The federal government has been urged to engage prominent Christian leaders, including Bishop David Oyedepo, Dr Paul Enenche, Pastor David Ibiyeomie and Pastor Korede Komaiya, to explore how their institutions could contribute to addressing Nigeria’s development challenges.

The Convener of the Concern Christian Youth Forum, Paul Adama said the four clerics had established religious institutions with structures and initiatives in education, healthcare, transportation, employment generation, infrastructure and poverty reduction that could offer useful lessons for national development.

He said, “The churches led by these prominent Christian leaders have established institutional structures and community-based initiatives that could provide useful lessons for national development. Their contributions extend beyond religious activities to include education, healthcare, transportation, employment generation, infrastructure development, poverty reduction and human capital development.”

Adama cited transportation arrangements operated by the churches, which enable worshippers and participants at their programmes to attend services without paying fares, describing them as examples of organised social support.

He also highlighted their investments in education through the establishment of primary and secondary schools as well as universities equipped with modern learning facilities.

On healthcare, the CCYF convener said the religious organisations had supported medical outreaches, provided financial assistance to patients, sponsored surgeries and assisted Nigerians requiring specialised medical treatment abroad.

He added that scholarship programmes operated by the churches had created opportunities for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to acquire professional qualifications.

Adama said, “These interventions in education and healthcare demonstrate how faith-based institutions can support human capital development and complement government efforts to improve access to essential services.”

He further identified investments in electricity generation, roads, pedestrian bridges and water facilities as examples of infrastructure development by the religious institutions.

On employment, Adama claimed that the four church organisations collectively provided jobs for more than 300,000 people across different sectors, including education, healthcare, hospitality, logistics and administration.

He said their activities also generated economic opportunities for businesses in communities hosting their conventions and international conferences.

“Large-scale conventions and international conferences attract participants from different parts of the world, creating economic opportunities for hotels, transport operators, traders, food vendors and other businesses in host communities,” he said.

Beyond infrastructure and economic activities, Adama said religious institutions could contribute to social transformation through counselling, moral instruction, family development, entrepreneurship training and programmes aimed at discouraging destructive lifestyles.

He also identified institutional discipline, resource management and long-term planning as areas from which public administrators and development practitioners could draw useful lessons.

Adama proposed that the federal government initiate a structured engagement with Oyedepo, Enenche, Ibiyeomie and Komaiya to examine their institutional experiences and identify practices that could complement public development programmes.

He stressed that such an engagement should focus on practical outcomes rather than political considerations or ceremonial recognition.

“The proposed engagement should not be politically motivated or limited to ceremonial recognition, but should focus on practical discussions around education, healthcare delivery, employment, infrastructure, social welfare, entrepreneurship and community development,” he said.

The convener maintained that Nigeria could benefit from the experiences of faith-based organisations, non-governmental institutions and private-sector initiatives in addressing its development challenges.

He added that collaboration with such institutions could complement existing government efforts to improve living conditions and expand development opportunities across the country.