (Dr.) Chinyere showed “passion and vision” to help the poor and expressed hope that God would use him time and again to bless people.
On his part, the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, University of Port-Harcourt, Prof. Femi Shaka, expressed delight that the event held in Religious and Cultural Studies department during the period Prof. Ndowa Lale is Vice-Chancellor after over forty years of existence of the department and the university.
In a keynote address, Chief Medical Director, University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Pastor, Prof. Henry Ugboma, said the General Overseer of OPM stood out as a pillar in humanitarian and people-oriented services comparing him to early church missionaries who he said did so much in “humanitarian and people-oriented services”.
“The story of Apostle Gift Chinyere Chibuzor and his calling into the workforce of God’s house encompasses the true meaning of Christ-like”, he said, adding that God favoured members of OPM so much that although OPM was barely 13, it appeared as though it had “been around for a century”.
“The beauty about OPM is the application of the offering and tithes paid to what you can see… When the Apostle started this vision, many thought it was not possible… OPM exemplified by Apostle Gift Chinyere Chibuzor has emptied Port-Harcourt and its environs of prostitutes and destitutes. He leads the church evangelism and youth groups to all the known red-light hideouts and hotels to evacuate these girls into prepared houses and estates… I can tell you that in the last one month, over ten of them have given birth in the OPM free hospital located at Mbodo, Aluu. This is a multi-tech, highly equipped and sufficiently staffed health centre catering for the needs of the poor, all for free”, he added.
While stating that lives of cultists, kidnappers and other “social misfits” were changed by OPM, Prof Ugboma said that they were fed and accommodated by OPM when they were invited saying their medical needs were also taken care of as they were taken through skills acquisition programmes with some of them sent to schools and jobs found for them.
“The numerous OPM estates littered over the country accommodating destitutes, orphans and widows and families without homes have caused God’s favour to multiply in OPM”, he said stating that the church had carried out many other projects which positively affect people’s lives.
A video clip showing philanthropic activities of Apostle (Dr.) Chinyere was shown to the people at Ebitimi Banigo auditorium in University of Port-Harcourt.
At the high point of the event, the Dean of Faculty of Humanities in the university, Prof. Shaka, adorned the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries with the University’s muffler and officially honoured him with the “Crusader of Social Gospel” award.
Speaking after receiving the award, the General Overseer of OPM, Apostle (Dr.) Chinyere thanked the University of Port-Harcourt for the honour saying that he was excited and also thanked those who attended the event.
He said his vision is not to become richest pastor in the world but to be one to get highest number of souls to heaven.
“My vision is not to be the richest pastor in the world. My vision is not to be the pastor that drives the best car in the world. My vision is to be pastor that got the highest number of souls to heaven”, he said to great applause, saying that God was faithful and kind to him and promoted him in life.
Deputy governor of Abia State who represented Governor Okezie Ikpeazu congratulated the General Overseer of OPM on the award and appealed to other clergymen to mirror his achievements to make the world a better place.
The event attracted a very large number of personalities who came to be part of the honour given to the General Overseer of OPM.
