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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Former Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, (NCPC), Rev. Tor Uja, has advised the government at all levels to partner and support faith-based organizations in their drive toward building good leadership, improved education and agriculture for the development of the nation.
Rev Uja gave the advice in Makurdi, Saturday night, during a dinner organized by the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, (FGBMFI), Benue West Zone C in Makurdi, North Central, 4 District, Benue state, to honour their foundation presidents from 1985 to 1995.
The former Pilgrims Commission boss, who was honoured with a merit award, said governments should invest more on things that build the people which according to him include mental and spiritual education.
He noted that, “There is a greater need to build knowledge and character in leadership than we focus on mere physical things; salaries, inflation and others, they are important in life but the indices that build the people are first of all, mental and second, spiritual and third, the leadership driven.
“We need to build more leadership in our people, we need to increase the level of their spiritual awareness and lifestyle and we need to also increase our educational investments right from the very elementary level where people are small to the point where we think they’re big.
“People who are not as knowledgeable as they are and while the faith-based institutions; the church, the ministries and the different groups are doing it out of voluntary service, it is a mandatory thing for government to do.
He opined that Government is duty-bound to support faith-based agencies to continue to provide services to the people saying, “Whatever the government is doing they claim they do it for public institutions, for government owned public institutions, this is myopic.
“This is wrong this is to say that many people in our land if not for faith-based organisations, Christians schools, hospitals will not be anywhere. So it is our duty to return that investment, support the churches to build the land.
The former NCPC boss also enjoined federal government and Benue state government in particular to give attention to working and cooperating with and also helping to fund the faith organisations in their drive towards education and agriculture.
On the Ministry, Uja who noted that as a live member, he and other members enjoyed built and friendship, developed capacity, were prayerful and enjoyed fellowship with their wives urged all invitees to register as members wherever they live and put their trust in God to help the in their lives.
Earlier, a leader of the faith based group, Dr. Emmanuel Omatseyin, said the FGBMFI has a mission to reach men all over the world and bring them to God; to be more involved in church activities and to enable them grow spiritually.
While noting that their members include men and women of timber and caliber from all works of life, Omatseyin said they are the happiest people on earth, “Become a member and you will be convinced,” he said.
Other leaders, Prof Benji Ogwo, Comrade Everest Iwu and Professor Dennis Teghtegh, took time to appreciate the foundation presidents for their sacrifices in building the fellowship while the awardees, Elder Toryina Orgah, Arc James Ugoh, Professor Araoye among others, appreciated Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship for the recognition accorded them.
