There are moments in the life of an institution when history stops being something we read about and becomes something we witness. Such moments deserve more than applause; they deserve remembrance. For Mount Zion Institute of Christian Drama, July 2026 is one of those moments.
On Monday, 6 July 2026, twenty-eight final-year students of the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts (Christian Drama) stood before an external examiner to defend the projects they had laboured over for months. To many, it was an academic exercise. To those who have walked this journey from the beginning, it was the fulfilment of a vision planted more than three decades ago.
The project defence was supervised by Professor S. O. Ikibe, whose presence reflected the academic rigour expected of higher education. Also in attendance were respected leaders whose commitment has shaped the Institute’s progress: the Deputy Director, Evangelist (Dr.) Yemi Adepoju; the Provost, Professor Jesuleye Olalekan; the Head of Department, Dr. Damilola Babarinde; and the Registrar, Mr. Covenant Adebayo. Their presence spoke quietly but powerfully of a shared commitment to excellence.
Special appreciation must also go to Redeemer’s University, whose collaboration continues to strengthen the quality and integrity of the Theatre Arts (Christian Drama) programme. Through this partnership, Christian theatre education has found a firm academic footing without losing the Biblical convictions upon which it was built.
For those who understand the history of Mount Zion Institute of Christian Drama, this achievement carries a meaning that reaches far beyond the examination hall.
Established in 1991, the Institute has spent decades nurturing men and women who see drama as artistic ministry. Generation after generation has passed through its classrooms and stages, carrying the Gospel into churches, communities and nations. Yet this graduating class occupies a special place in that story.
They are the Institute’s first Bachelor of Arts graduates in Theatre Arts (Christian Drama).
Only a day earlier, on 5 July 2026, these same students became the first in the Institute’s history to be formally inducted as Theatre Arts students duly recognised not only as performers, but as trained practitioners dedicated to their profession. It was a fitting moment, marking their transition from learners to ambassadors of a discipline they have embraced with conviction.
Watching these young men and women step into this new chapter brings to mind the joy of an elder whose children have grown strong enough to carry the family name with honour. Their success is not theirs alone. It belongs to every lecturer who taught them, every mentor who corrected them, every parent who prayed for them, and every pioneer who believed that Christian drama deserved a place within higher education.
They are, indeed, Thespians of Christ – artists whose calling reaches beyond the stage, using dramatic art to illuminate truth, inspire hope and transform lives.
If July 2026 has taught us anything, it is that faithful labour is never wasted. Seeds planted years ago have become a harvest that future generations will gather from.
Congratulations to the pioneer graduating class. May your knowledge remain grounded in wisdom, your creativity guided by purpose, and your art continue to glorify God wherever your journey leads.
