The federal government has been urged to engage prominent Nigerian Christian leaders, including the Founder and Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, and three other clerics, on how their institutions could contribute to addressing the country’s development challenges.
The call, contained in an opinion article by James Paul Adama, Convener Christian Youth Forum (CCYF), titled: “Why the Nigerian Government Must Invite Bishop David Oyedepo and His Spiritual Sons Immediately,” identified Pastor David Ibiyeomie, Dr Paul Enenche and Pastor Korede Komaiya as other religious leaders whose institutional experiences could provide useful lessons for national development.
According to the article, the ministries led by the four clerics have established institutional structures and community-based initiatives with contributions in education, healthcare, transportation, employment generation, infrastructure development, poverty reduction and human capital development.
It noted that their respective church organisations operate transportation arrangements that enable worshippers and other participants to attend services and programmes without paying transport fares, describing the initiative as an example of organised social support.
The article also highlighted their investments in education through the establishment of primary and secondary schools as well as universities, with modern learning facilities designed to promote academic excellence and character development among young Nigerians.
On healthcare, it cited medical outreaches, financial assistance for patients, support for surgeries and sponsorship of individuals requiring specialised medical treatment outside Nigeria as some of the interventions attributed to the ministries.
It further drew attention to scholarship programmes operated by the churches, arguing that the educational support had created opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to acquire professional qualifications and improve their economic circumstances.
The article identified electricity generation and infrastructure development as other areas where the religious institutions had demonstrated capacity, citing investments in uninterrupted power arrangements, roads, pedestrian bridges and water facilities within their operational environments.
On employment, it claimed that the four church organisations collectively provide jobs for more than 300,000 people, describing them as significant employers whose activities extend beyond religious services into administration, education, healthcare, hospitality, logistics and other sectors.
It also argued that their large-scale conventions and international conferences attract participants from different parts of the world, creating economic opportunities for hotels, transport operators, traders, food vendors and other businesses in host communities.
Beyond infrastructure and economic activities, the article emphasised the role of religious institutions in social transformation through counselling, moral instruction, family development, entrepreneurship training and programmes aimed at discouraging destructive lifestyles.
It maintained that these activities could offer useful insights into addressing social challenges, strengthening families and promoting responsible citizenship.
READ ALSO:
- Nigerian Government Urged to Partner Oyedepo, Ibiyeomie, Enenche on National Development
- FG Tasked On Security Architecture Overhaul, National Security Policy Development
- Iyaye Targets Grassroots Revival As Rivers Hosts National Top 16 Table Tennis Championship
The article also highlighted resource management, institutional discipline and long-term planning as areas from which public administrators and development practitioners could draw lessons from the operations of large religious organisations.
It, therefore, proposed that the federal government initiate structured engagement with Bishop Oyedepo and the other three clerics to examine their institutional experiences, identify transferable practices and explore possible areas of collaboration in national development.
The proposed engagement, according to the article, should not be politically motivated or restricted to ceremonial recognition but should focus on practical discussions around education, healthcare delivery, employment, infrastructure, social welfare, entrepreneurship and community development.
It concluded that Nigeria could benefit from lessons drawn from successful non-governmental institutions, faith-based organisations and private-sector initiatives, particularly where their experiences could complement existing public development programmes.
The proposal comes amid continuing national conversations about the role of religious organisations, private institutions and civil society in supporting government efforts to improve living conditions and expand development opportunities across the country.
