At a public lecture in Lagos to mark Bishop Mike Okonkwo’s 80th birthday, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr Mike Okonkwo, encouraged Nigerian churches to re-evaluate their teachings.
They said the focus should shift towards values such as honesty, responsibility and productivity, which they believe are necessary for meaningful national development.
The event, which was the 24th edition of the Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture, had the theme “The Nigeria Of Our Dream: Today’s Reality and a Responsible Pathfinder. Osinbajo delivered a lecture titled The Church as a Responsible Pathfinder in Attaining the Nigeria of Our Dreams”, where he reflected on the church’s role in shaping society.
According to him, preaching that revolves only around prosperity and miracles, without a foundation in responsibility and work ethic, is not helpful for building a strong nation. He argued that sound biblical teaching should lead to personal transformation and ethical living.
“When people hear the right message, it shapes how they live,” he said. “The gospel is not opposed to wealth, but it teaches that wealth must come through hard work and creativity. No country can progress by relying on unearned income or shortcuts.”
He also highlighted economic practices that leave African nations at a disadvantage. As an example, he mentioned how Africa produces much of the world’s raw cocoa, but earns only a small portion of the final value because it is exported without processing. Countries that process cocoa into chocolate, he said, capture the larger share of the profits.
In Osinbajo’s view, this points to the need for innovation and value addition. He cited the experience of early European societies influenced by Puritan teachings, where ethical values and a strong work ethic helped reduce corruption and support development.
Bishop Okonkwo, in his remarks, invited Nigerians to reflect on the country’s progress since independence. He noted that for more than ten years, the annual lecture series has brought public figures together to discuss national issues, adding that real progress depends on collective effort.
He said, “Everyone has a part to play in building the country we want. If we truly care about the well-being of others and see our national growth as a shared duty, the country can move forward.”
The chairman of the occasion, retired Major General Ike Nwachukwu, also spoke on the importance of shared responsibility. He described Nigeria as a country with great potential that has been held back by a gap between resources and outcomes.
He said bridging that gap requires citizens and leaders alike to look beyond personal gain and commit to working for the good of all.
