Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has described how, while still in primary school, he worked as a hospital security guard and sold newspapers as part of an early determination to support himself and help others.
Kefas shared the account while preaching as a guest minister in Yola, Adamawa State, at a conference organised by Supernatural Love Ministries, the founders of The Praise Church.
Service and personal purpose
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The governor said people come from God and are placed on earth to make a positive contribution. He said he began embracing a life of service after becoming a Christian at the age of 14.
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Now serving as governor, Kefas said he sees himself primarily as God’s servant and remains mindful of both his identity in Christ and his responsibility in the wider world. He said he is committed to fulfilling his purpose.
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Preaching on the theme, “Celebrating the Kingdom of God through Service to Humanity,” he drew on Mark 10:45 and Matthew 25:40 to argue that faith should go beyond rituals and be demonstrated through compassion and service to others.
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He said God had been generous to him and that he had not experienced want, in part because he consistently looked for work that could generate income.
Early jobs in primary school
Kefas recalled working as a “mai guard” at a hospital while attending primary school. After classes, he would take over duty from another guard during that worker’s break, and said no incident occurred while he was on watch.
He also said he collected and sold newspapers, explaining that he did not want to rely on anyone else for his needs.
Pressures of public office
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Kefas said the governorship is far less glamorous than many people assume. He said he faces hostile criticism, including online abuse from young people, but accepts it as part of a role he chose voluntarily.
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He described the job as one marked by sleepless nights, saying the weight gain people may associate with comfort is instead a consequence of inadequate rest.
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Since taking office on May 29, 2023, he said the longest he has slept on a typical day has been two or three hours. He said public leadership requires sacrifice for those who understand why they hold office and intend to carry out their mission.
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The governor said he does not value the trappings of power, including being kept away from the public, restrictions on access or the use of sirens. Instead, he said his greatest satisfaction comes when ordinary residents acknowledge his work while he is out in public.
Kefas said authority should be used in the same spirit as Jesus Christ, who exercised it for people’s salvation and spiritual development.
The gathering was Supernatural Love Ministries’ International Kingdom Conference, or IKC. Its 2026 edition concluded on Sunday in Yola under the leadership of the group’s spiritual head, Archbishop Calvin Antonza.
