By Ayoyinka Jegede
The General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, and his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Folashade Olukoya, have restated their commitment to youth development, declaring that their vision is to help young people discover and fulfil their God-given destinies.
The Olukoyas made this known at the finals of the Dr. and Dr. (Mrs) Daniel Kolawole Olukoya Choral and Solo Competition for Secondary Schools in Lagos held at MFM’s Grace Hall, Onike.
The event attracted students, music teachers, parents and government officials from the state.
Speaking on reason for initiating the competition, he said: “My lifelong passion, vision and that of my wife is to support initiatives that help young people discover, develop and fulfil their God-given destinies.”
Olukoya said: “MFM is interested and committed to evangelising youths for Christ, as well as anything that will make youths find God.”
Olukoya explained that the competition is part of his 70-Point Youth Repositioning Agenda, which was launched to rescue youths from social vices and provide platforms for spiritual, academic, and economic growth.
Olukoya said the vision was launched to reach young men and women wherever they may be.
He noted that the initiative has impacted thousands through programmes on education, sports, entrepreneurship, agriculture, leadership development, and moral values.
“We have created opportunities for young people through sports and educational support schemes. Under the initiative, MFM established football, basketball and wrestling programmes that have helped discover and nurture talented athletes,” he added.
The agenda, he said, also supports academic excellence through scholarships and awards for outstanding students, and has expanded into agriculture to tackle unemployment and promote food security.
Olukoya stressed the importance of nurturing young talents through music and education.
“Music remains a powerful tool for character formation, creativity and intellectual growth among young people,” he said.
He urged students to pursue excellence in academics and extracurricular activities, noting that “discipline, dedication and hard work remain key ingredients for success.”
Olukoya explained that the competition is part of his 70-Point Youth Repositioning Agenda, which was launched to rescue youths from social vices and provide platforms for spiritual, academic, and economic growth.
Olukoya said the vision was launched to reach young men and women wherever they may be.
He noted that the initiative has impacted thousands through programmes on education, sports, entrepreneurship, agriculture, leadership development, and moral values.
“We have created opportunities for young people through sports and educational support schemes. Under the initiative, MFM established football, basketball and wrestling programmes that have helped discover and nurture talented athletes,” he added.
The agenda, he said, also supports academic excellence through scholarships and awards for outstanding students, and has expanded into agriculture to tackle unemployment and promote food security.
Olukoya stressed the importance of nurturing young talents through music and education.
“Music remains a powerful tool for character formation, creativity and intellectual growth among young people,” he said.
He urged students to pursue excellence in academics and extracurricular activities, noting that “discipline, dedication and hard work remain key ingredients for success.”
At the competition, seven soloists each received full-tuition scholarships to any public Nigerian university of their choice, irrespective of course of study.
For the choral category, the first to third place winners went home with cash gifts and keyboards, while fourth to the sixth-place schools went home with just cash prizes.
Halifield Schools, Maryland, emerged overall winner and received N2 million and a keyboard. Second placed International
School, Lagos got N1.5 million and a keyboard, while Barbinton Macauley, which came third, got N1 million and a keyboard. Birrel Avenue High School, which was fourth place winner went home with N500,000, CMS Grammar School came fifth and got N250,000, and sixth place winner CMS Girls Senior Grammar school, Bariga, went home with N100,000. the soloists also received N 150,000 each as consolation prizes totalling N6.2million.
Head of Halifield Schools, Mrs. Frances Osuchukwu, thanked the Olukoyas for their kind gesture, saying, “this victory will inspire our students and other youths to strive for excellence, build their confidence, develop their critical thinking skills, and keep them away from the vices of society,” she said. “This gesture is commendable.”
One of the soloist who received scholarship, Miss Joanna Phillips, also thanked God for using the Olukoyas to bless her. Other soloists such as Emmanuel Ebube (Voice), Ojelabi Feyikunmi (Voice), Humphrey David (Voice), Nwachukwu Priscillia (Voice) , Francis Mary (Voice) and Phillip Adeola Mowaleoluwa ((Violin) who were all given scholarships to any public school of their choice, expressed happiness for their kind gestures.
On his part, Mr. Odiwe Gabriel from Education District Two, Maryland, described the competition as wonderful, laudable programme, which has helped public schools discover musical talents, and help students get use to classic music helping them to sight read and sight sing.
Odiwe thanked the Olukoyas for allowing all students to participate irrespective of their religious affiliation.
He called on youths to shun drug abuse, bad company, and other acts that could jeopardise their future. He also appealed to parents, religious leaders, and community stakeholders to mentor young people toward positive lifestyles.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Special Assistant on Christian Religion Affairs, Rev.
Bukola Adeleke, also has words of praise for the Olukoyas “unwavering commitment to youth development and the promotion of excellence through music education.”
Sanwo-Olu urged politicians, members of the public and everyone to emulate them for a better society. He said the goals of the competition, talent identification confidence-building, and youth empowerment, align closely with his administration’s conviction that the future of Lagos is best secured through deliberate investment in young people.
The governor stressed that the achievements of MFM’S broader choral family has deepened his administration. From the Shalom Chorale’s victory at the BBC Gospel Choir of the Year competition to the MFM Mountain Top Chorale’s two gold medals at the 2024 World Choir Games in Auckland, New Zealand , the world has heard what Lagos can produce when talents meets structure and dedication
“Music is not merely performance. It is teamwork. It is the training of young minds to think, to feel, and to lead. This competition demonstrates the power of music as a tool for character development, discipline, creativity, and national unity,” he said.
Lagos Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, praised the Olukoyas for nurturing future leaders, saying, “Olukoyas’ passion for identifying and nurturing students’ talents is worth commendation,”noting that this has necessitated the ministry’s robust collaboration with MFM.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, represented by Dr. Bolaji Omoniyi, Head of Music, Co-Curricular Department, said the competition “has become a beacon of excellence in music education.
“Through this initiative, students are discovering their talents, building confidence, and developing life skills. The ministry deeply appreciates Dr. and Dr. Mrs. Olukoya for their unwavering investment in the future of Lagos State children,” she said.
Chairperson of the 2026 competition and Director of the Mountain Top Conservatory Choir and Philharmonic Orchestra, Pastor Mrs. Oyinkansola Akinselure, said the contest began in 2011 with approval from the Lagos State Commissioner for Education.
She explained that the 2026 edition, the third in the current series, started in 2025 with online preliminaries and semi-finals. A total of 88 schools and 20 soloists participated.
Akinselure added that the competition reflects Olukoya and his wife’s desire to improve the quality of music education and keep youths gainfully occupied. “This year, we introduced a contest for solo singers and performers which will be rewarded by seven scholarships to any public Nigerian university of their choice,” she said.
The event featured rich musical displays from students across the state, with organisers saying it highlighted the role of music education in fostering discipline, teamwork, and creativity.
