Rev. Dr. Victor Bamidele Akerele recently celebrated his 5th anniversary as the President of Lagos Central Baptist Conference (LCBC) with a thanksgiving service amid standing ovations from the Baptist church members from all the walks of life, including the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), Rev. Dr. Adelani Akanji (FAR), the Vice-president (Finance & Investment) among other important dignitaries and well-wishers. Dr. Akerele; a laboratory scientist and former Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church Festac Town, Lagos, shares with Christian Benefits the accounts of his stewardship in his first five-year term as the LCBC President. Excerpts.

How do you feel celebrating the 5th year of being the President of the Lagos Central Baptist Conference?

It’s been a journey of grace because my slogan, as given by the Lord, is ‘Grace for the Race.’ Though there have been challenges, the glory therein is more than those challenges, and without challenges, there wouldn’t be a story of grace.

What is the process of appointment of the Conference president?

The process is such that the Search Committee of the Conference searches for the successor to the incumbent President preparing to leave. After putting out the qualifications and criteria, people would then nominate their candidates, either within the same conference or outside it. The office of the President is not limited to the Conference in Lagos because it is a Convention Office. A candidate can be nominated from the north, east, west or south. Four others and I made it to the final selection process, and then we sat down for a comprehensive examination, and also underwent complete medical tests because the job is strenuous. One needs to be physically healthy and fit for it. Each of us was interviewed. At the long run I emerged by grace; not by superiority, or that I’m better than the other candidates. I must say that the other candidates have been very supportive.

What is the tenure of office as President of the Conference?

It is five years of two terms for a tenure, which totals ten years. Therefore, by next month December 2025, the race for second term of another five years will begin.

What are the roles, functions, and duties attached to the position of the Conference President?

The Conference President acts as a servant-leader because leadership is about serving. I refer to myself as the chief errand boy or chief steward. I serve as the liaison officer of the Convention, gathering information and disseminating it to the Associations. The Conference President also visits the churches to attend to their welfare and well-being, just as Apostle Paul did. Additionally, I moderate Convention programs in some churches to preach and to ordain deacons and induct new pastors into the churches. I also ordain pastors who must have graduated from seminary for two or three years and are fit to be ordained. We examine them at the Conference level and recommend them to the Convention (office of the Vice-President Ministerial of the Nigerian Baptist Convention) for approval for ordination.

Can you recount the places you had served before your appointment as the LCBC President?

 I was working as a laboratory scientist before the Lord called me into ministry. I went into Pastoral training in 1997 and graduated in the year 2000. While I was in the seminary, I served as a Student Pastor at Oja Oba Baptist Church in Ogbomoso, Oyo state. Upon graduation I served as an Associate Pastor in First Baptist Church Festac Town, Lagos, where I was later elevated to the Lead Pastor of the church though I didn’t want to be the Lead Pastor as at that time because I felt the Lord has called me just to be a helping hand to the ministry or whoever the Lead Pastor is. But after prayers the Lord told me to accept the position because he had prepared me for it.

How long did you serve at First Baptist Church Festac Town, Lagos?

I served there for sixteen years and four months as the Lead Pastor of the church and as Associate Pastor for four years which summed up to twenty years and four months in the pastorate of the First Baptist Church, Festac Town.

How was it like leaving the flock at First Baptist Church Festac Town for another assignment?

It wasn’t easy but I had to work on my emotions and said to myself First Baptist church, Festac is a home, and a family I can always come back to, on visit. While we fellowship at Amuwo Odofin Baptist Church where we have our membership, First Baptist Church Festac town is forever our family church.

What are your visions and set goals when assuming office of the President?

The Conference already had standing visions, so I just had to build my own vision upon those standing visions by doing SWOT analysis; checking out the Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats facing the Conference and ways by which they can be handled. One of my visions is to strengthen our relationship in the Conference as established by the former President Rev. Dr. O.K, Babarinde. We strengthen these churches relationship by giving mission grants. One of the visions is also fostering empowerment on social gospel actions which means empowering people to be self-sufficient and have a specific handwork for themselves. One of the weaknesses is the ambience of the Conference Secretariat. The interior and exterior were not beautiful to behold. So, we remolded it into a modern administrative hub, befitting the growing scope of the Conference’s operations. One of the weaknesses is also the far distance travelled by church members to attend training sessions organized by the Conference in one location. This has been handled by multiplying the training locations into two. This has brought the training locations closer to the people, thereby increasing attendance of participants and the results are glaring. Regarding opportunities, some of our churches are well located and have members who are professionals. Their professionalism and stewardship of influence in the marketplace are being explored and employed to advance the Kingdom of God. The possible threats are some pseudo-churches around that deceive our members. The solution to this is by having leadership training at the different levels and encouraging churches to raise members who are disciples of Christ and well rooted in the scriptures through discipleship.

What are things that you did or are doing differently from your predecessors?

We have a program called transformer conference which is mainly for young people from age 13 to the young adults. While Rev. Babarinde was there we had attendance of up to 700 youths and it was always held in the church. But in my tenure we rebranded the program by training and engaging the young ones to coordinate the programs themselves and as at October 1st this year 2025 we had an attendance of about 2,581 youths in attendance. That’s something new that I have done. We also used to have just one centre for training but now it has become two which has brought about increase in the attendance of these trainings.

What are some of the challenges you encountered when you came into office and how did you work your way through them?

The major and probably the only challenge is funds/money. The funds coming are less than the bills of the things we want to do. Now we’re looking at other things we can do to for more revenue instead of depending on the dues from churches.

What is your relationship with the Presidents of the two other sister Conferences in Lagos state?

Our relationship is so strong. We are united without any form rivalry or jealousy.

Can you share with us some of the things that took place during the celebration of the 5th anniversary?

We had the appreciation service incorporated into the 15th Kingdom People Assembly, which is an annual Conference-in-Session. The Convention President Rev. Dr. Israel Adelani Akanji (FAR) was present to preach the Message. He was accompanied by the Vice President (Finance & Investment). We also had the Presidents of the sister Conferences in Lagos (Lagos East and Lagos West) in attendance and also, the Director of Christian Education Department of the Convention was in attendance. Other dignitaries who are Baptists, from other denominations and friends were present to thank God with us. It was a praise and thanksgiving service.

What would you say is the contribution of your family (wife and children) to this success story?

My wife has been very lovely and supportive. She is my major cheer leader; prayer partner and counsellor. She is a nurse with the Lagos State health services and through her influenced we’ve been able to organize medical outreach for women and pastors in the Conference. My children have also played their bits by supporting in various ways.

How much do you feel fulfilled looking at all you’ve done in the first term of your office?

I will say I’m very and highly fulfilled. No regrets at all

How do you coordinate the I87 churches under you without breaking down?

I have Moderators at different Association, so when there’s anything to be discussed I call the Moderators to disseminate the information. My work involves travelling from one location to another.  Sometimes, I visit three to four churches in one Sunday to see how they are doing and pray for them. In all, it’s been God’s strength and grace. I thank God for the Moderators, Pastors, Deacons, Deaconesses, men, women, students and youths and all other people who have made the Conference to get to its present enviable position. They have been very responsible and cooperative

What should people look forward to you achieving in the 2nd term of your tenure?

we are looking at: (I)strengthening our training programs as a Conference and as a church (II) We are also looking at continuing our social evangelism work i.e. continue to empower people including financial intelligence, how to make investments and lots more, and (III) more importantly doing missions and planting more churches through partnership with churches.

What does the future holds for you after your tenure in office?

A lot of things but majorly to give back to the community and to the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) which has been a great part of my life by training pastors and new leaders.