By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Founder and Leader of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Mensa Otabil has called on the church to take the lead in addressing Africa’s pressing challenges.
Speaking at the maiden Central Aid Lecture, Dr. Otabil emphasized that if nations cannot implement solutions, the church must step in. He cited Africa’s diverse problems, including famine, poverty, human rights abuse, and corruption.
“The church is the primary moral compass for lifelong learning and a wealthy society. Every leadership model not pinned to Christ-like leadership will never produce sustainable solutions,” Dr. Otabil stressed.
He noted that Africans often discuss problems but fail to propose concrete solutions. To address this, Dr. Otabil recommended adopting a culture of precision and accuracy and creating a future-minded culture and fostering a culture of cause and effect, lastly embracing a culture of trust and merit
The Central Aid Lecture, themed “Post-Independence Africa: The Role of Church and State in Shaping Thought Leadership,” highlighted the organization’s impact. Since its inception, Central Aid has supported over 6,000 students with financial aid and technical support and provided community assistance to needy institutions as part of ICGC’s corporate social responsibility
Dr. Otabil’s call to action emphasizes the church’s critical role in driving sustainable solutions for Africa’s challenges.