Walking with Spencer.

What is your name? Spencer Okoroafor

What is your position/work? What do you do? School administrator at Heritage Academy, Abuja.

What is your relationship to Sheila? My trainer and motivator.

Why are you passionate about Christian Education? It is actually going back to the beginning of education.

What is the biggest challenge you see in the education system in Nigeria? Why? Teaching to pass examinations as opposed to teaching the total child. Partly inability to outgrow colonial educational heritage, plus the prevailing humanistic tendencies in ‘secular’ education.

What is your dream for education in Nigeria? That schools will go back to their pristine role of identifying a child’s God-given talent and nurturing such talents to fruition for use, with responsibility to God and society.

What will it take to bring about transformation? Raising a crop of educational leaders who understand the issues at stake and willing to change the status quo.

What do you see as YOUR role in bringing about that transformation? Making myself available to be part of this vanguard, by being trained and in turn training others.

What have you learned while interacting and “walking with” Sheila? That this work has to be done, no matter the discomfort it entails.


How can I pray specifically for you in your work/ministry? That nothing will distract me and cause me to slack.

Initial training with Christian Reformed World Missions

I have had the privilege of working with Spencer since I started this position in 2008.  He tells me that even though he was teaching in a Christian school, he had no idea what Christian education could be until attending a series of trainings led by our organization, Christian Reformed World Missions.  He was humbled and challenged and has been a champion of Christian education since that time.  He is reliable, committed, and passionate. We have led a number of trainings and planned for conferences together. He was my “boss” as I taught in his school for a few weeks as well!

At Spencer's school

Walking with Segun.

What is your name?   My name is Mr. Oludipe Olusegun.

What is your position/work? What do you do?   I am the National Administrator* for ACSI West Africa Anglophone.  (ACSI is the Association of Christian Schools International) www.acsinigeria.org

What is your relationship to Sheila?  She is a partner with ACSI Nigeria, in training, conferencing and planning for programmes.

Why are you passionate about Christian Education?  This is the only way to rescue Nigeria from this decadence and raise a Godly generation for God.

What is the biggest challenge you see in the education system in Nigeria? Why? It is the misappropriation of funds meant for Education and the level of exam malpractice**.

What is your dream for education in Nigeria? My dream is that education be used as a tool for transformation and a means of raising a Godly seed.

What will it take to bring about transformation? It will take prayers and the consciousness of Christians to participate in politics.

What do you see as YOUR role in bringing about that transformation? We pray and train. We also equip teachers to both teach and train effectively.

What have you learned while interacting and “walking with” Sheila? She is so passionate about the kingdom assignment, willing to do any assignment given to her and not money conscious.

How can I pray specifically for you in your work/ministry? Pray for strength and financial provisions for the association.

Segun is a lively gentleman who works in the ACSI office in Lagos, Nigeria.  He is supportive and enjoys a good laugh.  *Much of his work is administrative, but he also speaks in various places on behalf of ACSI – raising awareness of what Christian Education is and can be.  His job includes going around and sensitizing schools, coordinating programs and meetings for ACSI across Nigeria, networking schools together, and generally establishing ACSI as an organization in West Africa.  The scope of his work is broad and challenging.  There are thousands of Christian schools – many who are Christian in name and would benefit greatly from learning and growing with ACSI. How can we reach out to all these schools and bring them together? **Segun also mentioned two big challenges to the education system, both of which are rooted in corruption.  They are widespread problems that we ask you join us to pray about.  SD.

"Walking with..." Series

There are many amazing people I get to work with while in West Africa.  They are passionate about education and committed to working out God’s calling in their lives.  The next few blog posts will feature some of them and give you an opportunity to “meet” them as well as pray for them.  I sent each person some questions (see below) to which they responded. 


What is your name?
What is your position/work? What do you do?
What is your relationship to Sheila?
Why are you passionate about Christian Education?
What is the biggest challenge you see in the education system in Nigeria?  Why?
What is your dream for education in Nigeria?
What will it take to bring about transformation?
What do you see as YOUR role in bringing about that transformation?
What have your learned while interacting and "walking with" Sheila?
How can we pray specifically for your in your work/ministry?

I hope you enjoy getting to know them and also take time to pray for them!