ECWA: Taxing Churches For Bingham University Purse   

ECWA: Taxing Churches For Bingham University Purse   

By: Balami Lazarus   

When religious bodies in Nigeria began venturing in establishing their own university I said to myself that their members will end up building the universities where a considerable number of their children cannot access it for the purpose of admission because of the high tuition fee including other charges thereof.   

Bingham University was founded in 2005 by a religious body known and popularly called ECWA- Evangelical Church Winning All, one among the religious bodies that uses the church to fund its secular educational programmes for the basic purpose it was established.    Over the years, ECWA has made it mandatory for her churches to donate generously in funding Bingham for the benefit of some few that are privileged to Have. While the Have- nots who are in the majority carry the burden for Bingham University by using the church for her monetary objective.

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To prove the worth of this write- up, take the 6th of March 2022 this day was set aside for all ECWA churches in Nigeria to make offerings to Bingham purse. This financial demand is said to be in support of the university. This time around there were strings attached according to a member of the ECWA denomination. Targets were given to these churches depending on size and membership strength.

Some were given #25,000, #30,000 and #50,000 respectively.   For what purpose is Bingham University established? For academic training- teaching, learning and research I supposed. Definitely Bingham has no business in spiritual matters for not her core objectives as citadel of learning, a place where academic Research and Development are conducted and carried out. Where young people are trained in various academic fields of study. An institution where ideas of intellectual values are welcomed for future growth.

Why is Bingham running to churches for funds in order to carry out her mission?  Is Bingham playing Kate Hardcastel? Kate was a character in “Stoop to Conquer” (1773) a  play by Oliver Goldsmith.    Further investigation revealed that some members of ECWA churches are not in support of this policy of monetary demand from her congregation. At some churches the body language of members speaks their hearts.   

In addition, some are of the opinion that if ECWA as a corporate body cannot manage, maintain and/ or sustain the university it should either sell it, lease or close it down and stop demanding money from her churches for the sake of Bingham University.   

*Balami, a Publisher/ Columnist    08036779290

ECWA: Taxing Churches For Bingham University Purse