Rehoboth Olakunle wins GOFAMINT Ogba District 2026 Bible Recitation Challenge, takes home laptop - The Guardian Nigeria News
Eleven-year-old Rehoboth Olakunle has emerged champion of the 2026 Bible Recitation Challenge organised by the Youth Fellowship of The Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), Ogba District, Region 12, following an impressive display of Scripture mastery and biblical knowledge.Olakunle finished first among 21 contestants at the grand finale held at the Pacesetters Assembly, Lagos, winning the star prize of a Dell Latitude 5410 laptop. Aduragbemi Olaniran emerged first runner-up and received a mobile phone, while Jesumihefue Marcus finished third and received a cash reward.
The competition tested participants across several areas of biblical knowledge, including the recitation of 48 memory verses drawn from the 2025/2026 Sunday Bible School lessons, 1 Corinthians 13, and Bible quizzes. Contestants who finished among the top 10 received various prizes, while all 21 participants were presented with Certificates of Excellence in recognition of their dedication to studying and memorising the Scriptures. Speaking at the event on the theme “Hiding God’s Word in Your Heart,” the District Pastor, Pastor Kehinde Ogundare, charged the youths to go beyond memorising Scripture for the purpose of competition and make the Word of God the foundation of their daily lives.
He stressed that God’s Word stored in the heart provides guidance, strengthens believers against sin and equips young Christians to live purposefully in an increasingly challenging world. District Youth Pastor Abiodun Alade said the initiative was designed not merely to identify the best Bible reciters but to deliberately cultivate a generation of young people with a deep and enduring relationship with God’s Word. “The greatest reward is not the laptop, phone, cash or any of the prizes. It is the Word of God these young people have hidden in their hearts. Our desire is to raise a generation that will study the Word, memorise it, treasure it, declare it and, most importantly, live by it.”
Alade applauded the youths for their commitment and appreciated the leaders and supporters who made the initiative possible. He noted that the winner received a laptop for the second consecutive year, while the runners up received a brand new mobile phone and cash prize, building on the tablets presented to runners up in 2025. The District Youth Coordinator, Tayo Olawunmi, also called on young people to embrace the Word of God and allow its principles to shape their character and conduct, noting that the true evidence of knowing Scripture is reflected in a life that demonstrates its values.
A special moment at the event was the recognition of Grace Akinmutola, winner of the 2025 edition, who was celebrated for her achievement and continued commitment to the vision of the competition. She was also presented with a special cash prize. Now in its second edition, the Bible Recitation Challenge is part of the District Youth Fellowship’s efforts to promote biblical literacy, disciplined study of Scripture and godly living among young people.The 2026 edition drew inspiration from 2 Timothy 2:15, which calls believers to diligently present themselves approved to God, as workers who correctly handle the word of truth.
