17th August, 2010
Mr. Ifeanyi Odedo, National President, Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, on Monday in Abuja called for an urgent spiritual rebirth as Nigeria celebrates her Golden Jubilee.
Odedo made the call at a pre-convention news conference heralding the association’s convention and Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee.
He noted that history had proved over time that most great nations attained the peak of their national glory at the period of positive and fervent prayers.
According to him, it is the birth of Jesus Christ that marked the beginning of human moral civilisation, which opened the door to great learning and the age of enlightenment.
Odedo, however, said the foundation of selflessness and sacrifice, which Jesus Christ laid, provided a befitting model for all business men, professionals and public servants to follow.
“Marking the fiftieth anniversary of its independence, the convention is a way of partnering with the government at the most important level of the spirit and faith, in its commitment to rebranding the norms and values of our society.
“It is a period of thanksgiving to the Almighty God who has endowed us with abundant human and natural resources.
“The God who saw Nigeria through a civil war, political turmoil, monumental religious crises and youth militancy,” he said.
Acknowledging God’s blessing and mercies in shielding us from flood, fires, earthquakes and diseases of catastrophic magnitudes, Odedo appealed for concerted efforts by the religious leaders to improve the country.
He said some 30,000 businessmen and women, professionals in all fields from Africa, USA, Europe and Asia were expected to grace the convention, which would dwell on workshops on civil service, entrepreneurship and finance.
Other topics would focus on industry, the entertainment industry, law, medical practice and corporate governance.
Odedo recalled that the association recently organised a seminar on “Godliness in Politics’’, which was attended by more than 250 key Christian politicians and current aspirants.
“The foundation is being laid as all the aspirants decisively pledged their allegiance to God and covenanted to eschew corruption and selfish ambition in politics,” he said
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the association, which is a non-denominational global organisation of businessmen and professionals, was founded in USA in 1952 with the aim of reaching out and training men for world evangelism.
The bi-annual national convention, kicking off on Aug. 18 with the theme “Stand out at Jubilee’’, will feature some eminent speakers like Mr. Richard Shakarian, International President FGBMFI and Rev. Uma Upai, a world renowned Evangelist.