The Godly Brains Ministry is a Non-Profit, Non-Governmental and Non-Denominational Christian Organization. The vision for the Godly Brains Ministry was received in the year 2000 by Gideon Akanbi while he was still studying at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. The blueprint was documented then, but the mode of operation was not clear. After graduation in June 2002, he left for Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to take up a pastorate with Bethel Baptist Church, Eliowhani as the pioneer pastor.
In 2005, he attended the Minister’s Leadership Retreat (MLR) in Gboko, organized by the Peace House, under the leadership of Bro Gbile Akanni. The theme for that year was: “Possessing the Gates.” Schools of higher learning was presented as one of the gates that must be possessed for God. At the closing night vigil, God spoke to him to get ready to leave the pastorate and focus on helping young people in schools of higher learning “to discover their Purpose, develop their Leadership potentials and be driven by biblical Integrity in the order of biblical Daniel” (Daniel 1:4). This was the beginning of the pursuit of the Godly Brains mandate.
In 2007, he had to resign his appointment with Bethel Baptist Church to resume at the Nigerian Baptist Convention headquarters office, Baptist Building, Ibadan as the National Coordinator of the Student Ministries Division of the convention. This gave him the initial opportunities to travel length and breadth of the country, few countries in West Africa, part of Europe and the United States of America visiting and ministering to students in different campuses.
In early 2008, the Godly Brains reader’s club was started in his office at the Baptist Building, sharing his personal resource materials with any student and youth that came around. Some of the earlier participants in the club activities were Femi Akanmu, Tope Akinola, Florence Johnson, Moyo Gbuyiro, Matthew Oladepo, Biodun Faluyi, Nathan Oladayo, Kehinde and Taiwo Omisile, Folarin Ojetoro, Oyinlola Fadipe, Ronke Alagbe and several others which space will not permit me to be listed. Most of these people now form the bulk of the leadership team of the Godly Brains Ministry. Before long, a monthly discussion group was formed and the venue was moved to the University of Ibadan to accommodate other students from the University and the Polytechnic, Ibadan.
By November 2008, a prayer of commissioning was organized for the Godly Brains Ministry at the New Reservation Area Baptist Church, Iyaganku, Ibadan through Rev Kayode Oyedemi. In other words, The Godly Brains Ministry was officially inaugurated that month. Thereafter, the activities of the Godly Brains ministry were made public and several students started joining our monthly interactive meeting at the University of Ibadan.
In December 2011, Rev Gideon Akanbi resigned his appointment with the Nigerian Baptist Convention so he could concentrate fulltime on the works of the Godly Brains (GB). By January 2012, GB started as a fulltime ministry, dedicated its ministry office headquarters on February 26, 2012, and opened its Resource Center for public use at Suit 10, 3rd Floor (Left Wing), His Grace Office Complex, Fatimo Bus Stop, besides IPMAN building, Odo-Ona Apata, Ibadan. It is important to note that this office Suite was donated for use free of charge by a family, Baba and Mama Ayorinde of New Reservation Area Baptist Church, Iyaganku, Ibadan. That same year, the club started a uniform reading series and opened more chapters of the Reader’s Club in different campuses. LAUTECH Ogbomoso became the first institution where the club was established outside of Ibadan on May 2012. Kemi and Laolu James served as the pioneer leaders of the club.
In November 2015, The Godly Brains was incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) of Nigeria and inaugurated its 7-member board on December 27, 2015.
In January 29, 2016, a night of Vision sharing and prayers was held at the National Headquarters office, Ibadan where Sixteen (16) Campus Coordinators, Two (2) country Directors, Three (3) Zonal Directors, and Eight (8) States Directors were named and commissioned.
In January 2017, another office was opened opposite the University of Ibadan 2nd gate so that we can extend our services to the students of the University area, particularly our weekly meetings. Unfortunately, we closed this office in July 2020 because of the restructuring that took place in our operations.
In February 2018, a Resource Center was opened at Federal University (Ikole-Ekiti Campus). That same year, another one was opened at Federal University of Technology, Akure.
In 2021, Lucky Ndupu joined the Godly Brains Ministry as the first Corps Member to serve as National Coordinator of the Godly Brains Club and Resource Center manager.
Also, in March 2021, the President and International Director, Revd. Dr. Gideon Akanbi was appointed to serve as the Head Chaplain for Bowen University, Iwo. This is a 5-year single term office that will run till March 2026. He combines this assignment with the demands of coordinating the activities of the Godly Brains Ministries.
In august 2023, the maiden edition of UK PPP conference was held in at Foursquare Gospel Church in the city of Sheffield between Thursday 24 and Saturday 26, August, 2023.
We believe we are still making history. We shall continue to follow HIS footsteps until it eventually ends where the Master himself will award us our crowns. We therefore ask you to come follow us, and the Lord shall do you good!
We therefore commend this operational manual for your use by every operators of the Godly Brains VISION, in everywhere around the world, where the Master will place and plant our footsteps as we expand His Kingdom till He returns.
Gideon Olumide O. Akanbi
Founding President/International Director
The Godly Brains Ministry Inc.
February 1, 2016 (First Edition)