IC-BEC 2014: SPORTS MINISTER URGES ALL TO IMBIBE KINGDOM PRINCIPLES

Honourable Minister of Sports, Hon. (Dr.) Tammy Danagogo has urged businessmen, politicians among others in diverse areas of endeavour to always imbibe kingdom principles in every of their dealings so as to achieve with integrity, compete healthily and ensure equity, justice and fairplay at all times.

The minister made this assertion while speaking as Special guest of honour, at the 4th International Christian Business Exhibition and Conference, IC-BEC 2014 held at the prestigious Atrium hall, at Stadium road in Port Harcourt on Monday. He explained that with kingdom principles we are sure to achieve all that we hope to achieve drawing inferences that principles as demonstrated in the word of God is so rich that its sure to give us far reaching and true knowledge of understanding, and how to apply such understanding to our circumstances to transform our wisdom to a realizable dream.

Speaking shortly before officially declaring the conference and exhibition programme open, the Minister cited 2 Timothy 2 vs 6 and noted that 'the fruit of the vineyard belongs to our father God', however he was quick to remind us that the scripture also said that 'he that laboureth shall be the first partaker'. Pointing out that labour in this context is not limited to the conventional physical labour but also a combination of intellectual and spiritual labour. He said God has given us talents to exploit upon, excel and to better our lot. However he lamented that a lot of people have failed to take that bold step and advantage bestowed on them by God. He called for a change of attitude, urging attendees to begin afresh by taking advantage of the IC-BEC event to reorient themselves.

The honourable minister commended the Market Place Apostles Empowerment Foundation, MPAEF organizers of the International Christian Business Exhibition and Conference, IC-BEC 2014 on their role in impacting the people to ensure they shed more light to improve on lives, open our hearts to new realities and most of direct us to always imbibe the kingdom principles.

In his separate presentation the MD/CEO of Visible Impact, Fela Durotoye said he has a revelation that Nigeria will be the most sought after country by the year 2025. He said what he and a whole lot of others are presently doing is a conscious attempt to build people that will in turn build the nation as charged by the Almighty God.

Drawing his inferences from the Bible he said it is Biblical that if you do not prosper you can go to hell, and lamented that a lot of people have talents and potentials but do not profit from it. He said people should begin to make themselves relevant so much so that the impact they make can be measured by the vaccum their absence creates.

He said government cannot help everyone but their job is to create an enabling environment. According to him the economy of a country contrary to popular view can altruistically be measured by the summation of the wellbeing of the people and not by the gross domestic products (GDP).

Durotoye described POVERTY or POOR as PASSING OVER OPPORTUNITIES REPEATEDLY, saying we must endeavour to build the spirit of enterprise doctored in kingdom principles.

Making a presentation he titled: Generation, Empowerment, Motivated, Stirred, To, Operate, Natural, Excellence abbreviated in GEMSTONE he said Africa is the bastion of civilization as we have the resources and individual potentials to be what we want to be and how we want to shape our nation and continent.

The visible Impact CEO said a whole lot of people try to emulate the person of Christ but regrettably do not emulate his principles. He said the person of Christ has joy unspeakable, Peace that passeth all understanding and Hope which are some of the falklouts of kindom principles.

He said God wants to build men who would build the nation, but God can use an unbeliever where men of God has failed to achieve Time and chance. He stressed that we all have what it takes to build the nation but it has to start with us.

To build the nation to profit ourselves, Durotoye implored us to do three basic things,

1) set world class standards and excellence for our products,

2) Create world class products with ethnic undertone-global products on local needs otherwise known as a glocal strategy'

3) Engage the heart of the people and empower the people to be financially independent.

He also advised we endeavour to pay our tithes as Christians because God owns our money, life and everything hence the need to show appreciation to give back for his continued work on earth from the flock he has given to you.

The convener of the programme and President of Market Place Apostles Empowerment Foundation, MPAEF, Pastor Uche Onochie while speaking to newsmen said he is elated as the fourth edition is bigger and better, adding that there are more resource persons and exhibitors for this year. Hear him: “IC-BEC is an annual gathering of businesses and business owners from all over the world who believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the values of integrity and excellence in business which the Lord represents.

He said the Lord has been faithful seeing the event through in the last three editions, he said the conference theme for this year is: Transforming SME's As the Catalyst to Unlocking Economic Development in Nigeria' and said he is sure the conference will achieve its objective of unlocking vistas of opportunity and is absolutely free for all attendees.

The market Pplace Apostles President expressed hope that the 2014 edition which is fourth in the series would be a resounding success, saying this has already been demonstrated by the quality of conference speakers and personalities including the honourable Minister of Sport in attendance.

Onochie also emphasized the need to entrench in ourselves the kingdom principles, saying men of integrity and Christian minded businessmen can achieve even more at the market place with such principle. According to him, the Marketplace Apostles Empowerment Foundation is a non-governmental, non-denominational and non-profit organization completely committed to transforming the marketplace by raising pastors in the business/commerce world with the expertise, wisdom and integrity to carry on.

Billed to make presentation at the conference which started on Monday 15 September to Saturday 20th September 2014, include, PHCCIMA Treasurer, Stella Agada JP, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, Mr. Wale Onaolapo, Mr. Ojo Akin-Longe, Mrs Cleo Simon-Hart, Mr Olakunle Soriyan, MD of the promise fast food , Pst Oluwatobin Alabi, and Rev Mosy Madugba among others.