Banyam's Assets

Blessing Dan Azumi manages the BTS Communication and Research Lab.

Students start the generator to power the Comm. & Research Lab.

Provost Yahuda Zailani in the Comm & Research Lab.

Students in the Comm & Research Lab.

The Bishop Ruben Job Library with satellite dish visible outside.

This dish connects BTS to the rest of the world.

BTS has the beginnings of a decent water infrastructure: a number of wells with hand pumps.

There are several water storage tanks on-campus. With the addition of an electrical pumping system, water should be plentiful, even in the dry season.

Rev. Francis Sadiq, BTS lecturer and farm manager, explains methods for raising rice, the principal crop on the BTS farm.

BTS rice field.

Students and staff are all required to work on the BTS farm. Harvested rice is packed into 100kg bags (220lb) and carried on motorbikes to storage or market.

BTS agricultural plot.

New housing units are a great improvement and more can be built with this same plan.

New kitchen building is sound and functional. More like this can be built.

BTS faculty understands that the future of the Nigerian United Methodist Church is in their hands.

Rev. Eli, General Superintendent of the UMC Central Conference, was involved in the discussions for BTS's Five Year Plan.

Faculty and students share a meal in BTS guest house and discuss the revised Five Year Plan.

Discussions begin for the revision of Five Year Plan. Rev. Dr. Arleon Kelley facilitates meeting in Streyfeller Chapel.

Rev. Dr.s Arleon Kelley and Donna Meinhard discuss BTS issues with Bishop Johnwesley Yohanna.

For all of its challenges, Banyam Theological Seminary is not without assets. Among them are: a faculty that is aware that the future of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria is in their hands, a large agricultural plot to be used for food or for revenue, new designs for student living and cooking structures appear to be sound, functional and reproducible, a computer lab with satellite internet access provides access to outside academic resources and, finally, Banyam Seminary has a Five Year Plan for the improvement of campus academics, infrastructure and living conditions. This plan, revised November 2012 and approved by the BTS Board of Governors, involved input from faculty, staff, student leaders and United Methodist Conference officials. While it won't be easy to accomplish the entire plan in five years, seminary officials are working from a document that organizes and prioritizes the way forward.