Church Dedicates Global Education Center in Lagos, Nigeria

Educational opportunities for Nigerians increased significantly on 15 February, 2025 as Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the world’s fourth Global Education Center (GEC) in Lagos, Nigeria.  Operating under the banner of the BYU Pathway Worldwide program, the GEC was commissioned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to help build future leaders in both the home and the community.

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The GEC, a large building that can accommodate up to 500 students, is not a school per se, as there are no teachers employed to teach there.   Rather it is a place for students to come further their individual studies through the BYU Pathway Worldwide education program by using the resources available there, which include electricity, internet access, computers, and other facilities that are often difficult for students in Nigeria to access if they wish to pursue advanced education online. The opportunity to earn an accredited Bachelor’s degree at a significantly reduced price is available to members and non-members alike through BYU Pathway. Focused students can earn a degree in just three years at a cost of NGN 379,579. Additionally, the GEC's, through the Pathway program, can provide students with internship opportunities and scholarships to aid in their pursuit of education.

Elder Christofferson, in his remarks prior to his dedicatory prayer, noted that globally the Church spends over $1 billion USD annually to support educational opportunities for the rising generation. Acknowledging that building brick and mortar institutions can’t satisfy the increasing demand for providing those opportunities, the Church is moving in the direction of online education and providing those opportunities through the BYU Pathway program.  Global Education Centers provide support for the BYU Pathway program.

He clarified the Church’s motivation for its investment in education: “Our interest is learning, of course — higher education — but not just for the purpose of the edification, the progress, and the development of the individual, but for what it qualifies that person to be in life and to contribute. The president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Russell M. Nelson, has said that for us, learning is a religious responsibility, and it’s for the purpose of being able to serve, expanding our capacity, our abilities, and our qualifications to be of service to others.  We learn so that we can be a blessing to someone’s life and to the community.”

He concluded his remarks saying that “In the end, our hope is that long-lasting strong faithful families will be built from this foundation, that men and women will be qualified in secular and spiritual growth to both come together and form families that will be the strength of society in Nigeria and in the world.”

Local leaders praised the Church for its contributions to improving educational, financial, and professional opportunities for young people in Nigeria.  They expressed hope that the Church would continue it's involvement in the country and community. Madame Cecilia Ezeilo, the Former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, urged youth to take advantage of the Church's donation to improve their lives and then to contribute to the benefit of others in the community.

In addition to Elder Christofferson and his wife, Kathy, Church representatives attending the dedication included Elder Alfred and Sister Lucie Kyungu, of the Seventy and President of the Africa West Area; Elder Adeyinka and Sister Olufunmilayo Ojediran, of the Seventy and First Counsellor of Africa West Area Presidency; Elder Isaac K. and Sister Hannah Morrison of the Seventy and Second Counsellor of the Africa West Area Presidency; Elder Michael T. and Sister Rosaline Ringwood, from the Presidency of the Seventy; Bishop W. Christopher and Sister Carol Waddell, of the Presiding Bishopric; Brian K. Ashton, President of BYU Pathway Worldwide; Matt Downs, Chairman of Career Advisory Board of BYU Pathway Worldwide; J.D. Griffiths, Vice President, of BYU Pathway Worldwide in charge of Global Education Centers, and Victor Ukorebi, Senior Area Manager for Africa, BYU Pathway Worldwide.