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Tag: CAC

  • CAC’s powerful prayer

    CAC’s powerful prayer

    Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Iyanu, Itire D.C.C. headquarters, has begun a seven-Tuesday special programme.

    It started on February 3 and will end on March 17.

    Venue is 181/183, Mushin Road, Church bus stop, Itire, Lagos.

    The theme of the programme is: “Prayer for First & Last Born”.

    Ministering are Pastor J.O. Babayemi, Pastor E.O. Odugbesan, Pastor J.O. Omoniyi, Pastor F.B. Fashina, Pastor Yinka Alonge,  Pastor Lanre Adekunle, Lady Evang. Ekundayo and other anointed ministers.

    Pastor Babayemi, who is also the Itire DCC superintendent, said Almighty God would perform wonders in people’s lives during the programme.

     

  • Community leader passes on

    The death has occurred of Pa Emmanuel Ojo Akomolafe. He died on December 8 last year after a brief illness. He was 96. The Awodamiro family of Ilawe Ekiti in Ekiti State said the deceased was a devout Christian, a community leader, a drummer and a cocoa merchant, adding that he would be remembered for his drumming skill with which he won souls at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Okeloye, Ilawe Ekiti.

    One of his daughters, Mrs. Esther Lucas-Ajanaku of the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, Lagos, said Pa Akomolafe’s remains would be interred after a befitting rite of passage on March 14 at Ilawe Ekiti.

    She said: “We have lost an icon, but we are consoled by the exemplary leadership of our kind father, husband, grandfather and great grandfather.”

  • CAC inaugurates school

    The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide has inaugurated the Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) International School (JIS).

    The school, which is located on the JABU campus in Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun Sate, was inaugurated by the Chairman, JABU Board of Trustees and President of Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide, Pastor Abraham Akinosun.

    Pastor Akinosun congratulated the JABU Management for the successful completion of the school despite all the challenges and discouragement encountered in the course of construction. He also praised them for their determination to invest in the lives of future generations.

    The JABU Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Prof Anthony Imevbore; Deputy Chairman of the Governing Council, Pastor C.S. Fasuyi; General Secretary, C.A.C. Worldwide Pastor Emmanuel Mapur and other important dignitaries were in attendance.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sola Fajana and Registrar, Wale Aderibigbe, a lawyer, were full of  appreciation to the C.A.C. Authorities, whose support has been tremendous to the University.

    The JABU International School officially commenced academic activities on November 10, last year with admission into JSS1 – JSS 2 and SS1 – SS2 Classes.

     

  • NCRIB solicits CAC’s assistance in registration of brokerage firms

    NCRIB solicits CAC’s assistance in registration of brokerage firms

    The Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) has solicited the support of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for the incorporation of new companies wishing to go into insurance broking.

    NCRIB President, Ayodapo  Shoderu, who made the call during a courtesy visit of the NCRIB delegation to the Commission’s office in Abuja, said it would ensure sanity and professionalism in insurance broking practice.

    The Council urged CAC to  request for evidence of professional qualifications of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) or its equivalent, from at least a director of prospective firms as required for companies going into other professional practices.

    He explained that the request would further ensure greater professionalisation and improve the quality of service delivery by the companies.

    The NCRIB chief, who applauded the CAC for ensuring effective corporate governance in business through its efficient and dispassionate approach in the registration and incorporation of business institutions in Nigeria, particularly under the management of the Registrar General, Mr. Bello Mahmud, stressed the need to imbibe the position of the Council on registration of new firms.

    While intimating the Registrar and his team with the workings and importance of insurance brokers in relations to the economy, he explained that NCRIB, the umbrella body of all Registered Insurance Brokers in Nigeria, with over 500 members operating within the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, should be allowed to play a pivotal role in sustaining the  economy.

    Mahmud, however, assured the Council of the Commission’s commitment to adhere to laws and regulations that spelt out the basic minimum requirement before registration of any broking firm, charging his management team to pay attention to details as enumerated by the NCRIB president.

    Mahmud enjoined the industry to reconsider its stand on the implementation of ‘No Premium, No Cover’ policy, stressing that many organisations have found it difficult to meet up with their insurance obligations.

    According to him, many insured  people still find it difficult to get their claims when there is need for it.

    Shoderu said the request of the commission on the amendment to the implementation of “No Premium, No Cover” was not within the jurisdiction of the Council, stressing that the Insurance Act prohibit the practice.

    He further said with the implementation of the policy, no underwriter could hold on to genuine claims.

