There are clear indications that any business not backed by God would hardly survive the test of time. This was the submission of Very Rev. Fr. Richard Fasuyi, Parish Priest, St. Cyprian Catholic Church, Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos, at a business summit themed: “Grow your business, multiply your profit”, held at the expansive Canaan hall of the Church, Saturday, August 26, 2023. In his opening address at the event, organised by the Church Empowerment Committee, Fr. Fasuyi backed up his argument with a biblical quotation from Acts of Apostles 5: 38-39, when Gamaliel a Pharisee and teacher of the law warned, “If what they planned and done is of human origin, it will disappear.
But if it comes from God, you cannot possibly defeat them”. According to him, the sub theme of the summit, entitled: “In the light of populorum progressio” is in line with Pope Paul encyclical issued in 1967 stating that the human being possesses body and soul with water and blood in his vein, and the physical aspect is for him to grow, expand and multiply. The idea behind populorum progressio he said, is that humans must develop and progress, just as Pope Francis introduced Laudato Si’ to draw attention to excessive exploitation and abuse of the earth we call our common home, among other harmful activities that expose the world to danger, such as flooding, pollution, among other preventable disasters.
The encyclical of Pope Paul, he maintained, is aimed at eradicating poverty and inequality that exist in the world today where the more technologically advanced nations lord it over the lesser and poorer countries with intention of buying them off. He said that the disparity must stop, noting that it is the stand of the Church. “There must be social justice, the richer nations should be at the service of the poorer ones. The concept of integral ecology and consideration for the earth, our common heritage should not be compromised”, emphasising that the world must live in mutual relationship putting God at the centre.
The Guest Speaker, Sir Nosa Ehigiator, KSM, spoke extensively on business ideology as a common denominator around the world, but said poverty is with us because not everybody wants to do something; ordinary people who dare, take extraordinary step to become rich. In business development, he cited the example of a growing child who must first crawl, then learn to walk, falls and gets up again. “One should see challenges as opportunity to put more efforts, but stay focused. Spending less on profit made, desist from the habit of buying expensive wears, shoes, Aso-ebi”, he said ruins one’s business. Sir Ehigiator also emphasised on choosing a brand, registering same, stating the vision and mission.
A business should spread the risk by insuring it. He warned that a business man or woman shouldn’t go borrowing, but rather save some money and start small. For Engr. Chuks Nzei, a successful business man and Guest Speaker, emphasised on satisfying the customers’ needs paying attention to deadlines. He said, “above all, one must have integrity and the required skills to excel. The individual must also sacrifice at times.” Rev. Fr. Ebuka Afomah, Assistant Parish Priest, talked on spirituality, insisting that as Catholics, God comes first before every other thing.
