GENERAL HISTORY OF IFES/NIFES

The state of the post World War II world was certainly not just depressing, it was horrible. However some men and women, who believed that God could use men to transform a depressed and broken world, came together from ten different countries; namely Australia, Britain, Canada, China, France, Holland, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the USA at Philips Brooks House, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA in august 1947 to plan how to raise leaders with integrity to help rebuild the world. They saw the universities as a veritable source of the required raw materials hence they formed the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES). The major vision was to help create strong, self supporting, autonomous, evangelistic student ministries in all the countries of the world where none existed.

The beginning of the evangelical students witnessing in Africa and Nigeria in particular was influenced by vision, initiative and commitment of some British graduates from the Inter-Varsity Fellowship of the UK. Such key persons include: Mr. Freddy Crittenden and Mr. Tony Wilmot. Though a businessman, Mr. Wilmot in 1955, began annual camps through which a number of African students’ leaders emerged and caught a vision for starting students groups. Based on the initial activities of Mr. Wilmot, the Pan-African Fellowship of Evangelical Students (PAFES) came into being with a vision to encourage national movements in all the countries involved with her.

The first Nigerian PAFES conference was held at Ilesha from 31st august to 4th September 1967. Based on the challenge from the then Traveling Secretary, PAFES (W.A) Mr. Geotfried Osei Mensah on the formation of a Nigerian national movement, and a motion to that effect by Mr. (now Prof.) Kayode Adesogan a constitution drafting committee headed by Mr. (now Prof.) Ebong Mbipom as chairman and Mr. (now Rev. (Dr)) Kunle Obadina as secretary was constituted. At the end of the year, the committee produced its first version of the NIFES constitution and also planned the 1st National Conference. On the 31st August, 1968, members from eleven (11) evangelical groups in post secondary institutions in Nigeria met at Bishop Smith Memorial College, Ilorin Kwara State and decided to pass the draft constitution and to make themselves available to God’s service in extending His kingdom in Nigeria tertiary institutions through a National Movement known as Nigeria Fellowship of Evangelical Students. From that small beginning in 1968, NIFES has been able to mobilize over 80,000 students in about 300 Universities and Colleges all over Nigeria through Bible Studies, Prayer Meeting, Biblical Discipleship and Leadership Training.

NIFES is a national, non-denominational, evangelical Christian movement, primarily reaching out to students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria. A national movement evidenced by its presence in ALL the 36 states of the federation including the FCT. NIFES works in 294 campuses with about 30,000 Christian students involved. NIFES is affiliated to the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) with membership in 150 countries of the world. NIFES is by God’s Grace, the largest Christian Student Movement operating in Universities and colleges world-wide within the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. NIFES, by its composition and functional scope, stands as a symbol of unity among Christian Students of various denominations and believers of different ethnic identities.

University and College students if properly prepared can provide a most dynamic influence in society. For 40 years, NIFES has produced young leaders for the nation who are gradually making their lights shine in various corners of this country and beyond. Looking back over the years, we are thankful for the thousands of graduates who have been discipled as students and are building a life time of commitment to Christ as professionals in the marketplace, parliamentarians, advisers in governments, diplomats, university administrators, lecturers, commanders in the Armed Forces, missionaries, church leaders etc. in fact, NIFES has been a key player in the development of the nations manpower and a strategic harvest force for the church through highly skilled and credible scholars, missionaries, ordained and lay ministers who are making their light shine in various corners and crannies of this country and beyond.