CCC Makoko National Headquarters clinches $2,000 grand prize at Oshoffa Juvenile Bible Quiz

The Celestial Church of Christ Makoko National Headquarters has won the second edition of the Reverend S.B.J. Oshoffa International Juvenile Quiz Competition, securing a $2,000 grand prize after an intensive eight-hour doctrinal contest featuring 34 parishes.

The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Makoko National Headquarters has emerged victorious in the second edition of the Reverend S.B.J. Oshoffa International Juvenile Quiz Competition, walking away with the prestigious champion’s trophy and a $2,000 cash prize. Organized by True Word in Season—the evangelical arm of the church’s Greater Tomorrow Group (GTG)—the rigorous academic and spiritual tournament culminated in an intense finale after a highly selective screening process that narrowed down an initial pool of over 75 interested parishes to just 34 finalist teams from within and outside Nigeria. Representatives Jeremiah Babalola and Oluwaseun Hassan successfully scored 16 points to secure the top spot for the Makoko Headquarters, while contestants from CCC Imole Ayo Parish 1, Ibadan, and CCC Itedo Alafia Jesu Parish, Lagos, claimed the second and third positions, respectively.

The grueling, eight-hour intellectual marathon tested young contestants across a highly technical syllabus that spanned the Book of Exodus, the Gospel of Matthew, General Bible Knowledge, and the official Constitution of the Celestial Church of Christ. Event Convener Brother Samuel Ademola Bolaji emphasized that the competitive initiative was directly inspired by the vision of the church’s late founder, Samuel Bilewu Joseph Oshoffa, and structured intentionally to challenge youths beyond standard Sunday school recitations. Highlighting the long-term goals of the rigorous four-month preparatory layout, Bolaji noted, “We want our children to know and understand the purpose for which this church was established. There are many transformative lessons in the history and teachings of the church that can shape their minds and help them appreciate the beauty of God’s work in the Celestial Church,” before adding, “One thing unique about this competition is that the questions are not the usual questions answered elsewhere. They are technical and designed to produce mature minds that can understand, interpret, and apply knowledge. We are preparing a generation ready for the future of the church.”

The high-profile gathering, which concurrently featured a community health outreach providing free blood sugar and blood pressure screenings, drew strong praise from senior white-garment clergymen who viewed the platform as a definitive answer to critics of the denomination’s biblical literacy. Assistant Most Superior Evangelist Afisuru Peter Kiki, the Shepherd of the CCC National Headquarters, highly commended the planning committee for actively investing in youth development, labeling education as the ultimate yardstick for institutional continuity over the next century. Forcefully refuting external perceptions that Celestial Church members are not well-grounded in the scriptures, Kiki concluded, “It is a worthy initiative and a gift from God. This reflects the work Reverend S.B.J. Oshoffa carried out while he was with us. The organisers have expanded and improved upon that vision, and the results are evident,” while firmly stating, “Anyone who says Celestial Church members lack knowledge of the Bible needs God’s education. Our founder was found in the forest with the Bible in his hand. The church is deeply rooted in the Word of God.”

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