Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said Nigeria’s progress depends largely on the emergence of God-fearing leaders, stressing that ethical leadership remains critical to addressing corruption, poverty and other socio-economic challenges confronting the country.
Fubara made the remarks on Thursday while receiving the World President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler, alongside his wife, Andriene Marques Kohler, their daughter, Mariana Marques Kohler, and other senior church leaders at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Key Highlights
- Governor Fubara says Nigeria needs God-fearing leaders to achieve sustainable development.
- Rivers governor commends the Seventh-day Adventist Church for investing in education.
- Fubara links corruption, poverty and insecurity to the absence of ethical leadership.
- Church currently operates two universities in Nigeria.
- Pastor Erton Kohler says the church has over 24 million members across 212 countries.
- Thousands of church ministers are participating in a leadership empowerment conference in Nigeria.
Governor Fubara praised the Seventh-day Adventist Church for its longstanding investment in education and leadership development, noting that the denomination has continued to shape future generations through its educational institutions, including two universities in Nigeria.
He commended the church for using education not only as a platform for evangelism but also as a tool for producing responsible and morally upright leaders capable of contributing to national development.
According to the governor, religion should extend beyond the defence of faith and focus on making meaningful contributions to society through quality education, character building and service to humanity.
Fubara maintained that the country’s current challenges are largely rooted in the absence of leaders who are guided by the fear of God.
“Our country is where it is today because we lack the fear of God. If you have the fear of God, there should be a limit to what you can do because you understand the supremacy of God. But when God is not in your equation, you will go beyond the line, and that is what has brought us to where we are today.”
He added that Nigeria requires competent, well-prepared and morally upright individuals in positions of authority to drive national progress.
The governor further argued that the absence of ethical leadership has contributed to growing social inequality, poverty, corruption and criminality across the country.
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He stressed the need for a system where ordinary Nigerians can access quality education, affordable healthcare and decent housing, while also creating opportunities for graduates to compete globally.
According to him, when citizens have access to sustainable livelihoods and social security, the temptation to engage in crime and other social vices will be significantly reduced.
Fubara also thanked the visiting delegation for praying for Rivers State and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the church’s programmes and developmental initiatives in the state.
Earlier, the World President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler, said he was in Nigeria to attend a special conference aimed at empowering thousands of church ministers for more effective pastoral service and community engagement.
Kohler expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the warm reception accorded to his delegation, describing the visit as memorable.
He disclosed that the church currently has more than 24 million members, over 182,000 places of worship, and operates in 212 countries and territories around the world.