    No underwriter will provide cover without payment of premium and no Broker can hold to premium beyond a stipulated time. The onus is on brokers to help their clients pursue genuine claims when the need arises.

    That is one of the reasons while we clamour for involvement of duly registered insurance brokers while transacting insurance business, he said.

  • CAC to delist 49,000 firms over failure to file returns

    CAC to delist 49,000 firms over failure to file returns

    FOR failing to file their statutory annual tax returns, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) said it would delist 49,000 registered companies.

    It stated that a large number of registered companies in its database have not fulfilled their statutory obligations in terms of filing returns while many have refused to state the non-existence of their businesses.

    Specifically, the CAC noted that at least 414,000 companies did not file their returns in 2010 out of about one million registered businesses in the country, thus necessitating the renewed action set to be taken.

    The Special Adviser to the Registrar-General, CAC, Garba Abubakar, stated this on the sideline of a seminar organised by the Professional Practice Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Lagos.

    He said most businesses registered in the country have no proper structure and have defaulted in their incorporation requirements.

    According to him, investigation shows that business owners terminate their relationships with relevant professionals such as lawyers, chartered secretaries and accountants, among others, after incorporation of their businesses while most professionals are found wanting in responsibly advising their clients.

    He said: “We observed that 60 per cent of the cost of starting a business goes to professionals as fees, a condition many small businesses have found not to be sustainable. Also, most companies do not have ascertainable capital base unlike what other sectoral regulators prescribe.

    “To ease the process, CAC decided to address the bottlenecks in the system with a new platform. Although we are experiencing some challenges, we hope to address them in due time.”

    LCCI President, Alhaji Remi Bello, also emphasised the need for government to create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive. According to him, structuring businesses for effective regulatory compliance is significant because many businesses are having compliance issues with the various regulators that oversee their operations.

    “We are gradually moving towards a growing formal economy where companies would have no choice but to play according to the rules. “Businesses built and run in contravention are often not sustainable in the long run. Policy consistency remains a valuable ingredient for a sound regulatory environment.

    “We call for more consultations with the private sector in the formulation of policies and regulations. This will ensure better compliance and consistency irrespective of changes in the leadership of regulatory authorities,” Bello added.

  • LCCI berates CAC over poor service delivery

    The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has noted with concern the frustration faced by investors in the course of business incorporation.

    LCCI President Mr. Remi Bello said rather than live up to the high expectations of investors of a better service delivery, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has deteriorated in service delivery.

    He pointed out, for instance, that rather than take 24 hours to register a business as promised by CAC, business incorporation now takes well over one week in most cases.

    “A major component of the ‘Ease of Doing Business Report’ of the World Bank is the ease of business registration. The performance on this score is not satisfactory,” Bello said.

    LCCI’s observations were contained in a communiqué it issued at the end of its council meeting in Lagos, last week. The communiqué signed by its Director General, Mr. Muda Yusuf, and made available to The Nation, urged CAC’s management to urgently fix the observed shortcomings to realise the dream of making the country a leading investment destination in Africa.

    The communiqué also called for a peaceful political transition. “As the 2015 elections approaches, the LCCI Council reiterated the importance of peace in the transition process. Without peace very little economic activity will take place and it is the citizens that will bear the brunt,” the communiqué said.

    The LCCI Council said it was disturbed by the recent disturbances and assault on the Judiciary in Ekiti State, noting that “This is clearly not a good omen. The LCCI therefore, calls on the major organs of government especially the law enforcement agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission to redouble their efforts in ensuring a peaceful democratic transition.”

    The LCCI Council however, welcomed the proposal by the Federal Government to partner Lagos State Government to ensure the speedy completion of the reconstruction work on the Lagos/Badagry expressway. Bello said the collaboration was long overdue and that it was wise to allow national development concerns take precedence over partisan considerations at all times.

    In his words: “The Lagos/Badagry road is very strategic, not just for the development of the country, but the facilitation of trade between Nigeria and other countries in the West African sub region.  Over 70 per cent of freight and human movements between Nigeria and countries in the sub region take place on this corridor.  Its current deplorable state is thus taking a huge toll on economic activities in the country and the sub region.”

    He called for the development of a partnership framework to accelerate the completion of the reconstruction work on the road which, according to him, is in the interest of the nation’s economy, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) economic integration aspirations and the welfare of millions of citizens resident on the corridor to do so.

