The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • German Bishops to FG: seek better ways of protecting human rights

    The German Bishops Conference’s Organisation for Development Cooperation has urged the Federal Government to find better ways of addressing human rights issues and promote human dignity.

    The Head of MISEREOR, Dialogue and Partnership Service, Mr Andreas Kahler, made the appeal at a strategic workshop in Abuja, on “Better ways on human rights promotion and protections”.

    Kahler said there was the need for Nigeria to adopt the recent Universal Periodic Review of United Nations (UN) aimed at enhancing Human Rights and protection of Citizens of all Member States.

    He said with the outcome from international reports, his organisation discovered the alarming challenges concerning human rights situation in Nigeria.

    His words: “With regards to death penalty, prevention against torture, gender and rights of persons living with disabilities, child rights, sexual orientations, corruption, environment, business, countering terrorism, security, rule of law, access to justice and democracy, human trafficking, education and health care.”

    He said with a lot of commitment, MISEREOR partners in Nigeria have always been involved in the promotion of human rights.

    “Struggling for example, against congested prisons, recently under the heading of criminal Justice Reform, the interconnectedness of good governance, administrative, legal and human rights aspects is quite clear. And our cooperation in Nigeria has lasted almost 60 years, “he said.

    Director, Department Women, Children and Vulnerable Groups, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Mr Harry Obe, explained the commission had the mandate to investigate monitor and ensure justice for any victim of human right abuse without constraint from individual or institutional body.

    Obe said that according to its constitution, Nigeria is a secular country adding: “the constitution forbids the establishment of a state religion and guarantees the right to freedom of religion.

    Speaking on the church and state of service of human rights, the Executive Secretary CARITAS NIgeria, Rev.Fr Uchechukwu Obodoechina, said that the Caritas  Nigeria  and  others  have  worked  over  the  years  to  restore  human  rights  and dignity through care for the human person.

    Obodoechina said that Caritas have fulfilled this mission by reaching out to men and women, children, youth, and elders of all races and creeds, in particular, the  poor and  marginalised;  providing  social  services,  saving  lives,  rebuilding  and

    empowering  communities,  working  for  justice  and  integral  human  promotion.

    “A  task that mobilises church leaders at all levels, parish groups including the poor themselves, volunteers  and  professionals,  in  collaboration with  other  civil  society  actors,  public institutions and  international institutions.

    “At the core of Caritas’ mandate is the imperative to re-elect God’s inner life which is a communion of love. God’s mission is an act of communion of the three Divine Persons.

    “The meeting of mission and communion generates the community of the Church which exists to evangelize through charity and the  full  realisation on of  Human  Rights  guided  by  the  values  of  solidarity,  sharing,  co-responsibility, participation , respect and common purpose,” he explained.

    For over 50 years MISEREOR has been committed to fighting poverty in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

  • ‘Churches running business ventures have derailed’

    The President of Christ Apostolic Mission Church, Pastor Adesoji Ajayi, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on how churches should operate, especially in helping the poor. Excerpts:

    What has changed in your ministry in the last one year?

    A lot of things have changed pleasant developments, brand new mega parishes. Nearly two weeks ago, I was in Abuja, five of us were there to commission parish that cost us over N50m.

    It is along Lafia road. We called it Jesus cathedral and it is a beauty to behold. Four new parishes have been established in the last one year. About five or six mega parishes have been established in the last one year.

    By the grace of God we are having a brand new parish at Ayobo, Lagos next year. We built a new mission house in Ilupeju as well.

    It must have cost the church a lot but does the church have any other business?

    No. the church does not have any other business, no venture established, no hospital. The school we established is only for training of students. It has nothing to contribute to the church. It is even the church funding it.

    Is it because the church doesn’t believe in running ventures?

    Not that. Basically and primarily we were asked by Christ to preach the gospel. For those who veer off that course, sometimes I laugh. The church is not a business centre or venture to make money. Let members come, pray pay their tithes and offerings. I don’t believe in establishing ventures here and there and the church is not meant for that and Christ didn’t teach that.

    He preached the gospel and brought salvation to the people. That is the primary responsibility of the church. Any other one is not the responsibility of the church. We are not asked to do any venture.

    Some people will say they are doing it to empower their members…

    They are doing it for their personal empowerment and personal enrichment- majority of them. The fees of the majority of the schools established by the well-to-do denominations are higher than what obtains with the schools that have no affiliation with Christ.

