West Africa
Theological Seminary

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Scripture

14Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

1 Timothy 3:14-15 NIV

Welcome Visitors of West Africa Theological Seminary

West Africa Theological Seminary (WATS) welcomes visitors to the campus. They come from literally all over the world: from our partners, from churches, and even just individuals. They come with a desire to help and to learn more about what WATS is doing in Africa. (WATS embraces 40 percent of the English-speaking Christian population on the African continent.) They often discover that through their visit, they have been more blessed than a blessing. WATS is truly a special place, where God is at work in Africa in tangible ways.

For first time visitors, here are some Travel Tips, including step by step instructions, which will make your visit more successful. Like any international travel, there are certain hassles and incoveniences. At WATS, we are very security conscious. We will meet you at the airport and have an excellent security staff. You will need to take normal precautions, as in any large city in the world, such as not going about late at night looking for trouble. And there are some places within the country of Nigeria where there are security concerns from time to time. But WATS is not one of them. We believe in taking wise precautions. We do not believe there is any reason for our visitors to fear for their safety while at WATS and under the watchful eye of our people.

Currency Conversion

Nairan (NGN) is the national currency of Nigeria, and you may exchange US Dollars (USD) for Naira at a bank in Nigeria. To get a quick reference card showing the current exchange rate, check out the Oanda Currency Chart.

NOTE: This shows the current Interbank rate, which is not usually available to travelers; but your exchange rate should be close to this at a reputable institution.

Climate

Nigerian climate ranges from tropical in the south to quite arid in the north. In Lagos, the average high temperature is 87° F (31.8° C), and the average low is a comfortable 72° F (22.2° C). Summer is the rainy season, so be sure to bring rain gear.

For the current weather, check the forecast in Lagos, Nigeria.

Electricity

Countries vary in terms of electrical connections and power fluctuations. Nigeria has 250 VAC, 50 Hz power. The plugs have 3 flat blades - see the example on the right. Laptop computers are usually very tolerant of a range of supply voltages, and will usually charge fine with just an adapter. However, most other electrical appliances, e.g. hair dryers, require voltage transformers, which are usually more expensive than a plug adapter. They actually step the voltage down to another level - e.g. 120 VAC. A surge suppressor is also recommended for power transients, which are usually quite frequent.

Mosquitos

Like all countries in the tropics, mosquitos are a problem - i.e. they carry and transmit malaria. Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. Humans get malaria from the bite of a female mosquito infected with the parasite. However, malaria is easily prevented by taking a prescription antimalarial drug. Consult with a physician who specializes in travel medicine. This physician will also review your immunization history to determine if you need any other vacinations, so plan this in advance. Also, bring plenty of mosquito repellant, and protect yourself from mosquito bites whenever outdoors by covering exposed skin.

For more information about healthy travel to Nigeria, check out the travel page.

Historical Overview

British influence and control over what is today Nigeria grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy. Independence came on 1 October 1960, which is celebrated as Nigerian Independence day. Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The government continues to face the daunting task of reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of April 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history.

"Nigeria." World Factbook. 14 Apr 2008. United States Government. 8 Jun 2008 <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ni.html>.

Did You Know?

Here are some facts about WATS that you should know:

• Nigeria is the 7th most populous country in the world, with 160 million people.
• Lagos has been called by CNN the "fastest growing city in the world".
• Nigeria is located at 6 degrees N latitude, 4 degrees E longitude, so the time is the same as Paris (GMT+1).
• In 2000 there were over 360 million Christians living on the continent of Africa.
• Less than 20% of African pastors have any kind of significant leadership training.
• The two most overwhelming needs of the Church in Africa today are leadership training and the discipleship of believers.
• There is no other ministry today in West Africa that is focused more dynamically on the greatest needs of the church in Africa than WATS.

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