Business Leaders Advocate Culture of Generosity at Lagos Forum

Fadekemi Ajakaiye

Business executives, faith leaders and professionals have stressed the importance of cultivating a lifestyle of generosity, describing it as a pathway to personal fulfilment, sustainable leadership and societal transformation.

The call was made at the maiden Lagos Business Journey of Generosity (JOG), held at the Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja under the theme: “Wealth, Wisdom and Legacy: Building Impact Beyond.”

The event, powered by Generosity Path⁠�, brought together entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and heads of faith-based organisations to discuss how generosity can reshape business leadership and community development.

Speakers at the gathering argued that generosity should not be seen merely as charitable giving reserved for the wealthy, but as a disciplined culture capable of transforming lives and institutions.

Scientific studies referenced during the forum reinforced the argument. Research conducted by the University of California and associated institutions has shown that acts of generosity and altruistic behaviour are linked to lower blood pressure, reduced systemic inflammation and improved overall health outcomes.

Additional studies, participants noted, also suggest that generous people tend to live longer and healthier lives, strengthening the growing belief that kindness benefits both society and the individual.

Lead Catalyst for Lagos Business JOG in West Africa and the Sahel Region, Pastor Patrick Obumselu, said the initiative was designed to redefine the purpose of wealth and influence.

According to him, the gathering was more than a conference, describing it instead as a movement aimed at reshaping leadership through service and impact.

“We see life and business not merely as avenues for success, but as strategic platforms for purpose, where profit is reimagined as a tool for impact and service,” he stated.

Obumselu explained that generosity is rooted not in financial abundance, but in stewardship and responsibility.

Journey of Generosity, founded in the United States in the early 2000s by businessman and philanthropist Daryl Heald, has grown from a series of conversations among church leaders into a global movement focused on faith-driven philanthropy and impact leadership.

A major highlight of the Lagos event was the screening of an inspirational video titled “A Handful of Rice,” which illustrated how consistent small acts of giving can produce transformative societal outcomes.

The documentary focused on a tradition in Mizoram, India, where families set aside a handful of rice daily before cooking and donate the accumulated rice to support vulnerable households through the church.

Participants said the story symbolised sacrificial giving, stewardship and the power of consistency.

Trustee of Generosity Path and co-founder of The Kindness of Strangers, Mathew Neville, told participants that generosity should not be postponed until financial success is attained.

“Generosity is not built in one donation, and wealth is not measured by accumulation, but by distribution,” he said.

“Occasional generosity creates moments, but consistent generosity creates movement.”

During a panel session moderated by Pastor Obumselu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace⁠�, Allen Onyema, urged Nigerians to embrace giving as a pathway to lasting happiness.

“If you are not able to share the blessing of God, your happiness is not complete,” Onyema stated. “If you are earning N500, you can still give. It doesn’t matter how much you earn.”

He said the establishment of Air Peace was inspired by the need to create jobs and expand opportunities for others within society.

Also speaking, community pharmacist and Managing Director of Rozec Pharmacy⁠�, Pastor Regina Ezenwa, disclosed that her outreach platform, The Roses Ministry, has empowered about 3,000 widows through welfare and educational support initiatives.

According to her, the ministry regularly distributes food items, clothing, household essentials and healthcare support despite prevailing economic challenges.

“We also take care of people with hypertension and diabetes every quarter by providing a three-month stock of drugs,” she said, adding that the ministry had sponsored the education of 25 graduates from vulnerable backgrounds.

In another presentation, African Contact Director and facilitator of Generosity Path Nigeria Business JOG, Elvis Githinji, presented the “Sub-Saharan Africa 2025 Global Impact Report,” highlighting the organisation’s growing influence across 12 African countries.

According to him, regional mobilisation efforts generated significant community impact, reaching over 168,000 beneficiaries and supporting thousands of faith and development initiatives.

“Nigeria has so much to offer not just to Africa, but to the world,” Githinji said. “Local generosity remains the ultimate multiplier because it is scalable, sustainable and efficient.”

Participants at the event commended the organisers for what many described as a pioneering initiative capable of inspiring a new generation of generosity-driven leadership.

Among those who praised the programme was General Overseer of the Christian Life Gospel Assembly, Apostle Samuel Nwaire, who described the gathering as a timely platform for reviewing how wealth creation can be deployed for societal and kingdom impact.

For many attendees, the Lagos Business JOG represented not just a conference, but the beginning of a broader conversation on how business leaders can become architects of hope and transformation in society.