    So if you have enough funds to establish universities, give the money to the poor. Something happened recently. I asked if anyone from the congregation had borrowed from LAPO, Microfinance banks etc. A lot of them said they took such loans to finance their businesses.

    At the end of the service, I asked my driver how much LAPO gives. He said something like N25, 000. I asked how anyone will want to borrow that. He said daddy that money is big for an average woman petty trader in this church. I kept quiet.

    Following Sunday, I went to church as I was praying I asked a question the other day you people said you took loan from LAPO to finance your businesses. LAPO gives N25, 000, N30,000, N15,000 depending on the need. I called them to come out and about ten first came out.  At the end, over 50 of them came out.

    At the end of the service, I had spent N4, 125,000 of my personal money by the grace of God. Not loan. By the grace of God I have trained all my children. The least of them has a Master degree. One in the UK, Canada, USA and these women are here.

    What they need to survive and feed is little. There is wretchedness written all over them so I sat down and said how I wish rich denominations, rich Nigerians do that. If three million boys and girls can be given N25, 000 each with genuine intentions of what they want to do, poverty will leave this country. But how many of them have this intention?

    If only you have a very good mind, giving is a talent many don’t have, including pastors. I can’t believe it a lot of them have mansions all over the place and their members are poor. I don’t believe in it. Early this year, I doubled the salaries of workers in our ministry.

    I called the finance to give me an idea of the salaries of what the pastors earn. I was surprised and majority of them had their salaries doubled. That is the best way to go. I don’t give loans. I don’t give and say pay back later. If I want to give I give and I don’t look back. Anybody who is close to 70 should start looking towards heaven and forget the things of the world.

    When did you start giving?

    I have been giving since my teenage years. At the age of 18, 19, I started giving. I find it comfortable to give and giving is the best way to live as a Christian even as a human being. I don’t restrain myself from giving and I thank God for that. When we were building this place, I had an estate I was building.

    I abandoned it to concentrate on the church work. I am always directed by the Spirit of God. I have been shown my home in heaven, it is built with gold. This is to the glory of God. For those who have seen heaven, they know it is real. Nothing on earth compares to it.

    As I wanted to enter they drew me back and said go and work for it. The fact that you were shown doesn’t make it automatic.

    Have you ever regretted giving?

    I have never. I don’t like people coming to greet me to thank me for giving to them. I don’t give because I expect anything back. That is what is missing in the life of people. I don’t like being praised, how many times do we praise Christ for all he is doing for us?

    What do you have to say about Buhari and his government?

    I was only amused that a party defeated in 2015 was attempting to come back. The only thing that I would say strongly is with majority of elites what they want to eat has beclouded their sense of judgment.

    A man like President Buhari that has been found not to have a building in cities of the world, no bank account around the world, a man who slashed his salary by half that he doesn’t need it, a man that is committed to the welfare of the masses.

    The man who told the governors he doesn’t know how they want their people live without salaries, a man who has agreed to pay N30,000 minimum wage and the governors say no way. A man who removed his SSG because if N200m scandal.

    A man who implemented TSA, who brought in whistle blower policy, a man who is not flamboyant, who does not steal peoples’ money. A man who was at the centre of privatisation attempted to come back, it is ridiculous.

    Nigeria has been losing soldiers to Boko Haram. How do you feel about this?

    Go and ask America what they lost in Afghanistan. America lost more than 3,000 persons in the twin tower. In any war, there are losers; the two parties will lose, there will be causalities. When you look at it, remember before Buhari came in Boko Haram were almost in Abuja, they have almost reached Ilorin.

    The people in Ogbomisho were running helter skelter. They were already threatening the northern parts of Yoruba land. They were physically in Abuja. Before the advent of Buhari, they were bombings churches, mosques etc all over the place.

    It has now been brought down drastically. If you want to fight a three- year- old boy, you have to be careful because he can bring you down. Boko Haram fighters are trained people. It is the issue of a man who wants to die now fighting a man who remembers he has family at home. Boko Haram fighters want to die, so fighting this man you have to be tactical.

    A lot of Nigerians are suffering and not that they caused it. It is not Buhari that did privatisation, it was Obasanjo that did all that and Atiku was the chairman, they decided who bought what.

    What would be your advice to the President for his second term?

