Let me add here that with the completion of the Okun Bible, The Bible Society of Nigeria has set a new global record in Bible translation as we were able to complete the translation in a record time of five years. With this, we have broken the global record of Bible translation which we previously held for completing the translation of the Igala Common Language Bible in 11 years. The United Bible Societies (UBS) had set a target of 12 years for the completion of any translation project which has not been achieved by any country, except The Bible Society of Nigeria.

History Of The Okun Bible Translation Project Okun is a language spoken in Kogi, Kwara and Ekiti States. Speakers of the language referred to as the Okun people are one of the Yoruba major ethnic groups. So, Okun is a dialect of the Yoruba language. The Okun people are currently spread across Kabba-Bunu, Yagba-West, Yagba-East, Mopa-Moro, Ìjùmú and Lokoja Local Government Areas. They have kith and kin in Kwara, Ondo and Ekiti states.The journey to publish the Okun Bible began when one of the senior staff members of The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) expressed his desire for the Okun people to have, even if it was only, the book of Romans in their mother tongue. He planned to sponsor the translation of the book, but as God would have it, another individual, with whom the former had no prior discussion, also expressed the desire that the complete Bible in Okun be published for the use of the Okun people.A stakeholders’ meeting was organised to discuss the project. Over 40 people attended the first meeting on the Okun Bible translation held on September 9, 19, 2015 at First Baptist Church Ayetoro-Gbede. On May 10, 2016, the Okun Christian Community and The Bible Society of Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding. That same day, a new office of the Okun Bible Language Translation Project in Ayetoro-Gbede, Kogi State was also dedicated. It was built by one of the individuals who supported the project while another illustrious son of Okun paid the translators salaries for the period.The three Translators engaged for the project commenced work on July 18, 2016. They are: Rev. Charles Aina, Pastor Samuel Olupinyo, Elder Emmanuel David Olorunleke. The Translation Consultants who worked on the project are the late Rev. Zachariah Bum, Dr Olalekan Bamidele (Translation Officer-in-training), Dr Samma Essosolim, Professor Yetunde Ofulue. We appreciate all the individuals and organisations who donated towards this noble project. We return all the glory to God.Nigeria Maintains Global Lead In English Bible Distribution I am glad to inform you that we have again emerged as the global leader in English Bible distribution. According to the global Bible distribution statistics published by the United Bible Societies (UBS), The BSN achieved this feat, having distributed 1,145,232 printed copies of the English Bible in 2021, which represents an increase of 28% from the distribution figure of 897,116 copies with which we led the world in 2020. The Bible Society of America came second with a distribution figure of 1,118,174, while The Bible Society of Kenya took third position having distributed 455,817 copies. Two other African countries among the top 10 leading countries in English Bible distribution are Ghana which distributed 279,336 copies to occupy the fifth position and South Africa the eighth position with 102,947 copies.ALSO READ “I started life as a Pastor on an N8 monthly salary”: Dr Samuel Uche, Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria