Rev. Sam Aboyeji
Bolatito Mercy
The General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev. Sam Aboyeji, has said Nigeria has the human resources and potential required to build a prosperous and enduring nation.
Aboyeji made the remarks at the 13th Annual Public Lecture organised by the church in Lagos.
The lecture, themed “Building to Last: Faith, Infrastructure and the Future of the Nation,” focused on the need for sustainable development and effective nation-building.
The cleric said Nigeria was blessed with abundant human resources, a large population, entrepreneurial energy and opportunities across various sectors of the economy.
According to him, transforming these resources into lasting prosperity would require more than physical infrastructure, stressing the importance of strong institutions, sound values and visionary leadership.
Aboyeji said the annual public lecture provides a platform for Nigerians to deliberate on issues capable of influencing national development and shaping the country’s future.
He noted that the church considered the initiative part of its responsibility to contribute to Nigeria’s progress and prosperity, adding that the Foursquare Gospel Church has a presence across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
The cleric said the lecture had, over the years, brought together eminent personalities, scholars, technocrats, political leaders and religious figures to contribute ideas on governance and national development.
He said this year’s theme was particularly relevant because although Nigeria needed infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and railways, sustainable development could not be achieved through physical structures alone.
According to him, lasting development must also be centred on people and institutions built on values, vision, competence, integrity and faith in the nation’s future.
Aboyeji also expressed confidence in the younger generation, emphasising the need for leaders to prepare and empower competent successors who would sustain the country’s development.
“Success without a successor is failure,” he said, stressing the importance of investing in the next generation.
He expressed optimism that the lecture would generate useful insights and stimulate discussions capable of contributing to solutions to Nigeria’s development challenges.
Aboyeji urged Nigerians, particularly leaders, to recognise the country’s vast human and material resources and harness them responsibly to achieve sustainable national development.