    I will advise the present government to look into the banks. All over the world, no country, except in Nigeria that charges double digit interest rate. In the UK the highest is 2 percent, ours is 26% apart from other satanic charges and there is no period of moratorium.

    If you get N100m loan they start charging you immediately, they don’t care if you have started the business or if you can make profit.  I want the President to take a bill to the National Assembly on this, lobby them and let us see how they can legislate on it. We all shout on Buhari. What of the many Buharis’ in the National Assembly?

  • Engaging the power of faith for supernatural exploits!

    Welcome to another exciting week! This week, we shall focus on: Engaging the Power of Faith for Supernatural Exploits! I pray that by the impartation of this teaching, your own portion shall be delivered!

    From scriptures, we understand that God is the epitome of exploits, and as offspring of the Almighty God, we are ordained men and woman of exploits. We have an extraordinary father, and as such, we are ordained for extraordinary accomplishments and outstanding success in life. As it is written: But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits (Daniel 11:32). Thus, we need to know that God did not create us a mediocre or a struggler on the earth. In actual fact, God said concerning the redeemed that He: …shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only (Deuteronomy 28:13). This shows that we have a mountaintop destiny in Christ and are also ordained for continuous progress in life (2 Corinthians 3:18; Proverbs 4:18).

    But What is Supernatural Exploit?

    First, let us understand that supernatural exploit is not about intellectualism, neither is it a product of human intelligence but the source of exploits in life is God. Therefore, by implication, supernatural exploit in this context means extraordinary accomplishments from above. It also connotes setting the pace and blazing the trail. It is all about accomplishing things that eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, and that have not entered into the hearts of men (1 Corinthians 2:9). That is God’s agenda for the redeemed because God has ordained every end-time saint to be a blessing to his or her world!

    Importantly, we are indeed a people ordained to experience supernatural exploits after the order of God. For instance, we saw how the Old Testament saints such as Daniel, Abraham, Joseph, etc., achieved outstanding feats humanly impossible while on earth.  But the Bible says we possess greater potentials than all the Old Testaments saints. It is written: Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (Matthew 11:11; see also Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:29). Jesus further said:  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father (John 14:12). That means we are also ordained to manifest greater exploits than Jesus.

    While it is true that we are destined for supernatural exploits, it is also true that this cannot be attained outside faith. This is because it takes faith to get any result in the Kingdom, including supernatural exploits. Besides, everything about exploits requires the hand of God and faith is the only way to provoke divine hand in our lives. As it is written: Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? (Isaiah 53:1; see also Luke 1:45; John 15:5).

    What, then, is Faith?

    No doubt, faith is very vital to our walk as Christians. This is because Christianity is absolutely worthless without it, as it is the principal instrument for doing exploits in the Kingdom. The Bible says: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11:1-3). Moreover, when we walk in faith, we become candidates for exploits because the hand of God cannot deliver ordinary results, but extraordinary results and faith is what brings the hand of God to bear in our lives, thereby empowering us to do the impossible (Hebrews 11:32-33). Supernatural exploit becomes absolutely cheap when we secure God’s hand through the mystery of faith. However, as potent as the force of faith is, it needs to be built in order to produce. Many people do have faith for supernatural exploits, but cannot bring it to fruition because they have ignored this vital faith principle.  That is why building our faith is a must, if we must fulfil our glorious destinies in Christ. There is no faith-filled man who is not an investor in building his faith and the school of faith is an ever-learning school.

    In summary, we are either building our faith or breaking it. Nevertheless, we cannot ‘wait’ for our faith to be built; we must consciously take steps towards building it through the Word of God and anointed resources of men and women of faith. As we do so, I see God launching us into His glorious plans for our lives, thereby fulfilling destiny in grand style in Jesus’ name! However, supernatural exploits in life is not for everybody but only reserved for the redeemed! Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now, I know I am born again! For further reading, please get my books: Following the Path of the Eagle, Exploring the Secrets of Success, Success Strategies, Success Buttons, Success Systems and Ruling your World. I invite you to fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org; Facebook: www.facebook.com/davidoyedepoministries/;  Twitter: @DavidOyedepoMin.

  • Support Nigerians to fulfill divine purpose, cleric charges church leaders

    The Senior Pastor of Victory Sanctuary Seventh Adventist Church Lekki Lagos, Pastor David Ajide, has charged the Christian community to make deliberate efforts towards supporting Nigerians to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives and enterprises.