  • CAC pastors seek God’s favour for Nigeria

    CAC pastors seek God’s favour for Nigeria

    An annual retreat by pastors and other clergies in the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) came up last Thursday at the Babalola Memorial Miracle Centre, Ikeji-Arakeji in Osun State. DAMISI OJO was there.

    The 2014 edition of the annual Pastors’ Conference of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) was not only a spiritual avenue for Pastors within the church’s fold to renew their knowledge and teachings of the holy scripture, but also a platform  to seek God’s face for a better Nigeria and Nigerians.

    This year’s conference which had as its theme “giving and receiving” was attended by pastors in the South West including Edo and Delta states.

    President of the CAC worldwide, Pastor Abraham Akinosun took some time to pour out his mind on the state of the Nation.

    According to him, the burning issue of Boko Haram in the country today has not been laid to rest because of favouritism by the powers that be.

    “This Boko Haram matter, I don’t know why it is very difficult to be uprooted, even in the time of Shagari, Maitashine (a similar band of terrorists) you will remember was eliminated within two years of the Shagari administration, and they were no more in existence”

    “We don’t know why this Boko Haram is so difficult to uproot, I think it is because of favouritism, they don’t want to touch some people,” Pastor Akinosun said.

    The CAC president expressed concern over the fate of the 200 Chibok school girls still in captivity by Boko Haram, stressing that terrorism is a great crime against God.

    He lamented that “it is disheartening to note that Boko Haram has continued to breach our security at random. A group which started with guerrilla tactics has become so audacious that is now taking territory and naming it its caliphate.

    “Let us say this for emphasis, the government should rise to the occasion and retake the towns already seized by the murderous gang, no inch of Nigeria must be lost to these insurgents”

    While commending the men of the Nigerian Army for their fight against the insurgency, he expressed dissatisfaction on the mutiny attempt on a General Officer Commanding (GOC) by some soldiers serving in the theatre of war in the north east.

    The CAC President, however pleaded that the soldiers involved who have been condemned to death by a military court martial should have their sentences commuted to jail terms.

    He equally urged the Army council to investigate the reasons behind the 400 soldiers who recently deserted the battle front.

    According to him, the soldiers should equally be tried by a court martial, but said if indeed they fled because their weapons were no match for the enemies, the process of procurement of weapons by the military should be reviewed.

    Pastor Akinosun further warned politicians to stop addressing the issue of insecurity in the country from partisan standpoint.

    He said politicians must depoliticize the issue of insecurity entirely, stressing that whatever ambition they have can only be realized when the country is at peace.

    Pastor Akinosun noted that in the event of war, there is no nation in the West African sub region that would serve as place of refuge for Nigerians.

    Speaking on 2015 general elections, the pastor said “the 2015 general election is around the corner, we must all start praying for a successful exercise. We call on politicians to make their campaigns speeches temperate, they should tell us what they have to offer rather than run their opponents down.

    “They should shun campaign of calumny and embrace that of issues, they must shun violence in all its ramifications if indeed, their intention was to serve us.

    “Nigerians are also urged to vote according to their conscience, they should not be swayed by money or any other base consideration, they should realize that with their votes, they can change the system for the better if they vote wisely”

    Pastor Akinosun lamented the lop-sided distribution of wealth in the country, stressing that the gap between the poor and the rich is widening every day.

    “There seems to be no concerted effort to reverse this dangerous trend. The poor lives in shanties while the rich and the wealthy live in palatial buildings. The poor, day-in day- day out barely eke out a living in a nation that is, proverbially, flowing with milk and honey” He said.

    The man of God charged the federal government to declare a state of emergency on employment with a view to creating jobs across the country.

    “Declaring a state of emergency would enable the government to take emergency steps to decongest the job market within a short time. Under this arrangement the government may acquire lands in all parts of the federation and establish emergency farm settlements.

    “Government should also review existing manufacturing policy, Nigeria should ban importation of certain products that can be produced locally; for instance Nigeria has a fair comparative advantage in textile production” Pastor Akinosun advised.

    Speaking on the theme of the conference, the CAC president revealed that the reason why some Christians are poor today was because they lack the habit of giving.

     

  • ‘CAC crisis may soon be over’

    ‘CAC crisis may soon be over’

    The crisis rocking the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in the last 24 years may soon be resolved.

      One of its factions, the Supreme Council, has reiterated its readiness to ensure reunification with the General Executive Council (GEC) leadership.

