It is with great
excitement and some sense of fulfillment deep down my heart, I write to welcome
you to yet another very loaded edition of your favourite paper.
Where we most often
miss it in influencing our world is in our inability to put our talent- minas –
money to use in our spheres of influence. So I have decided to spend some good
time in trying to establish and define what the marketplace is – for everyone
reading this page right now. The Lord will have us stand for Him as the light of the
world and salt of the earth, to show forth His glory in the seven gates of
human society, otherwise called the marketplace. The seven gates are business,
government, media, arts, entertainment, family and religion.
The thrust of our
discussion in this edition however, is our presence – impact- influence as
defined above: market place. As seen in the parable of the Talents (our key
study text i.e. Luke 19:12-13) we can all agree that the Lord establishes that
He trusts and believes in us, by committing gifts, resources and
responsibilities to us to engage with, in serving His purpose until He returns.
The marketplace can
be described as the very fulcrum of the society where people engage regularly,
often daily, in activities to support their lives generally. This may include
their social, economic, physical, mental, spiritual, family, environmental and
political lives. The marketplace, therefore consists of man’s natural habitat,
inclinations and occupation in all generations.
We can see from Jesus'
perspective that nowhere does He suggest directly or indirectly that believers
should be content with enjoying their corner in the church, singing, praying,
fellowshipping etc. awaiting His return. Rather, he said, “Occupy till I come.”
Examples abound in
human history both nationally and internationally, of men and women who through
faith in God, did left their footprints on the sands of time by exploring their
talents and gifts to improve their communities positively: men such as the
great Music Composer – George Fredrick Handel 1685- 1757, he premiered the
evergreen Messiah on April 13 1742 as a charitable benefit, raising 400 pounds
and freeing 142 men from debtors’ prison. A year later, Handel staged Messiah
in London, with the king of England in attendance. As the first notes of the
Triumphant Halleluyah Chorus rang out, the king rose, following a royal
protocol, the entire audience stood up too, initiating a tradition that has
lasted for more than two centuries now. ‘Messiah,’ as noted by one biographer
“has fed the hungry, clothed the naked, fostered the orphan more than any other
single musical production in this country or any country, perhaps the works of
no other composer has so largely contributed to the relief of human suffering.
We also have the likes
of William Wilberforce 1759 – 1833, a Politician who headed the parliamentary
campaign against slave trade for twenty years until the passage of the Slave
Trade Act of 1807. Wilberforce died just three days after hearing that the
passage of the Act went through parliament. He attributed his action to him
being largely influenced by his newfound faith as an evangelical Christian,
which resulted in major changes to his lifestyle and a lifelong concern for
social reforms and progress.
The likes of Dietrich
Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) – a Pastor who at a time when many in Germany made
concessions to the Nazi regime, Bonhoeffer stood strong and true for the
integrity of the gospel. He worked to thwart the plans of Hitler and to
strengthen the underground Church. When he was offered safety in
America, he chose to return to Germany, to stand with his countrymen. In the
end, he was executed by the Nazi, just a few days before the camp where he
spent his last days was liberated by the allies. Many of his ideas are critical
to the modern theological dialogue: ‘the world has come of age’, ‘religionless
Christianity’, ‘cheap grace’ and ‘costly grace’ to name
a few. He causes us to think deeply about what it means to live as
a Christian in the twenty-first century. Here was a man of
passion, conviction, and gentle spirituality, whose life story is as inspiring
as his work.
In the home front
also, examples of men whose footprints on the sands of time can not be too
quickly erased include the likes of Professor Ishaya Shua’ibu Audu (1927-2007),
a Medical Director, a native of Ikara, Zaria, Kaduna state. The first
indigenous Vice Chancellor of the great Ahmadu Bello University, who also
doubled as the Honourary Personal Physician to the then, Premier of Northern
Nigeria. In his words, “Preaching is the core calling of every Christian in any
vocation he finds himself.” Accordingly, he got involved in politics to preach
in action. He rose to become the Minister of External Affairs (as it
was then called) after which he became the Permanent Representative of Nigerian
to the United Nations, New York (1983-1985). The NHIS enjoyed by millions of
Nigerians today, was one of his footprints in the quest for improved access to
medical care for millions of Nigerians. It happened during the tenure of
Olusegun Obasanjo who had invited the Professor to serve Honorarily in his
government (1999- 2007). He was an embodiment of virtue and expertise, a
disciplinarian and quintessential Christian. Though he became a prisoner in the
hands of military intruders into the politics of his time, he did not relent in
standing for what his convictions were. He passed into glory leaving behind a
legacy that is impacting the whole country immensely till date.
On the cover, Audu
Maikori, a Lawyer & Executive Vice
Chairman, Chocolate City, a man of many parts, a Creative Industry Expert,
Social Activist; he believes that Christianity shouldn’t be seen as a religion,
rather, it is a way of life. In this interview, he posits that no matter, our
disposition and area of calling, we are all here for a purpose. He shared a lot with us on the expectations of
Nigerians from the newly elected government of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu/APC
government in Nigeria; the vast opportunities in the Arts and Entertainment
industry in Nigeria. It sure promises to be a worthwhile reading. In our
Discourse Corner, Isaac Okpanachi x-rays the activities of the 2023 General
Elections and the principal actors i.e. Independent National Electoral Commission,
the Politicians and the Church as a body.
It is our prayer that
the lessons and the takeaways will be instructive in waking us up to our call
to occupy even in the field of governance and politics, for we are being
reminded that only those who use their talents wisely shall be rewarded.
Happy reading.
Fiat Voluntuas tua.
Taiye Ojo.
May 2023
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