Speaking on
Monday at the official opening ceremony of the second Session of the 34th Synod
of the Diocese of Lagos, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) at Our
Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, Governor Sanwo-Olu said COVID-19
has shown in reality that people need to pray and therefore implored the people
of Lagos State to continue to pray.
The Governor
of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has charged Nigerians, especially
Christians to pray to God, serve and do their best for the growth of their
respective faith, State and the nation at large.
The Governor,
who disclosed that Monday September 7, 2020 would be the first day in over six
months that he is entering into “House of the Lord,’ thanked God for sparing
his life and millions of Lagosians, especially members of the Diocese of Lagos
to witness this year’s Synod even as Lagos State continues to see a reduction
in the numbers of confirmed cases of coronavirus.
Stressing the
need for Christians to pray and serve in reference to the Synod theme “Pray,
Serve and Grow” with Romans 12:11 as reference scripture, Governor Sanwo-Olu
said the theme of the Synod was apt because for all to build a ‘Greater Lagos’
there is need for people to pray to God, serve and do their best for growth of
the State.
Governor
Sanwo-Olu, who started his Goodwill Message with songs and appreciation to God,
said: “Following the rude, unexpected and difficult events of COVID – 19 which
we have all witnessed in Year 2020 beginning from early December 2019 in Wuhan
city of China, there can be not better befitting theme for our Synod than to
“Pray, Serve and Grow (Romans 12:11 says ‘not lagging in diligence, fervent in
spirit, serving the Lord.’
“We are to
pray in order to acknowledge our limitations as human beings because God
remains sovereign. He remains the Supreme God; He knows it all and he is in
charge of all circumstances we human beings might face.
“Service to
the Lord is serving one another; it is about loving one another, supporting one
another. Serving the Lord is serving one another in active ingredients of the
work of our faith, which without one another, we are all dead as said James
2:17 ‘Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.’
“It is
therefore pertinent to say that we can surely grow spiritually and in every
wise, when we pray and serve the Lord. As we begin to regain our lives again as
a Church, State and nation, the best way possible for us is to stand on our
feet and to stand resolute in faith and believing that God is always with us.”
Sanwo-Olu,
while stressing the importance of prayer and service to growth of Lagos State,
said: “For us in Lagos, to build a ‘Greater Lagos’, we certainly need to hold
on to God. We certainly need to pray. We certainly need to use God as an
instrument of contact for all of us because of what we have gone through in
2020.
“It was said
that we would be taking dead bodies on the streets. But thank Almighty God, He
kept all of us during the COVID-19 pandemic. We had less than two per cent of
fatality in Lagos when the statistics had projected we would have 10 to 15 per
cent.
“What we
preach and heard in the Bible is here with us in today’s reality. COVID-19 has
shown us in reality that we need to pray and this is why we will continue to
pray in Lagos State. We need to serve wherever we find ourselves. Whatever we
found our hands to do, let us do it well. Let us do it for the best of
intentions because we do not know who is watching.
“And of
course we need to grow. We need to grow in the house of God. We need to grow as
a people. We need to grow as a nation. We need to grow as a denomination. We
need to grow as a Diocese.”
Sanwo-Olu
commended all the frontline workers for their readiness to serve the State
passionately during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Service in
the context of the times we are in and in line with Apostle Paul’s admonition
to the Romans to serve eagerly and earnestly is being exemplified by our
frontline health workers who have remained steadfast in offering selfless
service even at the risk of their lives and those of their families,” he said.
The Governor
also commended religious leaders in Lagos State, especially the Diocese of
Lagos for their support and cooperation in ensuring strict adherence to the
directive of the State government in respect of COVID 19 pandemic.
Governor
Sanwo-Olu, said despite over 18,000 people testing positive to coronavirus infection,
the State recorded less than two per cent fatality.
He,
therefore, commiserated and sympathised with the families, congregation,
friends and people of all faiths and tribes that lost their loved ones during
the pandemic.
In his
address, Bishop Humphrey Olumakaiye, who described Sanwo-Olu as indefatigable
and result-oriented, said the governor had approved the construction of the
road leading to the Centenary City of the Diocese and mobilised contractors to
move to site.
He also
commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for showing leadership in managing the COVID-19
pandemic in Lagos State as well as delivering on some of his campaign promises
in line with “Greater Lagos” agenda, which is being carried out through the
T.H.E.M.E.S. developmental agenda of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.
Also speaking
at the event, Primate and Metropolitan of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican
Communion), Most Rev Henry Ndukuba, who was represented by the Bishop of the Diocese
of Lagos West, Rt. Revd Olusola Odedeji, wished the Diocese of Lagos a fruitful
synod and also commended Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
The Dean
Emeritus and the immediate past Bishop of Diocese of Lagos, Most Rev Ephraim
Ademowo commended Bishop Olumakaiye for the great works he is doing in the
diocese, noting that he is happy that the incumbent bishop has taken the Diocese
of Lagos to a greater height.
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