    A member of the Supreme Council Peace Delegate, Pastor Jacob Akinola, spoke at the opening of the 2014 Annual Pastors Conference at CAC Ile AANU, Alasepe Prayer Ground, Ikire, Osun State.

    He said: “We, the Supreme Council, are ready for a reunification with the GEC if it will end the 24-year-old crisis.

    “From the utterances and comportment of the GEC leadership, it is evident that it has distanced itself from any peace move within the entire mission, while at the same time deceiving the fellowship that it was championing the church reunification, but on the part of the Supreme Council, we are still believing God to touch the hearts of those interested in and benefiting from the prolongation of the crisis, before it is too late.”

    The President of CAC Worldwide, Pastor Gabriel Lagunju, said no sacrifice would be too much to end the crisis.

  • ‘Lessons I learnt in my ministry in 28 years’

    ‘Lessons I learnt in my ministry in 28 years’

    The general overseer of Holy Ghost Christian Centre Lagos, Pastor Amos Fenwa, went down the memory lane to evaluate his ministry on full-time in the last 28 years with Sunday Oguntola. Excerpts: 

    It’s been 28 years in full-time ministry. How would you sum up your experience so far?

    Well, I will say it’s been glorious and challenging. I have been privileged to be blessed in the ministry because I was born in a mission house. My father was a pastor and that gave me a head start in ministry work. I didn’t plan to be a pastor; it was not part of my dream because when you are born in a mission house, you know everything.

    Ministry is not about aspiration or ambition but calling. It is something that takes one’s life. But I will say it’s been glorious. I remember after my Secondary School, I worked for like two years. First, I was at Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) in their monitoring station in Ogbomosho. Then, I went to Ilorin as a manager in a hotel.

    From there, I wanted to go to Adeyemi College of Education Oyo to study History Education. I just wanted to be a teacher and train people. I love to see people starting from nowhere to becoming great in life. But as I was about resuming, my father called me that I should not waste my time doing secular studies because I had been called into the ministry….

    …Was it easy for you to believe him?

    Yes, it was because I knew him as a pastor and prophet. I had seen him prophesy and it came to pass. So, I had to suspend the admission to the College and proceeded to Trinity College in Aba where I was trained. When I finished, he called one of his friends to get me a church to work and that was how I came back to the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) as an associate pastor.

    Originally, I was supposed to serve in Bida but God spoke to me to come to Lagos. I told my father who informed his friend that brought me to Lagos. That was how I continued running under the man for some years. When he was transferred, I served with another pastor there. From there, God started talking to me about starting the ministry. By June of 1995, I left to start my ministry without knowing how it would function.

    For six months, I was not in any church because I needed to hear God clearly. I thank God that I understood what He was saying. By January 7, we launched Holy Ghost Praying Centre now Holy Ghost Christian Centre (HGCC).

    Was it easy for you to receive the call knowing you grew up in a mission house where you must have seen your father struggling?

    No, it was not because I saw my father lacking. That is one of the troubles with pastors’ kids. They don’t want the kind of life that their parents live. It was the same for me. When I entered the ministry in 1986, it was like a signature to poverty. If you told someone you were going into the ministry then as a young man, they would consider you mad.

    I knew my dad struggled to send us to schools. He was living on welfare. I never wanted to live on charities. But I was clear God wanted me to serve Him. I am the last child in the family; we are five boys and three girls. I was the first to heed the call to the ministry.

    When I was going to the pastor’s school, our eldest brother wondered why I was leaving my paid job but I said God called. None of them wanted to have anything to do with ministry but today they are all with me in the ministry. I happen to be their senior in the ministry even though I am the last child because I accepted the call before them. God helped me to be able to start on time. Up till now, I still tell young people to be sure God calls them before they come into the ministry.

    Ministry is very attractive now but it was very tough back then. You see general overseers with cars and you want to join the train. But even then, before you become attractive you must have paid your dues. Someone might  see me today and want to say I am okay but I have put up 28 years. If I was a cleaner in the Federal Civil Service, I believe I would have been better now.

    How did you get over the conservative mindset of the CAC from where you started off?

    If you see me, you know I am still conservative. But what helped me was the Trinity College I attended. It is an affiliate of Trinity College California. We had five American missionaries as lecturers on full-time. They trained us to see ministry like they will see and do it.

    So, when I was starting the ministry, I was able to see it from another dimension than the CAC. Though when I was there as an associate pastor, I followed the guidelines in CAC. But in my foundation when I started my ministry, the training helped me. That is why today when people come to our church, they hardly can trace CAC in how we do things except in our prayer patterns.

