Leadership with integrity rare to come by in Nigeria —CAN President

PRESIDENT, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Revd (Dr) Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, has declared that leadership with integrity is rare to come by in Nigeria, both in politics and even in religion.

The CAN boss made this declaration at the weekend in Lagos while speaking at the dedication of new Lagos Centre of the Africa Centre for Theological Studies, an International Leadership University located at Ilupeju area of the state, courtesy of Great Commission Movement of Nigeria (GCMN).

Speaking at the event attended by Pastor Victor Olaiya, Austin Okomohwo, Emmanuel Richard, among others, the CAN president contended that the country was sufficiently endowed with people who were degree holders and was not a poor nation by any standard, but yet lacked the leader who could manage its endowments as a nation.

“I consider this to be critical because our problem is not having degrees, or properties, or money but the problem of the leader who will manage our endowments as a nation.

“Leadership with integrity both in politics and even in religion is rare on the street, even in high and low levels of our economy,” he said.

Ayokunle, who was represented by the Rector, Baptist College of Theology, Lagos, Revd Dr. Emmanuel Oyemomi, said it was in that light that he commended the GCMN for their work, courage, labour, sacrifice and contributions in establishing Africa Centre for Theological Studies (ACTS) in order to make Nigeria a better place through the production of leaders.

The CAN president, who cited sections of the Bible to buttress the point that what was paramount in the heart of God was preaching His words, said the best way possible to do that was through theological education, expressing the belief that a theological institution such as was established was dear to the heart of God.

He said this was so because it was a place of strategy for the continuity of the heart of God’s instruction for generation of Nigerians.

“One thing that is paramount in the heart of God, concerning His work, is continuity in the context of progressive actions. The vehicle of that progress should be packaged in worthy, virile, theological education,” the CAN boss said.

“I believe a theological institution of your type, with all the opportunities provided, is dear to the heart of God, because it is a place of strategy for the continuity of the heart of God’s instruction for our generation,” he reiterated.

While pointing out that commitment by the GCMN to build leaders was very crucial and should be taken very seriously, Ayokunle prayed that the project would not fail in order to rescue the country from its present decay.

“That is why your commitment to build leaders is very crucial and it should be taken very seriously, because I trust that God is with you. This assignment will not fail, for God will send men and women to you for training who will go back into the nooks and cranny of the nation to serve as salt to season the present decay and also as light to dispel darkness in our generation.

“Continue to advance the status of the University to a reputable institution that can be reckoned with around the world. God on your side, you will succeed,” he said.

Speaking on the Africa Centre for the Theological Studies (ACTS), West Africa Director of GCMN, Revd Austin Okomohwo, said it was an initiative which was actually focused on equipping leaders to reflect deeply about the issues facing the society as people who were Christians.

According to him, the ACTS was established to train and enable Christians see how they could become agents of transformation of the community, town or cities in which they find themselves by addressing issues based on the quality of their relationship with the Christ Jesus.

“And of course, we have an initiative like the ACTS which is actually focused on equipping leaders to reflect deeply about the issues facing our societies as people who are Christians and to see how they can offer themselves to become agents of transformation of our communities.

“It is about addressing our societal issues based on the quality of their relationship with Jesus Christ,” he said.