Benjamin Bloom emerges winner of the 2025 Discipleship Bible Bee in Abuja, as organisers stress the importance of balancing academic excellence with spiritual growth.
As concerns mount over rising moral decay and social vices among young people, organisers of the Discipleship Bible Bee have stressed that spiritual development is just as vital as academic success.
The 2025 edition of the Bible Bee competition concluded in Abuja with Benjamin Bloom emerging overall winner and receiving a prize of N1 million. The second and third-place contestants went home with N500,000 and N300,000 respectively, while coaches were also rewarded for their contributions.
Beyond the prizes, however, the event has reignited debate about the role of families in shaping values.
For parents like Sikinwoti Banga, who had two children among the finalists, the competition goes beyond recognition. “Every scripture we learn, we pray with it, and when challenges come, I encourage my children to use God’s Word to navigate. This has really helped them stand for Christ,” she said.
Another parent and coach, Esther Amasa, emphasised the transformative discipline that preparation for the contest instills. “As much as we want children to be academically sound, they also need spiritual grounding to become valuable members of society,” she noted.
Education and child development experts have long warned that academic success without moral grounding may not produce responsible citizens.
Chairman of the Discipleship Family Academy, Justice Osagie Oboh, echoed this concern. “The objective is not just to memorise but to live the Bible, stating that moral instruction at home remains essential”.
“This is a big milestone in the lives of those children and their parents and families. We want to enjoin parents to work on their children, to keep studying the Bible with the children, encourage them to know the Word deep. The Bible in Psalm 119 says, Your Word have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against you. When they are grounded in the Word of God, then you can go to sleep”
Convener of the academy, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Oboh, described the competition as a deliberate response to societal challenges. “The Bible Bee is not simply a competition but a commissioning. We are launching children as change agents for good,” she said. She further announced that the 2026 edition will expand across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones through regional qualifiers leading to a national event.
Judges and sponsors including Sante Bistro, Havila Events, and Jewels Leading Light International stressed that the long-term value of the programme lies in encouraging parents to take active roles in raising children with integrity, beyond the cash rewards.
At a time when youth crime and moral decline dominate public discourse, the Bible Bee raises a critical national question: should Nigeria’s education system give equal weight to character formation and academic excellence?
About the Author
