The General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, has called on Nigerians to seek divine intervention in the nation’s affairs, stressing that reliance on human effort alone may prove insufficient.
He emphasized that while hard work is essential, it is only through God that true success can be achieved.
This message was conveyed during an interview marking MFM’s 35th anniversary, a significant milestone for the church, which has grown from humble beginnings to a global ministry.
The 35th anniversary celebration, themed ‘Power from on High,’ commenced on August 16 and culminated on Sunday, August 18, with a grand Thanksgiving and Holy Communion service at the MFM Prayer City along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
During the event, Dr. Olukoya expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, despite the nation’s current challenges, citing Nigeria’s geographical position on the African continent as symbolic of its potential.
“There is a bright future for Nigeria. If you look at the map of Africa, it resembles a gun, with Nigeria positioned where the trigger is held. This is no coincidence—God has a plan for Nigeria. I am a steadfast believer in one Nigeria,” Olukoya stated, reinforcing his belief in the country’s divine destiny.
MFM, which started in 1989 with just 24 people gathering for a prayer meeting in Dr. Olukoya’s living room in Yaba, Lagos, has now grown into a global movement.
Reflecting on this journey, Olukoya underscored the importance of prayer in navigating Nigeria’s challenges.
He warned against relying solely on human strength and resources, referencing the biblical wisdom that, “Except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain that build it.”
“Divine intervention is what we need; we must pray for it,” Olukoya urged. “As the songwriter says, ‘The arm of flesh may fail you,’ and our hard work alone might not be enough, but with God, all things are possible. You could gather resources and still find yourself unable to use them. We need the Lord to lay His hands upon our nation and our leaders, guiding them to make the right decisions that will benefit the people of Nigeria.”
Looking ahead, Olukoya shared his vision for the future of MFM, which includes expanding the reach of the gospel globally.
He noted that as more people turn to prayer, they are realizing that worldly powers are insufficient and often depleting, offering little in return.
“The next level is to spread the gospel of Christ across the world, delivering the message of salvation throughout our nation and beyond,” he declared. “It’s time to suffocate the world with the gospel and ignite a global wave of deliverance and prayer.”
During the anniversary service, Dr. Olukoya also presented awards to 492 first-class graduates from the church, a tradition that began in 2011 to encourage academic excellence among the youth in the church.
Reflecting on the initiative, he said, “We are encouraging our youth to work hard. I believe MFM has the largest number of first-class graduates in Nigeria.”
He recounted how the programme began with the promise of a car to any MFM member who earned a first-class degree.
“During that programme, I announced that any MFM member who achieved a first-class degree would receive a car. That year, 19 students made the first class, and I gave them cars. I did the same in the second edition. However, by the third edition, the programme had so inspired MFM students that 77 of them achieved first-class degrees, and I couldn’t afford to give out 77 cars, so I started giving money instead. The following year, the number rose to 106. By the fifth edition in 2019, we had 329 first-class graduates, and we gave each N250,000. Today, in the sixth edition, we have 492 graduates,” the cleric asserted.
Olukoya advised the students to view their achievements as a stepping stone to even greater success, stating, “When you get to campus, make sure to join the MFM Campus Fellowship. Some students who achieved first-class honors were disqualified from the programme because they didn’t join the MFM Campus Fellowship.
The event drew a host of dignitaries, including Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, Delta State Governor Mr. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Erelu of Lagos Chief Abiola Dosumu, and several traditional rulers, all of whom joined in celebrating MFM’s remarkable journey and impact.
