Church must move from pulpit to people, says Peter Obi

By Vincent Ujumadu

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has urged the church to take a more practical, people-centred role in youth empowerment and community development.

Speaking on the theme, “The Role of the Church in Youth Empowerment and Community Development” at the synod of the Enugu Anglican Diocese, Obi said Nigeria’s regeneration depends on the values that religious institutions instil in society.

“Preaching alone is no longer enough in a society weighed down by moral decay, unemployment, and a growing population of unskilled youths,” he said, adding that the church must move from the pulpit to the people.

Obi emphasized that religious institutions should lead in building character, which he described as the foundation for meaningful development. Commending the Enugu Catholic Diocese for its practical investments in agriculture, he highlighted his recent visit to the diocesan farm with Auxiliary Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Ernest Obodo, noting that such initiatives provide young people with skills, employment, and a pathway to sustainable community growth.

Drawing global parallels, Obi noted that countries with limited natural resources have achieved food security through disciplined productivity, contrasting it with Nigeria, where vast arable lands remain underutilized.

He stressed that while religious institutions should not interfere with governance, they must help redirect the nation toward a culture of hard work, responsibility, and productivity. Citing his conversation with Professor James Robinson, co-author of Why Nations Fail, Obi said nations stagnate not due to lack of knowledge but failure to implement what is necessary for progress—a reality Nigeria must address through institutional engagement.

Obi also highlighted the positive impact of church–state collaboration in sectors such as healthcare and education. Hospitals like Iyienu and Borromeo in Anambra State achieved higher standards and became teaching hospitals through proper support, while religious involvement in education has helped strengthen discipline and productivity among students.

He urged churches to intensify efforts in value formation, mentorship, practical skills training, and initiatives that uplift communities.

In response, the Bishop of the Diocese expressed gratitude to Obi for his consistent service to society and prayed that he would be granted opportunities to continue contributing to national development.

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