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By Ngozi Nwoke
Victor Iyiola Afilaka is known among men and brethren of the Anglican Communion (Amuwo Odofin Archdeaconry), Diocese of Lagos West, for the innumerable works he has wrought for humanity and divinity’s sake.
Little wonder the church, during its 10th anniversary and thanksgiving special service recently, bestowed upon him an award of recognition for his outstanding contributions to the work of God.
Speaking shortly after, Afilaka said: “Yes, I have contributed to the service of divinity, but I don’t think I have done anything, because it’s God who owns silver and gold. Of course, there’s nothing a man has that was not given to him, all belongs to God.”
Afilaka, who is the chairman/CEO of Avistar Investment Limited, enjoined people with resources to cultivate the habit of helping the poor. He added that he shows kindness to mankind not for the purpose of enjoying the encomiums of man but to receive divine reward: “I don’t cherish human commendations, I look forward to the ultimate handshake with my maker. I don’t own anything. Everything is given to me by the Almighty God, so I’m just giving Him back what He gave me.”
Speaking on the theme ‘The miracle of multiplication by God,” the bishop of Diocese of Lagos West, Rt. Revd. Dr. James Olusola, admonished Christians to look up to Almighty God, who is the source and resource, even in the face of economic stalemate.
Quoting Matthew 14 verses 15- 21, (where Jesus Christ fed about 5,000 men with five loaves of bread and two fish), the clergyman urged Nigerians to keep trusting God despite the hardship in the country orchestrated by incompetent political and economic rulers across three levels of governance.
“Faith is the currency in heaven without which we can’t transact with God. So, let’s keep the faith alive, trust and obey Him (who) has all the power to turn things around. Our works (service) to Him will never be in vain,” he said.
On his part, the priest in charge of the Amuwo Odofin Archdeaconry, Archdeacon Oluwafemi Omidiji, said the church would continue to empower youths for them to be useful to themselves and society.
Omidiji, who is also the administrator of the province, urged the incoming administration to prioritize job creation or else Nigeria would soon be in dearth of manpower, “Government must provide jobs for youths; very soon, we shall not have human resources as the japa syndrome’ is in top gear.”
The clergyman, who scored the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration average, pleaded for understanding in the body of Christ. He urged the ‘haves’ to help the ‘have -nots.’
The venerable charged the next administration saying: “They must display the heart of Christ by doing everything possible to ameliorate the plight of Nigerians, having suffered unwarranted and unprecedented economic hardship in the past eight years.”
He beckoned on Nigerians to expect better days anchored on the Almighty God, not on any man, having done their best at the 2023 general election.
“Whoever that takes over from the present government, such must not aggravate the misery of most Nigerians. We are humans, not animals, and must be related as such. Politicians must remember that everyone must give account to his maker, at the judgment throne,” he said.