    Ajide spoke with our correspondent at the weekend during the special encounter dinner for business class and professionals at the church in Lagos.

    The event tagged “Are You enjoying or enduring your work?” attracted entrepreneurs and professionals from all walks of life.

    Ajide charged the church not to sit in the couch of their environment but get involved in the development of the nation by making deliberate investment toward empowering entrepreneurs as well as career men and women.

    He noted if 40 percent of Nigerians find their purposes in life, the nation will be great, stressing “there will be explosion at the place of purpose.”

    He said that one of our calling as a church is to help people fulfill God’s purpose for their lives in marriage, finance, family and work place.

    Ajide lamented many in business are frustrated and struggling because they are supposed to be somewhere else.

    The cleric stated Nigeria will be a better place and beloved of the world if we have the right engineers, teachers and doctors in the right place doing their work faithfully with all their heart.

    “The church should form part of the development of Nigeria, get involved in every aspect of our national development and see that captain of industries are produced in your church who will be able to take the nation to another level,” he declared.

    He pointed out the founding fathers of Christianity did not only reach out to the spiritual needs of people but were also instrumental to the emergence of the industrial age as investment were made to support and raise up industrialists.

    “The church produced captains of industries that developed the United States of America and other part of the world.

    “If our founding fathers did it, we can lead the change, make a difference in our world and thus improve the lots of people suffering around us?”

    He charged the government at all levels to divest from oil and invest in agriculture, solid minerals and tourism as they have become money spinners anywhere in the world.

    Ajide explained the sale of cashew in the world in 2017 was over $10 billion with Nigeria as the 4th largest producer in volume.

    Out of the $10 billion earned from cashew globally, he lamented Nigeria earned less than $500 million.

    “More than half of world’s shear butter comes from Nigeria while global market is valued close to $600million in the world market and out of this, I don’t think Nigeria earned more than $200 million in 2018,” he further noted.

    Director of Evangelism of the Church, Emmanuel Okpechi, said the special encounter programme provides an opportunity to connect people to Christ, adding people without Christ in their lives live a life of emptiness and often operate without purpose.

    Christ, he said, is the source of joy and gives purpose for living.

    Executive Director Business Banking, Access Bank Plc, Chizoma Okoli, highlighted passion, competence, perseverance and focus as key ingredients to reach the top no matter the challenges anyone may be confronted with in his or her place of work.

    She noted Christians must constantly work on ourselves, horn their skills, depend on God and stay on the truth at all times in any position we find ourselves.

    Okoli, who has been in the banking sector for 27 years said, “I read law and after my National Youth Service Corp, I have spent 27 years in the banking sector and God has been gracious to me. I have to work extra hard to make a mark”.

  • Cleric seeks prayers for leaders

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Gospel Evangelical Mission (RGEM) Prophetess Monisola Duro-Faseyi has charged Nigerians to always pray for their leaders.

    Faseyi said doing so would give the leaders divine wisdom to handle the myriads of problems the country was currently facing.

    She warned those wishing leaders of the country evil to desist from doing so, saying it was God Himself that put them in the positions they occupied.

    The prophetess, who spoke in Akure, Ondo state capital, said Nigerians should avoid doing anything that would impede the progress of the country.

    Her words: “I urge all Nigerians, Christians and Muslims, to pray for the political leaders of this country, president, governors, lawmakers and even councilors.

    “People should stop wishing them evil. If not, suffering will increase in the land. This is what God has revealed to me.

    “The Holy Bible instructs us to always pray for our leaders. 1Timothy 2:1-5 says we should pray for our leaders if we want them to succeed.

    “God said He was the one who made President Muhammadu Buhari the ruler of Nigeria this time. God said He is the one that enthrones and dethrones kings.

    “God referred me to Daniel 4:17 and Roman 13:1-2. God said He enthroned Buhari this particular time and that He chooses whoever He likes.”

    Faseyi urged Buhari and his wife, Aisha to work together and find ways of reducing poverty in the country.

    She also urged Buhari and his wife to work together to ensure that hunger was reduced in the country, saying “People should not die of hunger in this country. God said He put them there to oversee the affairs of the country.

    “They are caretakers and general overseers of Nigeria at present. They must take care of the country and the people they are governing. They must ensure that people don’t die because they don’t have food”.

