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LAGOS STATE, Nigeria — Entrepreneurship and innovation remain a key catalyst to boost economic and spur the needed development of any nations of the world, the General Superintendent, Holy Spirit Mission (aka) Happy Family Church, Bishop (Dr) Charles Ighele said.
He spoke 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.
The program with the theme, 'The Church: Entrepreneurship and Innovation for a Prosperous Nigeria,' the bishop said became imperative following the current economic situation in the country.
Ighele while delivering his keynote address said the Church must be deliberate about driving entrepreneurship in the country.
According to him, the Church must be able to provide funding for industrialisation by bridging the funding gap in making entrepreneurship attractive to a larger population of the Church.
Explaining how the church could bridge the entrepreneurship gap, the cleric said the Church must dispatch its people into areas that form nation building, and called on Church leaders to drive initiatives that promote agripreneurs.
Speaking on the collaboration needed between the Church and the government, Ighele urged the government to redirect developmental initiatives across the country by leveraging Nigeria's comparative advantage in the agricultural sector.
The cleric who called on church leaders to drive initiatives that promote agripreneurs urged the Church to deploy dispatch mechanism on its members into areas that form nation building.
He said, "For a nation to rise in terms of development, such nation must look at the area of their comparative advantage; their strong point.
"In raising entrepreneurs and boost innovation in Nigeria, we must look at area of great strength as a nation to drive development and boost economy.
He advised the nation to toe the line of Israel, Singapore and Hong Kong, nations that have risen from nothing to achieve economic prosperity and national development through entrepreneurship.
He decried the attitude of Nigeria in heaping all her hope in petroleum, whereas her strength lies in agriculture; her comparative advantage.
Speaking about Israel, he said “Israel is known to be the country in the world with the greatest number of entrepreneurs.
"Countries like Singapour, Dubai, Hong Kong started from nothing but by deliberately training entrepreneurs, their nation experience economic growth. These nations push people into the entrepreneurship class; micro and macro entrepreneurs.
"Nigeria has a comparative advantage than these nations. If we are serious, we can make progress. Israel is known to be the nation with the greatest entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs develop a nation, hence, the church should push entrepreneurs from their midst and men of God can push members into the entrepreneurship class for the growth of the body of Christ and the nation at large."
On what his ministry is doing to deepen entrepreneurship, Ighele disclosed that the church’s institute of entrepreneurship & skills development is set to take off by 2025.
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 spur meaningful growth and development.
"Without entrepreneurs and innovation, the church will remain stagnant and without any significant growth. Rather than investing in mega churches, the church should focus more on building mega people. This idea will build members up who will in turn give back to the church and the nation at large," Apostle Opasola added.
Also speaking at the event, the General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, who doubles as the father of the day, Pastor Sam Aboyeji, said the Church plays a vital role in nation building.
According to him, "this is done in several ways, including by advancing Christ’s glorious gospel, promoting good values in society, and modeling the right moral leadership.
“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,” he said.
He said that Jesus Christ had emphasized that it is the role of the Church to be the salt of the earth; hence the Church brings good aroma and preservation to the nation.
According to him, the Church is also the light of the world; showing and pointing the direction towards a better, peaceful and prosperous society. “The Church continues to contribute its quota in those moments towards advancing a prosperous nation,” Aboyeji said.
"The Church influences development through its teaching and outreach, promoting spiritual and social growth that contributes to a robust economic and prosperous Nigeria."
Earlier, 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.
"Entrepreneurship is not merely about profit but about creating solutions to problems, generating employment, and building a thriving economy. Innovation, on the other hand, is about discovering new ways to bring about lasting change.
“The Church, through its teachings, networks, and resources, is uniquely positioned to nurture a generation of ethical entrepreneurs and innovative thinkers who can lead Nigeria into a prosperous future,” Mr Ogunlade said.
