Rt. Rev Ifedola Gabriel Okupevi, the Bishop of Lagos, Church of Nigeria, has expressed concern over the effects of poverty, in employment and inequality in the country.
In his welcome address, Bishop Okupevi emphasized the need for collective action to tackle these pressing issues and create a more prosperous future for generations to come.
He stressed the crucial role of the church in driving positive change and impacting communities for the better.
Drawing inspiration from the biblical figure of Nehemiah, the Bishop urged Nigerians to rise up and rebuild the social and economic structures of their society.
“Today is a beautiful Day, a joyful day, a glorious day, a day to come together and think about our nation, what we are going to do, how to ameliorate or completely put to silence the plague of poverty so that the present generation, the coming generation may live a convenient and prosperous life,” he said in his welcome address.
“Therefore as we gather to reflect on, and strategize ways to confront the pertinent issues of poverty, inequality and unemployment. It is crucial that we recognize the indelible role of the church in fostering change and impacting our communities for the better.
“Nehemiah, a man of action, called upon his people to rise up and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Today we are being called in the same vein to rebuild the social and economic structures of our developed society.
“I think today tackling poverty, inequality, and unemployment, the role of the church serves as both a challenge and an invitation for us to embrace a divine mandate in effectively addressing these pressing issues.”
This call to action comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with widespread poverty, inequality, and unemployment.
