May 05, (THEWILL) — Industry leaders have re-echoed the essence and need for giving, calling on both rich and poor to imbibe the culture of Generosity across board.
It was against this background that on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, a significant event took place at the Marriott Hotel in the Ikeja area of Lagos as a large gathering of eminent people—professionals, business leaders and heads of faith-based organisations—assembled for the first-ever Lagos Business Journey of Generosity (JOG).
The maiden Lagos Business Journey of Generosity, powered by the globally known Generosity Path, was held under the theme, “Wealth, Wisdom and Legacy: Building Impact Beyond”.
Participants were informed that at Generosity Path, this belief—that is, the growing understanding (reinforced by research findings) that generosity is a powerful force for both personal and societal transformation—is at the core of its activities.
“We journey with individuals to help them discover how they can amplify their lives through generosity—healing communities and creating lasting 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.”
As informed by the Lead Catalyst at Lagos Business JOG for West Africa and the Sahel Region, Pastor Patrick Obumselu, in his opening remarks, the JOG was not put together as a giving session, but as a biblical vision: that generosity at its core, is not about wealth.
JOG, often referred to as Generosity Path, was founded in the United States in the early 2000s by Daryl Heald, a successful businessman with a strong background in faith-based philanthropy. By 2023, what had begun as conversation among church leaders had evolved into a nationwide movement of kingdom impact, redefining what it means to be a businessperson in Africa.
As the event in Lagos progressed with presentations, the JOG began to calibrate the hearts of participants, shifting the question from “How much should I give?” Who has God made me to be”?
One of the high points of the gathering was the viewing on a giant screen of an interesting video, titled “Handful of Rice”, which summarised the essence of the JOG event. Interestingly, most discussions made at the retreat hinged largely on the video immortal lessons.
The thematic “A Handful of Rice” video focused on a tradition in Mizoram, India, where a family, despite not being too well-to-do, still set aside a handful of rice before cooking daily. What is collected from the daily handful is donated to the church. To the guests on Wednesday, the video illustration symbolised sacrificial giving, stewardship, and consistent, small actions that bring large results.
Leading the presentations, a trustee of Generosity Path and co-founder of The Kindness of Strangers, Mathew Neville, explained that generosity is not a function of wealth.
Neville noted that one common assumption amongst people is that generosity is reserved for those who are wealthy; conversely, he pointed out that, rather than being an exclusive reserve for the wealthy, generosity is a function of value.
“Generosity is not built in one donation, and wealth is not measured by accumulation of wealth but by distribution”, he said.
Advising people not to wait for expansion before they begin to be a blessing to others, Neville said, “Too often, impact is postponed until ‘when I have’. Occasionally, generosity creates moments, but consistent generosity creates movement. Generosity is often misunderstood as subtraction, but in the real sense, it is leverage. True generosity does not diminish the giver”, Neville added.
Speaking during the panel session moderated by Pastor Obumselu, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema advised people to always give, as it is one sure way to be genuinely happy.
“If you are not able to share the blessing of God, your happiness is not complete. Giving is natural. If you are earning N500, 000, you can give. It doesn’t matter how much you earn”, Onyema said.
Onyema, who stated that he established Air Peace to create jobs for people, said, “Some of you may have been there when we started. Then I said that, if my brothers and sisters in my community are not invited to my table of prosperity, my happiness becomes a ruse. I was referring to my community when I said that.”
Also speaking, another panellist, Pastor Regina Ezenwa, equally advised people to always give, saying that God is looking for channels and vessels of reaching out to people.
Pastor Ezenwa, who is a community pharmacist and the Managing Director of Rozec Pharmacy, said her ministry, The Roses Ministry, which focuses on generosity, has empowered about 3,000 widows who have registered with them.
Despite the harsh economy, Ezenwa also said that the ministry usually donates rice, clothing, household items, vegetables, toiletries and other items to persons who need them as part of giving.
The popular pharmacist, who was accompanied by her husband, Engr. Obidi Ezenwa, disclosed, “We also give through healthcare and take care of those who have hypertension and diabetes in every quarter by providing a three-month stock of drugs.
“We also sponsor the children of the widows. We have had 25 graduates whom we sponsored. We are working together to build a community of generosity.”
