A financial expert and the Chief Executive Officer of AfriSwiss Capital Assets Management Limited, Kalu Aja, has said that churches have to concentrate on wealth creation to build the Nigerian economy.
Nigeria has some churches with a capacity of over 100,000 members in a single gathering.
The Hand of God Cathedral owned by the Salvation Ministries has sitting capacity of 120,000 members, while the Glory Dome owned by Dunamis International Gospel Centre has sitting capacity of 100,000 members in a single gathering.
Some of the churches boast of members in their millions, while founders flaunt wealth.
But Aja argued that the church has failed in harnessing the power of the crowd to save the Nigerian economy.
Nigeria’s unemployment rate is growing at an alarming rate of 33.3 per cent which translates to 23.2 million jobless people. Most of them are youths, according to the National Bureau of Statistics report published in March 2021.
Aja told THE WHISTLER that churches and pastors should be a vehicle that drives employment and economic growth in the country.
The financial expert said, “I am not talking about religion. I am talking business, wealth creation, leveraging the power of the crowd.
“What is the point of Church service if the congregation is hungry? After Jesus preached, he fed them. Christianity is a verb. The Church should be showing how to survive a harsh economy.
“What has your church done for your brand and product lately? You attend a 100,000 church, but that church can’t print a brochure and showcase a new brand every week for free?
“Has your church organised a ‘promote my hustle day’? Where the church will rent a trade fair and you can show your product for free? Or does your church own a shop in a market where you can display your SME products?”
The CEO however listed four ways Nigerian churches and their founders can salvage their members from poverty and joblessness.
The AfriSwiss boss said, churches could, “Train them (members) to start business; gve them the advantage of low-cost credit; promote their brands and reduce their costs.”