By Esther Onyegbula

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos State Chapter, has commenced a statewide faith, governance collaboration aimed at strengthening accountability, ethical leadership and social development across the state’s grassroots, in what stakeholders have described as a significant shift in church, government engagement.

The initiative, led by PFN Lagos State Chairman, Pastor Yemi Davids, and the Director of Politics and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dr. Akin Akinpelu, spans all 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State. It seeks to reposition the PFN as an active partner in civic administration, rather than a passive commentator on public affairs.
Under the programme, PFN delegations are engaging local government leadership through structured meetings with council chairmen, secretaries to local governments and other key officials, with a focus on promoting integrity, service and excellence in public office, while identifying areas of collaboration in community development.

The engagement is anchored on the New Dawn Agenda 2025, a strategic framework adopted by PFN Lagos to deepen its relevance and impact. The agenda is built on five pillars, reconciliation, relevance, revival, resources and re-envisioning, which, according to PFN, are designed to foster unity among churches, strengthen spiritual leadership, ensure sustainable resourcing for social impact and reinforce accountability and character in governance.

Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Akin Akinpelu said the statewide tour was intended to be “transformational, not ceremonial,” stressing that the church must be recognised as a critical stakeholder in nation building.
“By engaging directly with local government leadership, PFN is promoting values of integrity, service and excellence in governance, while also encouraging mutual accountability between faith leaders and public administrators,” he said.

According to him, the six-week engagement will also explore practical areas where faith-based organisations can complement government efforts, particularly in welfare delivery, education, peace building and social cohesion.

PFN Lagos Chairman, Pastor Yemi Davids, noted that the initiative reflects a deliberate effort to bridge faith-based moral values with civic administration at the level closest to the people, adding that ethical leadership remains central to sustainable development.

Observers say the engagement is timely, coming at a period when local governments play an increasingly critical role in citizens’ daily lives. By focusing on grassroots governance, PFN is positioning the faith community to constructively influence policies where they intersect with lived realities.

The fellowship said the collaboration is expected to strengthen church–government relations, open new channels for advocacy and contribute to a more accountable and progressive society, as PFN Lagos moves what it described as “from the church room to the boardroom and the council hall.”