By Olayinka Latona
CITIZENS COMPASS — The General Superintendent, Holy Spirit Mission (Happy Family Church), Bishop Charles Ighele, has appealed to Nigerian leaders, influential citizens and religious organisations to devote more resources and investments in agricultural development, as a solution to food sufficiency for the people.
Bishop Ighele said despite the abundant arable land and natural soil for agricultural development, most Nigerians youths are yet to get attracted to Agric. project, for sustenance living.
He made the call recently while delivering his keynote address at the 2024 end of the year’s forum organised by the Association of Christian Correspondents of Nigeria (ACCoN), held at Vineyard Christian Ministries, Lagos State, with the theme, ‘The Church: Entrepreneurship and Innovation for a Prosperous Nigeria,’
Calling on leaders to provide incentives to make agriculture Projects more attractive to everyone to participate in, with the ability to off-take their Agric produce, Ighele revealed that his ministry institute of entrepreneurship and skills development was set to take off by 2025.
He said; “For a nation to rise in development, it must leverage its strengths. Nigeria should focus on agriculture rather than relying solely on petroleum.
“Israel leads the world in entrepreneurship, and nations like Singapore and Dubai have thrived by training micro and macro entrepreneurs. Nigeria has even greater potential. The Church must inspire its members to step into entrepreneurial roles to benefit both the body of Christ and the nation.”
The General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Pastor Sam Aboyeji, and father of the day at the event, emphasized the Church’s multifaceted role in nation-building. He said beyond spiritual guidance; the Church has historically contributed to education, healthcare, vocational training, and ICT development—often providing these services at little or no cost to youth.
In his words: “The Church preserves society and points the way toward peace, prosperity, and moral leadership. Through its teachings and outreach, the Church fosters spiritual and social growth that directly supports economic development.”
“The Church has engaged in several societal interventions aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and innovation over the years with the establishment of schools, hospitals, award of scholarships, setting up vocational and ICT centers, which in many instances are made free for the benefit of the youth.”
Similarly, the Lagos Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) Chairman, His Eminence, Apostle Julius Opasola said the current Nigeria situation needs entrepreneurs and innovation to boost growth and meaning development.
He called on church leaders to pay specific focus in building mega people rather than building mega churches.
According to him,”The current state of the nation requires the concerted efforts of entrepreneurs and innovators to bring about meaningful growth and development.
In his welcome address, the president, ACCoN, Mr Adeola Ogunlade, said that the Church as a catalyst for sustainable development must create solutions to national challenges.
Ogunlade said that faith fuels innovation and that the Church through its teachings must be able to innovate and come up with practical solutions to bridge the youth unemployment gap in the country through entrepreneurship.
He further disclosed that the annual forum was aimed at fostering meaningful conversations around the Church’s pivotal role in advancing national development through entrepreneurship and innovation.
“The Church has always been a beacon of light and a cradle of ideas that shape lives and nations. From the early days of Christian missions, when education, healthcare, and community welfare were introduced, to the present day, the Church has consistently demonstrated its capacity to foster innovation and prosperity
“The Church, with its teachings, networks, and resources, is uniquely positioned to nurture ethical entrepreneurs and innovative thinkers to lead Nigeria into a prosperous future,” Ogunlade stated.
