‘How churches, others can develop Nigeria’

By Sunday Oguntola

Religious organisations, especially churches, have all it takes to change the nation through socio-political actions.

This was the consensus at the 3rd annual St Moses Orimolade Memorial lecture with theme sustaining National development: The place of religion and religious organisations in Lagos.

The Prelate of Eternal Sacred Order Cherubim and Seraphim Church (ESOCS) Elder Dr David Bob-Manuel said the contribution of churches to nation-building begins with raising men of integrity.

According to him: “The church cannot play her proper role in the society unless she becomes an incubator that produces men of faith, honest inclinations, men who are true ambassadors of Christ, men who will stand against the monster called corruption.

“Corruption, nepotism and favoritism will not die in our civil and corporate society if we the believers don’t begin to practice what we preach.”

Bob-Manuel challenged Christians to live up to their names in their little corners, calling on public officers especially to shine the light of Christ.

The guest lecturer, Prof Kayode Oyesiku, a National and Regional Development expert at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Ogun state, said religious organisations stand the better chance of changing the nation for good.

Bemoaning the worsening underdevelopment indices across the nation, Oyesiku said it was up to religious organisations to change the narratives for good.

To transform Nigeria, he called on them to further emphasise their social roles in building a morally-sound nation.

He urged them to also contribute to the economic development of the nation by establishing ventures such as farm settlements, hospitals, schools and institutions that will drive productivity.

The don also believed educational development will witness better inputs the more religious organisations get involved.

He further said the political space was lacking of much of their positive impact, calling on religious organisations to set agenda through political advocacy.

According to him: “I call on all religious bodies across all divides to bring about development, they must be agents of change and enablers of the development process even with their concern about the kingdom of God.

“This they must do, by liberating men and women from bondage, irrespective of race, creed and gender. They should serve as the voice for all and lead as partners in the global struggle that can influence state and national policies for development.

“After-all, the progressive development of the people is an object of deep interest and concern to the church in particular and religious bodies in general.

“The Church and religious organisations should be able to speak for those who are in bondage and trying to escape the depredation of hunger, poverty, ignorance and those that are seeking the movement of their growth for survival.”