    The cleric warned Buhari’s aides to be truthful to their boss, saying they would suffer the consequences if they failed to do the right thing.

    Faseyi said activities of some religious leaders contributed a lot to problems in the country, lamenting that those who should bring light had become harbingers of darkness.

    She said:” I also have a message for religious leaders. Are we doing it the way God instructs us? God said I should ask you. Are we not the problem of Nigeria? Are we not the problem of this government?

    “This is the time for repentance for all of us. Listen to what God is saying so that we don’t regret coming to this life. Let’s behave like Jesus Christ”.

  • Ambode seeks prayers for Sanwo-Olu

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has solicited prayers and support for his successor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the continuous social economic development of the state.

    Ambode gave this charge last week at the second session of the 34th synod of Lagos Diocese, Anglican Communion at Our Saviour Church TBS, Lagos.

    The three day event tagged  the unfailing faith of our fathers ever sufficient had in attendance former Deputy Governor of Lagos, Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire, the Former Dean and Bishop of Lagos Diocese, Anglian Communion, Rt Rev Ephraim Ademowo.

    Ambode received an award by the Diocese in recognition of his patriotic contribution to the church and the state.

    He said that Lagos State is on the upward trajectory and need everyone pulling in the same direction.

    The governor stressed the needs for continued unity, cooperation and peaceful coexistence for prosperity of the state.

    He also thanked the citizens and the church for their support for his administration built in the atmosphere of love, peace and brotherhood.

    “It’s on record that no single religious conflict was recorded in the state for the last four years.

    “The peaceful coexistence of all religious sects is a testimony of our collective heritage in the state,” he said.

    He added the theme of the synod was apt and personal, noting that it is a call to remember Christians are children never to be despair in the face of adverse circumstances.

    Diocesan Bishop of Lagos and Missioner Church of Nigeria, His Lordship, Rt Rev Humphrey Olumakaiye, commended efforts of the state governor in paddling affairs of Lagos in the last four.

    He pointed out Ambode turned the state to a construction site with development programmes that are masses-oriented.

    He said: “The church appreciates your robust support. Your contribution is making our Lagos better than you met it, it shall remain fresh in our memory, posterity shall praise your contribution to the development of our state and generation unborn shall call you a blessed leader.”

    He charged the incoming governor, Sanwo-Olu to embark on development programmes with bearing on the lives of the people especially the rural poor in the state.

    Olumakaiye said that Lagosians cannot wait any longer to begin experience tremendous improvement in infrastructural development.

  • RCCG hands over facility to Police canine service

    The Redeemed Christian Church of God through its Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) intervention programme on Monday handed over Canine Section popularly called `K9’ Unit to the Nigeria Police Force Canine Division Area F, Ikeja.

    According to the Pastor-in-Charge of RCCG LP 47, Pastor Femi Obaweya, noted that it was during a recent visit to the Canine Division of Area F that he first took notice of the dysfunctional dog service facility, which was not befitting of Nigeria Police Force.

    According to him, the kennels were not in good in condition and then promised to work towards uplifting the current facility.

     During the visit, he also observed that there was no direct water supply to the facility, which also possessed a challenge to the effective running of the facility.

    Obaweya sought approval of the Nigeria Police proceeded to commission the renovation of the facility, including sinking a borehole and providing a 3.8KVA generator to power the surface tank and the provision and replacement of all metal gadgets (runway, fences, loops, barriers, etc.) with new ones for the training of the dogs.

    Speaking at the handing- over ceremony, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade the Special Assistant to the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of on Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) said: “We have done all these for NPF as our contribution and appreciation to the Nigerian Police Force good works to the community and state where we reside”.

    He also highlighted the other intervention programmes of the church through its charity arm His Love Foundation where over 57 million meals have been served across the 197 countries where the church is in operation over the last one year.

    Iluyomade said in addition to the numerous beneficiaries of the health intervention programmes, the church has sponsored major medical treatments like kidney transplants and the donation of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

    Another ICU, according to him, would be commissioned on Friday, May 10 at the Plateau State Teaching Hospital, Jos by Pastor E.A Adeboye as part of the CSR progarmmes of the church.

    Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations (FAB), Force Headquarters, Abuja CP Aishatu Abubakar, said the renovation of the kennel located in Area F Ikeja and provision of 3.8kva generator was indeed commendable.