    How did the mental reengineering occur? It must have taken a while to take roots, right?

    Yes, it took a long while. I joined CAC in 1988 and when I returned from College, It was tough to get back into the church culture. But God exposed me to international travels and I garnered a lot of experiences there. I started travelling since 2001. I ministered everywhere and saw how people do things differently. I attended seminars and I started changing my orientation back to what I was trained. That accounts for what you will see in our church today.

    But I believe as Africans, there is a way you have to minister to Africans. That is why our prayer pattern is very aggressive. We preach the typical American kind of gospel but knowing where we are coming from, we embrace prayers a lot and do more of warfare.

    You believe African churches need to do more of that?

    Sure because there is no reason why the continent should be backwards going by our natural and human resources. There is no reason why Nigeria should remain like this if there is no spiritual strongholds holding us down. I also believe that some of the leaders ruling us are into occultism. This is affecting our progress.

    We say America is the number one nation in the world today and you realise that their founding fathers were Christians and pastors. They have their problems but the country is still attractive. If you pick any young man today, he will tell you he wants America first. Our own tradition is built on traditional religion, witchcraft and blood sacrifices. I don’t think there is any nation where more blood is shed than Africa. That is why we are so backward.

    In 28 years, how far has the church come?

    We have been able to find our feet and the vision is becoming much clearer. We really know that we are sent to nations to add values. That informs so many things we are doing. We have 11 churches worldwide. We have two in America, one in the UK and the others in Nigeria.

    We are willing to expand as the Lord gives us resources. We are also building a structure that will sustain the church beyond now. Recently, we did a convention and noticed that our youth focus has been low. Now, we do a programme quarterly targeted at them.

    In 28 years, what lessons has ministry taught you?

    It has taught me to always listen to God on everything. It has also taught me that skill is as important as calling and anointing. You can be anointed fully and not know what to do. When we started, we prided ourselves in being anointed and didn’t get skills in some areas of ministry. That limited and retarded us in many ways.

    Three, it has taught me who human beings truly are. People can come into your life and walk away once they feel they don’t need you anymore. I am a very emotional person. I love people more than anything and used to feel bad when people walk out on me. But ministry has taught me not to depend on people but look up to God. I have had people that will say ‘pastor, If God can bless me I want to stay in this church and support you’. But they walked away when their expectations were not met.

    Expectations like what?

    Sometimes they feel they should be put in some positions because God has blessed them but I won’t do that because of my background. I have seen that happen every day regardless of whether they are qualified or not.

    If you were to start all over today, what would you do differently?

    One, I would want to have good paper works before embarking on ministries. A lot of times ideas come but we just run with it without documentation. We don’t write the visions to enable us run with it. Two, I would embrace people that are well-educated and their hearts have been touched by God.

    They tend to help the ministry to go very far more than uneducated people. We attracted more of them when we started the ministry and they didn’t have the capacity to help the work to some extent. No wonder God is calling professors and educated people now. No wonder Paul the Apostle wrote 12 to 13 epistles in the Bible while fisherman Peter could only write two.

    So, I think skills and education are very important in ministry. If I were to start again, I would ask God for clearer vision because we had to change a lot of things as we moved.

  • CAC to axe defaulting firms

    Companies and businesses defaulting in compliance with the provision of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), will soon face severe sanctions.

    A statement by CAC’s Director of Public  Affairs,  Churchill Williams, said the Commission has set up a special enforcement Committee which had commenced crack down on the operation of some companies.

    He said: “The special enforcement committee has completed the first phase of on-site examination exercise in the Federal Capital Territory, and has visited various markets, shopping malls and held collaborative meetings with relevant organisations to sensitise the public on the post incorporation obligations of registered companies and the consequences of  operating unregistered businesses.”

    Williams explained that a total of 474 companies were penalised for non compliance during the exercise in the FCT. The next phase of the enforcement will be carried out in the 36 states of the federation.

    Under the provisions of the  CAMA, every company,  business names and incorporated association, non governmental organisation NGO, are required to file annual returns every year which informs the Commission of the status of a registered entity.

    He explained that Section 548 of CAMA, compels all companies to display their registered names and registration number at their offices. Furthermore, Section 553 of CAMA mandates all banking or insurance companies or deposit, provident or benefit society are required to prepare and display in a conspicious manner their statement of affairs twice in a year.

    Companies complying with the provision of CAMA enjoy the benefit of unhindered treatment of their post registration filling with the commission.