PROTOCOLS

It is with gratitude to Almighty God that I address you today on this occasion of the bi-annual Regional Convention of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, holding in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

I am indeed glad to welcome the national and regional officials of the Fellowship, the various Christian Ministers and galaxy of prominent businessmen who are gathered here for this convention. This is no doubt, an indication of your commitment to upholding the dictates of the word of God in the conduct of business and professional endeavours.

It is also gratifying to note that this convention is being held at a time when the need to reaffirm the role of religion in stability and development is crucial. I therefore, urge you to use this convention to admonish your members on the correct application of Christian values in the pursuit of peace and harmony.

In Nasarawa State, our Administration considers religion as a veritable tool for communal understanding and peaceful co-existence. Accordingly, we have given the spiritual development of our people adequate priority in our 13-point Agenda, as well as in the implementation of various development policies and programmes.

It may interest you to know that this Administration has taken various measures to ensure religious harmony and understanding between people of different religious persuasions in the State. These include the setting up of an inter-religious committee to discuss and resolve all issues of potential misunderstanding. Only recently, I also approved the appointment of two senior special assistants, one on Islamic affairs and the other on Christian affairs, to ensure proper liaison and understanding between the Government and various religious bodies and organisations.

Ladies and gentlemen, this convention accords me the opportunity to once again call on all religious leaders to espouse the virtues of love, charity, good neighbourliness, peaceful coexistence and respect for individual opinions and one another. I therefore call on all delegates, to reflect on these virtues for the good of all.

I am informed that the vision of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship is to strengthen its members in the application of biblical teachings as they conduct their business and professional lives. You must therefore endeavour to make this vision a reality in your individual and corporate lives as you interact with each other during this convention.

At this juncture, permit me to take liberty of this occasion to inform all delegates that Nasarawa State has investment opportunities in agriculture, Solid Minerals, Tourism, and Real Estate Development. In this connection, I invite investors amongst you to take advantage of our investor friendly policies, such as quick access to land titles, tax holidays and security of investments.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to conclude this address by urging you all to take out time during your stay in Nasarawa State to visit our tourist sites and enjoy the warm hospitality of our people.

On this note, it is now my pleasure to declare this Regional Convention of the Full Gospel Business Men Fellowship International, open.

Thank you and God bless.