Among Nigerians who have advanced the interest of the Catholic Church, Aremo (Sir) Olusoji Robert-Joseph Olagunju KSG is someone who has made a unique contribution. What he did: He founded the Lumen Christi Television Network and put it to the service of the Catholic Church in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. The medium provides the Catholic Church with the means to further disseminate evangelism to this part of the world.
The scope and significance of such a service is what brings Sir Olagunju under the spotlight of the Board of Editors of The Catholic Herald as a candidate for the Media Personality Award. Though a thoroughbred investment banking, his founding of the Lumen Christi Television Network on May 13, 2014, was divinely inspired. Any other person could have founded an entertainment TV to mine the immense profit inherent in the eclectic and secular programming niche in an age when satellite TV broadcasting is an important medium in a world that has shrunk into a global village.
On the other hand, he could have founded news-focused TV, which would have made him a force in the political world. Instead, he founded a faithbased TV that, in retrospect, seemed to be an act inspired by God ahead of a perilous time when it would be a useful tool of evangelism. The benefit was immediately evident when the coronavirus pandemic happened, and a new order of lockdown, and social distance was imposed across the world. The development impacted Christianity and the Catholics in particular.
Following the government’s “Stay at Home” directive, the Catholic Archdioceses of Lagos and Abuja temporarily suspended the public celebration of the Holy Mass, Benediction, and Stations of the Cross, among other forms of worship. Humanity at that point reached a nadir whereby the window to the outside world, to connect with others and commune with the human family, was the television. In this respect, the Lumen Christi TV Network brought succour to many families with the live broadcast of Holy Masses to millions of Catholic homes across Nigeria. It saved many families from being cut off from weekly communion with God.
From the Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos, Masses were televised to Catholics not only in Nigeria, but across the Sub-Sahara Africa region. Never has television played such an important role in the spiritual lives of Christians and Catholics in particular. Lumen Christi undoubtedly, contributed to enhancing the spiritual growth of the lay faithful and the development of the Church in Lagos and Sub-Saharan Africa. The medium propelled the Holy Cross Cathedral and the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos to the fore in Eucharistic celebrations and media evangelism in West Africa.
An enigmatic aspect of the Lumen Christi Television Network is the fact that the founder, either by his education or career direction, is not inclined towards the media profession. There is no other rationale other than being divinely inspired on his 50th birthday in 2013 to found Lumen Christi Catholic TV Network, which today holds the record of the first indigenous Catholic TV network by a lay faithful in the world. That he made its operation non-commercial while broadcasting on Channel 350 of Africa’s largest satellite service provider, Multichoice/DSTV, as well as on several other platforms across the world, speaks of an elevated dimension of charity to the Church and believers.
Sir Olagunju, a prince of Offa Kingdom, Kwara State, was born in 1964 and had his primary and secondary education in Lagos. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance, a Masters degree in Business Administration and a Doctorate (Honoris Causa) in Business Administration. He had attended a slew of courses and training in Nigeria and abroad. One of such courses was in Harvard Business School in 2007. He is a professional to the marrow: a Chartered Banker/ Associate; fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN); and fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing of Nigeria in 2009. During his over 30 years as an investment banker and finance executive, he held many important positions.
The highlights of his career include, being MD and CEO of Union Registrar (a subsidiary of Union Bank). At First Registrars Ltd. (First Bank Group), he was the first Assistant Registrar in 2000, Deputy Registrar in 2003, and Acting Registrar and MD of First Registrars Ltd. thereafter. He played an active role in the privatisation and commercialisation process of the Obasanjo administration. His testimonials include, leading a team that conducted the successful share offerings, launch and listing of companies, especially banks — Zenith, Oceanic and Standard Trust — and Oando Plc, on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The contrast of his career background and his founding of Lumen Christi Television Network and what he has done with it is at times difficult to reconcile, and one can assume that the latter was a calling for him.
The significance of what he has done: Previously, the Catholic Church, the first and foremost Church in Africa, didn’t have an influential broadcast medium; the emergence of Lumen Christi meaning “the light has come to change things” changed the narrative. Currently, the Catholic Church in Africa has a recognisable and influential mouthpiece in the electronic media space. Post-COVID-19 pandemic, the Lumen Christi Television Network has become an integral part of our spiritual life. The network has grown into a foremost Nigerian-based Sub-Saharan Africa Catholic Network that consistently broadcast round-the-clock Catholic-themed programmes, including Daily Mass, Angelus, Holy Rosary recitation, homilies, reflections, and Catholic teachings.
The network broadcasts other programmes that enrich the Catholic life: the Catechism of the Church, interviews, documentaries and coverage of major church events in the Archdiocese of Lagos and Nigeria. In recognition of his contributions to the growth of the Church, State and humanity across the world, Sir Olagunju was honoured in 2021 by Pope Francis, who conferred on him the international honour of the Papal Knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory the Great (Pope, 590 AD–604 AD). He is also a recipient of many honours, including the World Union of Catholic Women Organisation Excellence Award; St. Cyprian’s Catholic Church Award; Lagos State Government Recognition Award; and Offa Silver Award, among others.
On January 13, 2024, the Olofa of Offa selected Prince Soji Olagunju as the Aremo (Crown Prince) of Offa Kingdom in recognition of his numerous contributions to the growth of Offa and humanity. The business side of his life is also characterised by service. As the Executive Chairman of Ebenezery Industries, he is equally engaged in other noble ventures. Among others, he founded Donum Christi College and Lumen Christi Retreat and Media Centre. He is also the promoter of the Marian University of Medicine & IT and the Marian School of Nursing and Midwifery On the decision to run the TV network ad-free, Olagunju once reflected: “It became our policy right from the beginning that commercial adverts will not be allowed on LCTN. Otherwise, it’s just a matter of time before we get derailed from our core mission of evangelisation once advert money starts coming in, as you would be tempted to give adverts prominence as against our religious programmes, more so when some of these programmes, like Angelus, Live Masses, Divine Mercy, Daily Rosaries and so on, have designated times.
It’s a spiritual investment in the people of God to make heaven through spreading of the gospel, propagating the faith and getting more and more people to fathom the essence of their being created by God in the first instance, and according to elementary catechism.” The Catholic Church recognises and appreciates his services. As the winner of The Herald Centenary Media Personality, it is an honour well earned.
- Neta Nwosu is the Editor of The Catholic Herald weekly newspaper