Earlier in his welcome address, Obumselu had urged business leaders to embed generosity into leadership practice, describing it as a catalyst for sustainable impact and inclusive growth.
Obumselu, who is also the Senior Pastor of His Presence Vineyard Church, Egbeda, Lagos, described the gathering as more than a formal event, but a movement designed to reshape how influence, wealth, and leadership are deployed in society.
Addressing an audience of industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs, he emphasised that generosity should not be viewed as an act reserved for the wealthy, but as a disciplined mindset rooted in responsibility and stewardship.
To reinforce his message, Obumselu referred to the illustrative “A Handful of Rice” story, which he recalled telling the story of a widow who consistently set aside small portions of her food despite limited means. Over time, the small acts accumulated into a resource that supported not just her, but others in times of need—demonstrating the power of consistency in giving.
He stressed that the Lagos Business JOG represents a shift from episodic philanthropy to sustained, intentional impact, noting that the concept of “JOG” symbolises continuity, movement, and long-term commitment.
According to him, effective generosity-driven leadership requires starting with available resources, maintaining consistency, and viewing giving as a multiplier rather than a reduction of wealth.
He added that even small interventions—such as mentoring one entrepreneur or supporting a single initiative—can generate significant economic and social ripple effects.
Obumselu also challenged leaders to extend their influence beyond business success into societal transformation, describing them as “architects of hope” with the capacity to bridge gaps in access, opportunity, and dignity across communities.
Highlighting practical pathways, he pointed to initiatives, such as supporting public education, funding emerging entrepreneurs, and creating inclusive employment structures, as avenues through which leaders can drive measurable change.
He concluded by calling for action, urging participants to translate inspiration into deliberate, sustained acts of generosity.
“The true measure of leadership is not how many people work for you, but how many people are better because you lived,” he said, adding that a lasting legacy is defined not by wealth accumulated, but by lives impacted.
In his presentation, African Contact Director and one of the facilitators of Generosity Path, Nigeria Business JOG, Elvis Githinji, spoke on “Sub-Saharan Africa 2025: Global Impact Report.”
Githinji made an executive synthesis of regional growth, methodological RoI and the power of catalyst multiplication measured across 12 countries.
According to him, a total regional cash released was $84,000, a highly efficient financial footprint activating massive local resource mobilisation in the 12 countries, including: Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana, DRC, Congo, Ethiopia, South Africa, Togo, Cameroon, Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire.
While documented salvations stood at 16,197, a total of 168,000 beneficiaries were impacted in the region.
He added that the 2025 Sub-Saharan portfolio demonstrates that empowering local generosity is not just an operational strategy, but a continent-wide movement.
Emphasising why the event was held in Nigeria, Githinji said: “Nigeria has so much to offer, not just to Africa, but to the world. She has people with the capacity to lead transformation”.
To Githinji, local generosity is the ultimate multiplier of global mission as it is efficiently validated, scalable and sustains the momentum.
“Generosity is not an act, but a posture. This gathering is not just another meeting but another conversation starter”, Githinji said.
Expectedly, a good number of the elated guests applauded the Lead Catalyst, Pastor Obumselu, and the team of organisers, for packaging the event, which they noted was not just the first of its kind in Nigeria, but essentially “very successful and impactful.”
One of them is the General Overseer of the Christian Life Gospel Assembly (CLGA), Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos, Hon. Apostle Samuel Nwaire (JP), who lauded the organisers, saying “Pastor Patrick and his team did a great job.”
A dyed-in-the-wool philanthropist himself, Apostle Nwaire said he has always derived joy from participating in Generosity as a call or ministry right from childhood, adding, “Prior to my maturity in life, I had been inadvertently a crusader and strong disciple or advocate of ‘Generosity Movement.”
The CLGA General Overseer commended the event, stating, “The Journey of Generosity Business Conference in Lagos was a practical gathering of high-end personalities in the ministry and marketplace, to review wealth creation impact on kingdom service.
“This, in my opinion, is a way to go—though it requires further engagement on ways, means and Kingdom Strategies of deployment.”
Other participants who extolled the hosting of Lagos Business JOG and the organisers included the Chairman of Abagana Welfare Union (Lagos branch), Barr. Peter Ezeugo Ozobialu (Ezeugo); Barr. Frank Ezekwueche and Chief Ejike Anigbogu.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