    The gestures, she said, will enhance effective policing of the State at large.

    She thanked the leadership of RCCG and specifically Obaweya for his support and generosity.

  • SAN urges Christians to join politics

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria Lanre Ogunlesi has advised Christians to go into partisan politics to influence decision-making and attract amenities to their people.

    He was guest speaker at a symposium to mark the 40th anniversary of All Saints’ Anglican Church Ikosi-Ketu, Lagos with the theme ‘The church as facilitator in national transformation: setting the agenda for law, polity and economy’.

    He said it was wrong for Christians to remain apolitical, thinking that only prayers and social interventions could solve their problems.

    While these were okay, he said there was the need for Christians to act as ‘policy missionaries’ in government.

    Ogunlesi said it was wrong for Christians to say that the Bible frowns at their foray into politics, a reason, he added, that they did not have any input in budgets, policy and societal agenda.

    Noting the prevalence of poverty in the country, he submitted that Christians could only contribute to its reduction or nation building through partisan politics.

    Ogunlesi canvassed a review of church’s doctrines about the society.

    He called for a revisit of the role of the church and believers in the running of their nations.

    ‘’I understand why the teachings of the church has gone in the direction of the secular philosophy of separation of the state and the church.

    “That position can be understood, especially after the abuse of the Catholic Church in usurping the authority of the state and government in the Dark Ages.

    ‘’The response of the church is like the case of throwing away the bath water with the baby.

    “Even though I clearly do not believe or advocate for the official church or any church whatsoever to be engaged in running government or state, I cannot agree with the notion that believers should by any means be kept out of governance or from the running of the nation.

    ‘’This is because Christians and believers are equal citizens of their various nations just like every other citizen.

    “They possess the same right and privileges as all other citizens including the right to vote and be voted for.

    “No constitution of a democratic nation keeps away the believers or Christian citizens from participating in the running of their countries,’’ he added.

    He blamed the church for not adopting a strategic approach to issues in the past.

    He said: “The 2019 elections are a good example of a lack of strategy as the church asked members to go and collect their Permanent voters’ cards but played no role in choosing what candidates emerged for the electorate.’’

    The eminent lawyer urged Christians to amend their ways, adding that they are the beacons of light and hope for others to emulate in the society.

    He said any Christian who compromised in his beliefs is not worth it.

    He advised such people to forsake their sinful ways and return to God.

    He said church leaders and members could learn from William Wilberforce who devoted his life to the abolition of the slave trade and the reformation of the British society.

    ‘’It is in this way that church leaders and church members may be enabled to lead the church in mission in Nigeria as agents of transformation,” he said.

    Former Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Vice Chancellor Prof Wale Omole, who chaired the symposium, challenged Christians on being alive to their beliefs.

    He lamented that many Christians do not believe in God, urging them not abandon their spiritual calling.

    Venerable Joshua Ogunleye (retd), who served in the church for 11 years, said it was tough in the beginning.

    He recalled that they had no permanent place of worship and were thus moving from place to place until they got to the present abode.

    Eminent industrial mogul Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, who was a discussant, urged Christians to be true to their religion.

    He said ethnic considerations should be allowed to creep into our decisions.

    He claimed that many Christians are church goers and are therefore hypocrites, urging them to return home.

    A journalist Mr Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, said the campaign to cleanse or change would be difficult.

    He wants Christians to return to sound Biblical practices.

     

  • Alatunse: God will honour Buhari if…

    The Pioneer Pastor of Christ Apostolic (CAC) Ireti Ayo, Pastor Mathew Alatunse, has declared God will honour President Muhammadu Buhari if he tackles poverty, inequalities, unemployment and work for the good of all Nigerians.

    He spoke with our correspondent after the church’s Quarterly Special programme recently at the CAC Ireti Ayo International Revival Miracle Centre Idimu, Lagos.

    Alatunse appealed to Buhari to address the socio-economic challenges growing in the nation for God to honour him.

    “God will honour our President if he tackles the problems in this nation. We are really pressed. God has been good to Buhari but He will be happier if he works for Nigerians,” he stressed.

    He advised the government to come up with favourable economic policies that will address key development areas such as poverty alleviation, education and entrepreneurship.

    Alatunse, who remains optimistic of better days ahead, charged Nigerians to return back to God and shun evil and idol worship that is making God unhappy.

