TOWARDS MAKING NIG GREAT

PRESS RELEASE

CLERIC PROFFERS SOLUTION TOWARDS MAKING NIGERIA GREAT

A Clergyman, Rev. (Dr) Stephen Hosea Vongdip has identified what he considers as the discordance between what Nigerians are asking from their Government and what the leaders and policy makers believe is good for the citizens, as the bane of the Country’s development.
Rev. (Dr) Vongdip says Political leaders and business service providers think that because of their long years of experience in the field, they have answers to the issues concerning Nigerians which creates an arrogance of tradition that only serves to distort the perspective of such leaders. The Cleric advised people in top public and corporate leadership positions to always relate closely with their followers and consumers of their products and services, in order to better understand their needs and adequately cater for those needs. 
Rev. (Dr) Vongdip, who is the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Director of Personnel, expressed these thoughts in a book he recently authored entitled “Making Nigeria Great” which will be presented to the public on 10th December, 2016.
The Writer stressed that during periods of economic difficulties such as the current recession, the leaders owe it a duty to at least make the Country functional, but lamented the inability of the Nigerian leadership to develop a blueprint by which the Country’s different ethnic groups can live harmoniously in peace therefore making progress as a great and prosperous nation. He noted that many Nigerian leaders prefer to take advantage of such differences to fan the embers of greed, ethnicity, religious intolerance, inter-ethnic and geo-political struggle for political power and control of socio-economic resources which ensures that the citizens are unable to build and maintain relationships along such divisive lines. According to him, Nigeria’s biggest problem is neither corruption nor a bad economy, terrorism or crime which he describes as only symptoms of a bigger problem. For Rev. (Dr) Vongdip, the biggest issue militating against Nigeria’s path towards greatness is disunity fueled by negative stereotypes and prejudicial attitudes that affect our National consciousness. He attributed this partly to the divide and rule system of the colonial and post-colonial political economy, the system of resource mobilization for economic production and the unequal distribution of educational and development infrastructure.
The Clergyman called for a paradigm shift among the Country’s leadership from the current system of self enrichment and perpetuation to that which demonstrates exemplary character and integrity towards visionary and meaningful service delivery. He advised Nigerian leaders not to depend on quick fixes and social Band-Aids for superficial treatment of the Country’s developmental challenges but adopt a more pragmatic, comprehensive and long-term approach towards addressing such challenges.
For the citizens, Rev. (Dr) Vongdip advised them to begin first by asking themselves how they can contribute towards making Nigeria great, strengthen their commitment to that common goal and also hold their leaders accountable in achieving that vision.
A prolific writer, religious leader, teacher, social commentator, public speaker and counselor, Rev. (Dr) Stephen Vongdip has written Thirteen (13) books with his current publication “Making Nigeria Great” due for public presentation on 10th December, 2016 at COCIN Headquarters Church by 2.00pm. The occasion will be chaired by Ambassador Danjuma Sheni, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Defence while Professor Danladi Slim Matawal, Director General/Chief Executive, NBBRI, Abuja will be the Book Reviewer and COCIN President, Rev. (Dr) Dachollom Datiri will dedicate the Book. Professor Suleiman Bogoro, former Executive Secretary, TETfund, Abuja will present the Keynote Address.

Abdullahi Abdullahi
Chairman, Media and Publicity Sub-Committee,
“Making Nigeria Great” Book Presentation Committee