On 11 May 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, held an open house ceremony to unveil the recently constructed District Center. The new building, located in the town of Jos, will serve the Jos District, and provide a meeting place for the Bukuru Branch.
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The Jos District currently has ten branches including recently organized congregations in Mangu and Dadin Kowa. The previous district building was located in Bukuru and had been damaged by fire.
President Dennis Ocansey, mission leader for the Abuja Nigeria Mission of the Church, presided over the open house. Local traditional, government, and interfaith leaders attended the ceremony, as well as local media.
During the tour of the new building, attendees were introduced to the various organizations and programs of the church. They toured the District Presidency Office, and the Relief Society, youth, and primary classrooms. They learned about the Church’s self-reliance program, the Seminaries and Institutes program, BYU Pathway, free skill acquisition (the Gathering Place), and missionary work.
Guests were entertained by a choir made up of local members and groups of traditional dancers.
At the open house ceremony, President Ocansey highlighted the church’s commitment to education and skill development. He emphasized the importance of incorporating education with spiritual development to promote self-reliance among its members.
“The purpose of incorporating education and skill development into our church departments is that our Heavenly Father wants his children to be self-reliant. To achieve this, we must grow spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and socially,” President Ocansey stated.
Drawing inspiration from the teachings of Jesus Christ, President Ocansey stressed the significance of unity among religious bodies to spread the love and the gospel of Jesus Christ worldwide.
Nonkat Steven Best, first counselor in the district presidency, provided further insight into the church’s dedication to education, particularly through the Brigham Young University (BYU) Pathway Program.
“Regarding the BYU Pathway Program, it serves as a platform designed to facilitate access to higher education for individuals aged 18 and above. The program’s affordability is notable, as there are no application fees, and tuition costs are minimal. It consists of three 27-week semesters aimed at preparing participants for undergraduate degree programs,” he said.
“Education is vital for individuals to become problem solvers and make meaningful contributions to society. Our dedication to education reflects our belief in the importance of personal and professional growth for all individuals.”
Local traditional leader, His Royal Majesty, Pozoh Johnson Jauro Magaji, Ujah Anaguta Jos, commended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for its practical approach to education and expressed admiration for the new building. He stressed the importance of education for national development and praised the church’s initiative to embrace and promote education within the community.
Several community and inter-faith leaders spoke at the event. DA Gyan Jatau Doji, community head of Lyoh Gyel, commended the Church for opening its doors to their neighbors. He said, “We have started to enjoy your presence. The vocational training and self-reliance programs will benefit our teeming youth. I wish you had come when I was much younger.”