ILE-IFE, Osun State – The MZI examinations for the second semester 2025/2026 academic session officially kicked off on Tuesday with a 6:00AM Holy Ghost Breakfast (HGB) session that combined intense prayer for success having that firm reminder that divine favour does not excuse academic dishonesty. The usual morning calm at Mount Zion Institute of Christian Drama (MZI) was replaced with the kind of focused energy that comes only when students realise that what they read at 2:00AM will now be tested before lunch.
Dawn Prayers Set the Tone for Examination Success
Long before the first question paper was distributed, students gathered for the statutory two-hour HGB session. As specified in our previous article, HGB is a daily 6:00AM programme designed to shape the nature of Christ in students. It holds from Monday through Fridays. On this MZI examinations morning, however, the prayers carried an urgent petition: success, recall, and the kind of divine assistance that helps a student remember the one chapter they actually studied thoroughly. The atmosphere was earnest, focused, and punctuated by the occasional “Amen” from someone clearly hoping that grace would cover the three topics they had deliberately skipped.
Registrar Issues Prophetic Declaration and Firm Examination Rules
Following the prayer session, the Registrar, Mr. Covenant Adebayo, mounted the podium to round up the HGB. He began with a prophetic declaration that lifted the room’s spirit, then swiftly pivoted to what might generously be called “the part students least enjoy.” With the empathetic firmness of someone who has seen examination malpractice ruin promising careers, Mr. Adebayo laid down the rules governing all MZI examinations in unmistakable terms.
First, punctuality. He explained that latecomers would not be admitted, and that no amount of dramatic pleading any student would change this policy. Second, sanctity. He emphasised that the fact of attending a Christian institution does not grant immunity from examination laws. “If you are caught during these MZI examinations,” he said, “you will face the consequences. In fact, your penalty may resonate more severely because you knew better.” Third, students were warned against familiarity with invigilators. “They are not your colleagues from ZRT rehearsals,” he reminded. “Do not greet them like long-lost relatives during the MZI examinations.”
Plus, students were instructed to input all important details such as name, matriculation number, course code, and signature on their answer sheets before they began writing, a simple step that has tripped up more than a few rushed candidates over time. They were also told to stop writing immediately when the examination clock expired. “The invigilator will not negotiate an extra minute,” he said. “Not even if you offer to recite the institute’s theme song.” Finally, every student was required to have their identification card visibly placed on their desk throughout the MZI examinations period.
HGB Closes with Theme Song and Benediction
The HGB session drew to a close with the institute’s theme song, whose opening lines shelters “There is a place where faith abides, a place where God resides, somewhere we shine our light…” It filled the hall with a familiar comfort. The benediction followed shortly after: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ…” and then the resonant declaration from Psalm 23: “Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me…” With that, the students were dismissed and the MZI examinations began in earnest at 10:00AM.
No Fellowship After Fellowship (FAF) as Students Scramble for Last-Minute Revision
Under normal circumstances, the period immediately following HGB is reserved for Fellowship After Fellowship (FAF)—a cherished informal time of greetings, handshakes, and the kind of lively conversations that make MZI feel like a large, slightly noisy family. However, because this day marked the start of MZI examinations, there was no time for FAF. The usual “Hi” and “Hello” were replaced by the hurried footsteps of students rushing back to their dormitories, clutching notebooks and muttering key points under their breath.
So intense was the focus that many students did not even notice that Chioma, Esther, and Sulaiman were present. Seems examination consciousness can override even the most socially wired instincts. In any other week, FAF would have sparked cheerful shouts and at least one spontaneous group selfie especially people who incidentally happen to wear same colour outfit. On this MZI examinations morning, they might as well have been invisible.
Looking Ahead of Us...
The commencement of MZI examinations in tandem with the session’s marks consistency in the institute’s academic calendar, following the historic combined matriculation ceremony held on 26th May 2026. For a school that trains students in Theatre Arts (Christian Drama), the examination period is not merely a test of memory but a rehearsal for the discipline required in professionalism and ministry consolidation. Students who cannot sit still for a two-hour examination will struggle to endure the rigours of a twelve-hour film shoot. Those who cannot resist the temptation of glancing at a neighbour’s answer sheet during MZI examinations may find it equally difficult to resist shortcuts in their stage/film productions.
The institute’s emphasis on examination integrity sends a clear signal to both local and international observers: Christian drama education at MZI is academically serious, ethically grounded, and Biblically vibrant not godly naive.
As the MZI examinations continue, students are expected to adhere strictly to the code of conduct outlined by the Registrar. The administration has promised adequate invigilation, comfortable examination halls, and prayer support for those who genuinely prepared. For those who did not, well, there is always the resit examination and the grace of God, which, while abundant, is not a substitute for reading.
