By Olubusi Odole
Ikotun an age-long Lagos suburb, was solely known to be occupied by few natives in the 70s and later became general residential for migrants into Lagos in the early eighties.
Infrastructure and business activities were at the ebb compared to other highly commercialised areas of the city.
The birth of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in this sparsely populated environment in the late eighties has drastically changed a place hitherto known as a small town
into Nigeria and indeed Africa’s biggest tourist centre attracting global religious tourists seeking deliverance and liberation from their spiritual burdens.
Ikotun, according to official 2006 has a population of 1,288,714 inhabitants in Alimosho Local Government of Lagos State. Perhaps, this shows that the future is not where we are going, but one we are creating.
Temitope Balogun Joshua, a televangelist and the founder of the church, found the strength to persevere and endure his spiritual sagacity inspite of overwhelming obstacles has shown that hard times don’t create heroes. It is during hard times that the ‘Hero’ in us is revealed. The name Ikotun will definitely remain relevant with history owning to the unprecedented manner in which business activities of Hospitality, Food and beverages, fashion and artisanship developed within the span of two decades in the area. Hardly, a country in African or continent in the world at large that the synagogue would not at one time or the other play host to some individuals who visit the church either for prayers or miracle seeking, as it have come to be accepted as a spiritual haven for many.
In an interview with some business owners in the area, an hotelier who preferred anonymity revealed that since the passing of the great man of God on the June 5, 2021, his hotel has witnessed a sharp drop in patronage. ‘It is now am beginning to realize we have lost a man of God with great spiritual prowess as people that come for spiritual tourism all over Nigeria and beyond turned in for lodging. Hardly there was a week passed that we don’t have a full house here. But as of today sales has dropped’. But the manager of another hotel had a different opinion believing that things will get better in as much as the church is still there.
A fruit seller named Mama Sunday said she’s been selling near the church in the last 15 years and she has used the proceeds she realizes from the trade to train all her children up to university level. ‘I sell fruits to people that comes to the church for prayers as most of them eat fruits to break their fast’. Also, commercial drivers, food sellers and other related business owners
have continued to lament drops in their revenue because the presence of Prophet T.B. Joshua
saying the church positively affected their lives.