The International School of Ministry (ISM) has strengthened its focus on research-based training, leadership formation and practical impact, signalling a shift in faith-based education from inspiration alone towards structured knowledge, accountability and measurable influence.
Desk: Education
& Leadership
Date: Monday, 15 June 2026
Time: 19:00 WAT
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Author: Nokai Origin
The graduation
ceremony of the institution, which operates under Femi Lazarus Apostolic Ministries
Ecumenical (FLAME), brought together faculty members and supervisors who
challenged graduates to view their training as a foundation for wider societal
responsibility rather than the conclusion of an academic journey.
ISM’s model is
built around equipping ministers and believers through structured curriculum,
practical ministry work and academic engagement, with the school positioning
itself as a platform for developing leaders capable of influencing different
spheres of society.
The institution
has also expanded its global outlook through academic collaboration, including
its partnership with Oral Roberts University.
Beyond
calling, the new demand for trained leadership
The Principal of
the International School of Ministry, Apostle Femi Lazarus, used the occasion
to push graduates beyond the traditional understanding of ministry as a calling
alone, stressing that effective leadership requires continuous learning, intellectual
growth and discipline.
He disclosed that
the institution had worked with professors in different fields to strengthen
the quality of its curriculum, describing the responsibility as extending
beyond the classroom because of the wider impact expected from the people being
trained.
According to
Lazarus, graduation should represent a new phase of learning rather than the
end of preparation.
His statement was
directed at a growing challenge within leadership spaces, where confidence
without evidence can weaken credibility.
He argued that
spirituality must not be separated from research and information, noting that
leadership influence in the wider world requires ideas that can withstand
scrutiny.
The Principal
stressed that ministers must combine spiritual foundations with accurate
knowledge, data and disciplined study so that their work can create meaningful
impact beyond religious spaces.
Research and
integrity as the new measure of influence
The Director of
the International School of Ministry, Dr. Kunle Babaremu, reinforced the
institution’s research-driven approach, describing ministry as a responsibility
that requires intentional training, structure and accountability.
Babaremu explained
that ISM’s commitment was to raise ministers who are passionate about their
calling but also equipped with depth, accuracy and integrity.
He highlighted the
introduction of research supervision and publication efforts, noting that the
institution had moved towards publishing findings in reputable journals as part
of strengthening academic credibility.
For Babaremu, the
minister of the future must carry both the heart of a servant and the mind of a
scholar.
He emphasised
integrity, spiritual sensitivity, diligence in study and clarity of
communication as essential qualities required to ensure that teachings and
writings create lasting value.
Turning education
into societal transformation
The graduation
also carried a strong message that education should be measured by
transformation and application rather than certificates alone.
Representing the
supervisors, Dr. Opeyemi Ogunyomi reminded the graduates that learning achieves its
purpose when knowledge is converted into responsible action.
He noted that the
journey involved rigorous classes, research projects and assignments, but the
real test would be how graduates apply what they have gained.
The call for excellence was echoed by Pastor Christopher Omoijiaode, who urged the graduates to “outpace the world” in their areas of influence, arguing that meaningful impact requires competence and excellence.
Pastor Cephas
Alokan described global challenges as opportunities for prepared leaders,
saying the graduates should see problems around them as platforms to become
culture shapers and contributors to change.
Pastor Niyi
Adegbola, reflecting on the academic performance of the graduates, commended
their dedication and effort, describing the outcome as evidence of commitment
to learning.
From graduates to
builders of influence
Faculty member
Pastor Miracle Femi Lazarus charged graduates in marriage ministry and
counselling to approach their assignments with wisdom, excellence and
responsibility, reminding them that they were not only graduates but builders
of destinies.
Pastor Bode Thomas
encouraged them to embrace their responsibility as lights within their various
spaces, while FLAME Director Pastor Adejoke Adeyinka highlighted character
development, capacity building and resilience as important outcomes of the
training.
The faculty
messages presented graduation as the beginning of a leadership journey where
knowledge, character and service must operate together.
The wider
leadership question
The evolution of
institutions such as ISM reflects a broader conversation about the future of
leadership formation.
In an era where
influence increasingly depends on credibility, communication and the ability to
solve complex problems, leadership training is being tested beyond traditional
boundaries.
The next measure
of ISM’s impact will not only be the number of graduates produced but the
quality of ideas, institutions and communities they help build.
The message from
the ceremony was clear: lasting influence requires more than visibility. It
requires preparation, integrity and the discipline to turn knowledge into
impact.
🏷️ Tags:
International School of Ministry, FLAME, Apostle Femi Lazarus, Leadership
Development, Ministry Training, Research Education, Oral Roberts University
#LeadershipDevelopment
#Education #Nigeria #FaithAndSociety #MinistryTraining
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