The history of the origin and the early metamorphosis of BSF in the University of Benin/UBTH seem to have been lost to antiquity. Apart from the certificate of inauguration that dates back to 1972, the post-inauguration information of the BSF during her first 13 years of existence appears to have been completely lost in transit. Most probably, the BSF of UNIBEN is as old as the institution itself which was founded in 1970.This assertion hinges on the fact that most BSFs were not inaugurated until about a year later with an appreciable evidence of growth. Thus, this brief history is basically what my eyes saw, what my ears heard, what my hands touched and what my soul experienced with effect from late 1985.

The BSF officers in 1985/86 session included:

• Bro. Egra O. Akpofure (President)
• Bro. Francis Tom Omo-fregene (Secretary)
• Bro. Henry Mogbolu (Bible Study Leader)
• Sis. Bola Adeniyi (Treasurer/Mama), etc.

Dr. M. Thomaston, a white missionary pharmacist, was the BSF Volunteer Campus Minister (VCM) who spoon fed the Fellowship. He would organize Christmas party, etc in his residence at Ekosodin for the BSF members. He abruptly left the country a year or two later due to the health challenge of his wife.

The BSF venue was UNIBEN Lecture Theatre 218 Basement. The obscurity of BSF then was such that one could hardly find any student who knew about BSF or what the three-letter word, BSF, stood for. In fact, it took me almost a whole semester to locate the Fellowship, having stumbled into other Fellowships like Deeper Life, etc.

The Fellowship was blessed with the following officers in 1988/89 session:

• Bro. Augustine NgoziOkoronkwo (President)
• Bro. Friday Ojiebun (Vice President)
• Bro. Richard Akinlade (Prayer)
• Sis. IyobosaAgbonifo (Treasurer), etc

The election into 1989/90 session under the chairmanship of Bro. EseUwanogho had a serious hitch whose effects manifested later. Shortly after Bro. Friday Ojiebun was elected as the President, he declined on his firm conviction: “Arise…and flee into Egypt, and be there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek… to destroy him” (Matt 2:13). The handwriting on the wall was so frightening that he applied for a temporary exemption from the University. Thus, Bro Richard Akinlade became the President. He served in that capacity for two consecutive years. Between 1990 and 1991, much water passed under the bridge under the presidency of Bro. Richard Akinlade through negligence and Satanic attack. There were allegations of a purported plan to change the name of the fellowship, financial mismanagement etc. An aggrieved faction moved to openly disorganize the Fellowship in spite of all persuasion. The faction leader, who has long gone to rest, threatened for a public show down.

In a swift bid to prevent the inevitable and forestall breakdown in law and order, the executive dialogued with the group and opted for the dissolution of the executive when all efforts failed. The then visitation chairman, Bro. Friday Ojiebun, and Bro. Clement Eruke were immediately appointed as interim President and interim Secretary respectively, pending the election of a new executive. Still unsatisfied with the dissolution of the former executive, the enraged faction leader came into the prayer cycle earlier planned to ask God for the way forward and threw the Fellowship into commotion at the Sports Complex open field.