    He said that Nigeria must be redeemed from the sin of glorifying idols above God.

    “We must pray for the country to be free from all forms of demonic powers troubling the country since 1977 FESTAC,” the cleric stated.

  • ‘Why I’m sponsoring a unique private polytechnic’

    Founder of Southern Atlantic Polytechnic Uyo, Akwa-Ibom, Pastor James Bassey, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on how the institution will break new grounds, among other issues. Excerpts:

    What prompted you to establish Southern Atlantic Polytechnic?

    It is a private institution and business school committed to developing very high standard of entrepreneurship. We are bringing professors, PhD holders, captains of industries, entertainers and all class of Nigerians who have made it in their various fields of endeavor to come and build a new crop of leaders.

    Through the school, we want to mentor our youth, retired public servant young who are aspiring into leadership positions, people who want to go into businesses, who want to become entrepreneurs.

    So we are building an enterprise centre that will re-engineer and reconstruct the life style of our people to give them a sense of business.

    If you saw the number of young men and women running around political leaders during the 2019 elections, they are graduates, bachelors, masters and PhD holders. The elections not only opened my eyes; it has also given a lot of burden.

    Whether in Akwa-Ibom, Abia, Sokoto, Abuja, APC or PDP, APGA, you have the same thousands and millions of followers. At the end of the elections, governors have emerged; ministers and legislatures have also emerged. But we will not have as many as 50 ministers, we will not have more 36 governors and there is no state that will have up 300 Personal Assistants. The others have fallen back to the streets. And so, we want to lay emphasis on entrepreneurship and business development.

    There are obviously many private polytechnics. What makes Southern Atlantic Polytechnic different?

    If you go to Alaba or Idumota markets today, you see young men who are millionaires that didn’t go to school but they went through tutelage.

    They were trained by various masters right there in the market place. Southern Atlantic Polytechnic will train young school leavers and at the end of the day send them to acquire practical trading experience under experience traders.

    Again, if you go to Ariaria market in Abia State today, you will see that the people are less concerned about who becomes the governor because everybody is busy there. From that point of view, I am moving Ariaria market to Akwa-Ibom State, to my polytechnic.

    I am moving the traders, the shoe makers, the fashion designers and the furniture makers. In fact, it was in Ariaria market that I discovered the secret of producing exquisite furniture, which we have started producing in our school.

    We are going to import knowledge from the diaspora and from our people. If you go to churches, 80 percent of young people are unemployed; we are telling them that we will give them a means of livelihood.

    Such people should come to Southern Atlantic Polytechnic, to our business team. We will change them and give them a new way of thinking; we want to build capacity.

    While we are importing technology from China, Korea and America and from other parts of the world including Dubai, we also want to import the technology that is in the nearby state. The technology that is in Ariara market is enormous.

    We are bringing the technology in fashion to combine with what we have because our Fashion Department and Design will be a brand. We are going to go into fashion programme like a factory.

    We will build capacity that will enable us train fashion designers, who will not just develop fashion styles for the school but we are going into corporate and massive production of all kinds of fashion.

    Our engineering and carpentry workshop is the first of its kind. We are building our carpentry department to be able to produce all classes of furniture, kitchen items and closets. We are also bringing in a special machine that can design any kind of doors and chairs.

    Once the entrepreneurship is commissioned next month, we will go into massive productions of furniture for schools, universities, corporate bodies, individuals and governments.

    On Information, Communication and Technology (ICT}, we have over 200 computers and we are deploying millions to train young school leavers, civil servants on ICT, Web Design and other areas of Telecommunication and ICT Technology in modern business development.

    You must be able to have both practical and theoretical knowledge so that at the time you don’t use your theoretical knowledge you use your practical knowledge.

    What extent have you gone with getting requisite accreditation for Southern Atlantic Polytechnic today?

    A team from the Ministry of Trade and Commerce and National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) came to inspect the polytechnic in February; I am happy that they came. The team saw what we have on ground and was impressed. We want to do more because we want Southern Atlantic Polytechnic, Uyo, to be one of the best in Nigeria.

    We have what it takes because we have large land mass of over 15 hectares which is able to take in the polytechnic, hostel and other facilities. Now we are working on other structures like the banking hall, supermarket and of course we have a Police Station by the side of the Polytechnic.

    We have also completed the Science Lab Tech; our library is one of the best.  In terms of Electrical and Electronic Department, we have unique equipment and our manpower is up to date.

