Education
THE Deeper Life Bible Church, Suleja Region in Niger State, has raised the benchmark for its Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Champions Award to 280.
The Region Overseer, Pastor Samuel Ndagi, disclosed this at the award ceremony for UTME 2026 in Suleja.
Ndagi explained that at the inception of the award in 2024, qualification was open to the highest scorers without any particular benchmark among the church’s teeming youths.
According to him, the church subsequently raised the qualification for the award to 250 and above.
He said the church’s reward system had motivated the youth wing, leading to candidates scoring higher grades in UTME every year.
“This means more candidates now qualify for the award, making it more competitive.
“From 2027, we are scaling the qualification for the UTME Champions Award to 280 and above. We are not only interested in the spiritual welfare of our young members but also in their academic excellence,” Ndagi said.
According to him, the highest scorer in UTME 2026 among Deeper Life members in Suleja Region is Miss Joanita Jude with 304 points. She is followed by Miss Precious Ajah with 273 points and Master Chidera Ejikeme with 269 points.
The church presented a cheque of N100,000 to Miss Jude, N70,000 to Miss Ajah, and N50,000 to Master Ejikeme during a ceremony attended by hundreds of congregants.
Ndagi prayed that the path of the champions would continue to shine as they pursue their chosen careers in higher institutions.
The excited Miss Jude said she had always loved to excel and had been working hard to realise the goals she set for herself.
“I believe this cash award will assist me in furthering my education at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where I have applied to study Medicine and Surgery but am still awaiting admission.”
Her mother, Mrs Chika Jude, was thrilled by her daughter’s performance and the award.
She said, “I am so happy because I believe God is taking my daughter higher.
“Parents should not cease praying for their children but should encourage them in spite of their poor academic start. We should not give up on them but always remind God about His promises for their success in life.”
The first runner-up, Miss Precious Ajah, said, “I studied very well for the UTME because I actually wanted to make my parents proud so that their labour over me will not be in vain.
“The church should keep encouraging and motivating us (students) to be at our best. This award will help me in procuring some of my provisions in preparation for resumption at the university.”
She has secured admission to study Pharmacy at the David Umahi Federal University, Uburu, in Ebonyi State.
Her mother, Mrs Blessing Ajah, said she was happy with the cash award because, “Little is much when God is in it. I thank God for the support from the church and pray God to replenish the church’s pocket.”
The second runner-up, Master Chidera Ejikeme, was represented by his father as he was said to be away at Rhema University where he had secured admission to study Medicine and Surgery.
His father praised God as the author of wisdom who has given his family a testimony over Chidera’s success.
“I thank God that my son Chidera was born in Deeper Life, growing in the church’s doctrines and has been so favoured. I pray God to keep the church for His glory.”
Miss Faith Olayemi, a student in Senior Secondary School Three (SS3), said Deeper Life’s UTME Champions Award had motivated her to work harder.
“When those champions were called to the pulpit area for their awards, I was determined that it would be my turn one day. As their proud parents came out to take photographs with them, I would like to make my parents proud also.
“In fact, I am working hard to win a scholarship for my studies at the university.
“The church has always been encouraging us to focus more on our studies than on our handsets and other electronic gadgets, which should be used to improve our skills and knowledge rather than for chatting and entertainment,” she said.
Another youth, Miss Victory Jonathan, a student in SS2, said she was motivated by the champions’ hard work, which had spurred her to work harder to score higher than they did and win future awards.
Miss Victoria Michael, SS1, was impressed by the scores of the UTME champions in spite of the influence of the digital age where many students are often distracted.
She urged her fellow students to be more serious with their studies and serve God more acceptably. (NAN)
M.P
Tags: Deeper Life