Gowon delivered this message as Patron during the 60th anniversary celebration of The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), held at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The Founder’s Day Annual Lecture and Awards Ceremony attracted prominent figures from Nigeria’s political, religious, and business sectors, including former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by Rtd Lt Col. Paul Edo Obi.
The former leader characterized the BSN’s mission as essential to nation-building. “The Bible Society of Nigeria has consistently reminded us that national renewal begins with moral renewal, and moral renewal begins with hearts transformed by the Word of God,” Gowon said.
He commended the organization’s six-decade evolution from its 1966 establishment into what he described as a “national and global force for spiritual transformation.” The Society’s work includes translating the Bible into indigenous languages, distributing scriptures in both print and digital formats, and conducting outreach programs in prisons, among security agencies, and within displaced communities.