    I want to thank the Executive Secretary of NBTE for sending the team to Uyo, for inspection of our school. The speed that they came was wonderful. It is a great encouragement from the Executive Secretary and members of the team.

    I must say that team represents a different kind of civil servants structure in Nigeria. After they left on February 10, we have been able to put up three more structures on ground.

    How much of the physical projects have been completed?

    The Entrepreneur and Business School is 90 percent completed and the extension of the Science Lab Tech is 90 percent completed too. Our Engineering Department, Physics Department are completed and we have ordered for more equipment to give the school 100 percent because at the time the NBTE team came, we had about 85 percent of our equipment requirement.

    We have already ordered the remaining 15 percent, from China and the goods have also arrived Akwa Ibom State. After installation, we will invite NBTE again for ratification.

    But the beautiful thing is that our school is well positioned. It is situated within 10 minutes’ drive from Uyo Airport and 10 minutes’ drive away from Uyo town. So we are in the middle of the town to serve those who are coming from outside Akwa Ibom State and those who are not even Nigerians coming from other parts of the world.

    Is it true you are in partnership with Microsoft technology?

    Precisely on May 22, we will be commissioning the Enterprise and Business Development Centre of the Southern Atlantic Polytechnic, Uyo in Akwa-Ibom State in collaboration with Microsoft account Imagine Academy.

    I will say the idea of bringing Microsoft Academy is a plus for the school, a plus for the state, a plus for the South-South and the South-East. I think we are the first to take advantage of the Microsoft Imagine Academy in the region. We have also put in place lots of programmes for various skills because that is what the federal government is emphasising now.

    By the grace of God, it is expected that the Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel will perfect the commissioning. Microsoft, as an organisation, is very happy to associate with what Southern Atlantic Polytechnic is doing in the area is Skill, Enterprise and Business Development.

    What courses are currently available for take-off?

    There are about five to six courses the NBTE has given us a letter to work on, which of course they have come for inspection. They have given us approval for Science Lab Tech, which we have the best equipment today. We have Electrical Electronic, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Public Administration and General Administration.

    On the Public Administration course, we have built a strong network with so many professors and heads of departments of different universities and they are coming to develop a curriculum for the training of civil servants, for the empowerment of the local governments, especially those who are in protocol management and those who are serving at all levels of governments in the federal states and local government.

    We are developing this programme in order to retrain and train those who are going to assist in the governance of the state. Public administration is a very important course that can be used for the development of both the local government workers and state workers, including those in the academia. In the electrical Electronics Department, we have the best.

    Our machines are there but we are going to do all lot of thing in business development and we are going to offer scholarships to those who are not capable of paying school fees.

    Based on my background as a pastor and as a man who came from a very low background, I will work more to see that scholarships are given to people who deserve it.

    We have also opened discussions with other bodies such as security agencies in the states, Police and Army Officers and all the agencies of government to see how we can collaborate with them in training their wives and house helps on dress making, cake making, ICT and catering so you can in the comfort of your  office learn a trade.

    We have also opened discussions with churches and mosques in Akwa-Ibom and neighbouring states to see how we can move entrepreneurship development to their door steps.

    The idea is that if you have 5- 10 people in your house, locality, church, mosque or in your environment, our team of engineers and experts will come to interact with you, train you on any area of your need and give you the where withal and support before you come for the school.

    So we are building a relax system of training which is the first of its kind. In our entrepreneurship at your door steps, we want to build housewives, house-helps into entrepreneurs. It’s very easy and achievable. There is no age limit in learning, we will come to you; we will train you, also equip you and send you forth to become a great man or woman.

    I want to see how we can share our knowledge bring people from business world, the academia and those who have already been doing practical things to share knowledge with them so that as you leave the school environment you go straight into something. We want to build people.

    It is not enough for people to finish school spend one year in Youth corps and yet nothing thereafter. So we are saying before you come out you must go and do something. Here is also what I call Young Entrepreneurship Scheme, where we bring in secondary school leavers who want to go into businesses, who want to learn one trade or the other and train them and build them into trading businesses.

    As a pastor, how are you getting funding for this huge project?

    The most important thing is not the funding first; it’s the thinking, it’s an idea, idea comes before funding. But where you have an idea you need money to support it. It is very sad that there is disconnect between the business people and the banking industry.