A Christian group has emphasised the need to reinfuse purposeful leadership, which aligns with the timeless values of Christianity in the various sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The Connect Group, a unit within The Covenant Nation, Abuja, which comprises professionals, made the declaration when it assembled corporate executives and business leaders together in the highbrow Maitama district of the Nigerian capital city on Wednesday October 15, 2025.
The roundtable themed, “Leading With Purpose: Reclaiming the Soul of the Marketplace”, which debuted with about 20 business leaders from diverse sectors of the economy, is expected to hold more frequently and admit more attendees in order to spread the critical nation building messages.
In his keynote address, Victor Prince Dickson stressed the need to utilise the wisdom of Jesus Christ when he said, “I send you out as sheep among wolves but be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove.”
He, therefore, exhorted that they might need to create a structure, a living strategy that has the capacity to manage the various challenges that come with a dynamic environment.
Speaking to newsmen on what inspired the meeting, Dickson said, “We want to build good Nigerians who will build a good Nigeria.”
Architect Moradeke Okunrinboye was asked by newsmen whether in her reckoning, the church itself as it currently stands mirrors critical business values such as partnership considering recent happenings where some leaders were believed to have treated loyal and dedicated lieutenants who started the journey with them with ignominy at the end.
Okunrinboye responded, “The way we have done things in the past, we cannot continue that way. We are bleeding so much because we haven’t thought about what we stand to gain in the future beyond now. Thankfully, we have other church leaders who are working with other leaders to bring the church together.”
Another participant, Mrs Abimbola Uloko, of SAB Africa believed that we needed to push the message of integrity through story telling to our younger ones and that as bad as the situation may look, we still have good people in Nigeria both within and outside the church that the youngsters can emulate.
“We just have to make deliberate effort in picking them out and using them as templates of what it is to walk with integrity,” Uloko added
According to the communique issued at the end of the event signed by the Head of Department of the Connect Group, Victor Prince Dickson and the Lead, Corporate Executives, Moradeke Okunrinboye, “The session served as a solution-driven platform for participants to explore how integrity, excellence, and accountability can be re-infused into enterprise, governance, and national development toward building a sustainable and values-driven marketplace.”
Highlights of the discussions as contained in the communique centred around reaffirming identity and ideals, rewriting the narrative, progression from ideation to implementation, amplifying kingdom values and shared vision.
“Participants agreed that a proper education of identity — knowing who we are, what we
stand for, and the ideals we uphold — is the foundational issue that must be intentionally
taught and embedded across all spheres of influence.
“It was emphasized that there is a pressing need to reshape prevailing mindsets by
promoting integrity, ownership, and excellence as non-negotiable standards for personal
and institutional growth.
“The group collectively acknowledged the importance of translating ideas into action
through a clear roadmap and deliberate action plan, anchored on a shared vision and welldefined end goals.
“Participants recognized that taking bold steps and calculated risks will be necessary to amplify the Kingdom mandate — the voice of Christian values and biblical ideals — within the marketplace as a force for positive societal transformation.
“With a shared vision of a marketplace where right ideals and renewed mindsets drive productivity, fairness guides opportunity, and responsibility shapes growth. We believe that the soul of the marketplace can be reclaimed when leaders model integrity, nurture trust, mentor the next generation, and provide purposeful support that fosters growth and ownership.
“The group pledged their commitment to Mentorship and Discipleship according to Biblical principles; Active Civic Engagement:
to participate actively in grassroots politics;
Promoting Ownership Mindsets as well as Sustaining the Initiative.
“As Christian stewards of enterprise and governance, we reaffirm our shared responsibility to lead with vision, virtue, and faith-based conviction.
“Together, we pledge to be catalysts of
transformation — restoring the moral and ethical foundation upon which enduring prosperity is built,” the communique stated.
