By Adeola Ogunlade
Bishop (Dr.) Charles Ighele, General Superintendent of Holy Spirit Mission (Happy Family Church), has emphasized the pivotal role of entrepreneurship and innovation in driving economic growth and fostering national development.
Ighele said this during the 2024 End-of-Year Forum organized by the Association of Christian Correspondents of Nigeria (ACCoN) recently at Vineyard Christian Ministries, Lagos.
Themed “The Church: Entrepreneurship and Innovation for a Prosperous Nigeria,” the forum addressed the pressing need for creative solutions to Nigeria’s current economic challenges.
In his keynote address, Ighele urged the Church to take a proactive role in fostering entrepreneurship, highlighting its potential to drive industrialization and close funding gaps that discourage aspiring entrepreneurs.
Ighele underscored the importance of directing the Church’s influence toward areas critical for nation-building.
He called on leaders to promote agripreneurship and capitalize on Nigeria’s comparative advantage in agriculture.
“For a nation to rise in development, it must leverage its strengths. Nigeria should focus on agriculture rather than relying solely on petroleum,” he stated.
Drawing comparisons with countries like Israel, Singapore, and Hong Kong, Bishop Ighele noted their transformation into economic powerhouses through deliberate investment in entrepreneurship.
“Israel leads the world in entrepreneurship, and nations like Singapore and Dubai have thrived by training micro and macro entrepreneurs. Nigeria has even greater potential. The Church must inspire its members to step into entrepreneurial roles to benefit both the body of Christ and the nation.”
Bishop Ighele revealed plans to launch the church’s Institute of Entrepreneurship and Skills Development by 2025, a step toward equipping individuals with the tools to succeed in various industries.
At the plenary session, Apostle Julius Opasola, Chairman of the Lagos chapter of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), echoed these sentiments, urging church leaders to prioritize “building mega people” over constructing mega churches.
He stressed the urgent need for entrepreneurial and innovative initiatives to drive meaningful growth and development in Nigeria.
“Without innovation and entrepreneurship, the Church cannot achieve significant growth. Empowered members will, in turn, uplift the Church and the nation.”
Pastor Sam Aboyeji, General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church and father of the day at the event, emphasized the Church’s multifaceted role in nation-building. Beyond spiritual guidance, the Church has historically contributed to education, healthcare, vocational training, and ICT development—often providing these services at little or no cost to youth.
“Jesus Christ called the Church the salt of the earth and the light of the world,” Pastor Aboyeji noted.
“The Church preserves society and points the way toward peace, prosperity, and moral leadership. Through its teachings and outreach, the Church fosters spiritual and social growth that directly supports economic development.”
“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.
In his welcome address, ACCoN President Mr. Adeola Ogunlade described the Church as a catalyst for sustainable development.
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 about solving problems, creating jobs, and building a thriving economy. Innovation discovers new ways to bring about lasting change. The Church, with its teachings, networks, and resources, is uniquely positioned to nurture ethical entrepreneurs and innovative thinkers to lead Nigeria into a prosperous future,” Ogunlade stated.
The forum concluded with a call to action for the Church, government, and other stakeholders to collaborate in advancing entrepreneurship and innovation as cornerstones of Nigeria’s economic transformation.
