13th Mike Okonkwo Essay Competition Heralds TREM’s Bishop 71st Birthday

Mary Ekah

Preparations for the 13th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School Students in Nigeria are in top gear as more and more participants are showing interest for it. The competition, which entries opened since March 28 as part of activities lined up to mark the 71st birthday of the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo, is still very open.

The topic for this year’s competition, which entries ends on May 27, is “The State of the Nigerian Nation: Redefining Our Values”. The competition, orgainsers say aimed at contributing to the educational sector in the country and also to encourage young Nigerians to excel in their world by developing the ability to think through issues and make a change in their world even at their tender age.

Over the years the competition has been very successful in helping these youths to develop analytical and problem-solving skills. Like in previous years, the star winner school gets three Internet ready desktop computers and a printer, while the student goes home with a trophy, Laptop, N100, 000.00 cash and a plaque. The first runner up school gets two Internet ready desktop computers and a printer and the student goes home with a cash prize of N75, 000.00 with a plaque. The second runner up school gets an Internet ready computer, while the student gets N50, 000.00 cash prize and a plaque.

For participation in the 13th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School Students, the entry requirements include: Essay of maximum of 2000 words, a passport photograph of the student, full name, address, contact telephone number, class, school and name and telephone contact of the principal. Essay could be submitted through email to essay@trem.org or by post to The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) International Headquarters, Obanikoro/ Anthony Oke Bus Lagos.

The prizes for this year’s competition will be presented to the winners at the 17th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture, which has been scheduled for Thursday, September 1, 2016 at the Muson Centre (Shell Hall) by 10.00 am prompt.

Dr. Mike Okonkwo is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) a.k.a. Power in the Word with over 200 branches in Nigeria and across the globe. He is an Apostle to this generation, whose life has impacted millions around the world. A father to many, and a pastor to pastors across the globe, Okonkwo is also a dynamic conference speaker, crusade evangelist, a national spokesman for Nigeria, and an advocate of balanced Christianity.

As the host of ‘Power in the Word’ a life-transforming television broadcast series, Okonkwo’s Holy Spirit inspired insight into the Word of God is remarkably outstanding and empowers millions in Nigeria and across the globe. He is also the host of ‘Power for the Wise’ a daily devotional programme on radio that is transforming lives on a daily basis. He is also an author whose books have been life-transforming tools in the hands of those who have been privileged to come in contact with them.

Convener of the Communion of Covenant Ministers International (CCMI) and a member of the National Advisory Council (NAC) of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Okonkwo is a man driven by the passion to show the love of God to humanity in every way the Lord enables him. This passion gave birth to the Empowerment for the Less Privileged Foundation, a non-governmental organisation committed to alleviating the plight of the less-privileged in the society through donations to hospitals, establishment of free vocational training centres, running free preparatory schools for students in the secondary schools, and facilitating regular public enlightenment campaigns on health issues amongst others. He also pioneers a scholarship fund for talented students.

To contribute his quota to national development he started the Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture in 2000 and the lecture has grown to become a major contributor to government policies as it brings together seasoned men and women to discuss burning national issues. Also to encourage the writing skills of children in secondary school and also to help them become solution providers to the nation, the Mike Okonkwo Essay Competition was born.

In 2012, he was honour with a National Honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR) by the Federal Government. Okonkwo is married to Bishop Peace Okonkwo and they are blessed with a daughter, Uche.