₦airaland Forum

The world's new architectural wonder and the largest church auditorium on earth, the 100,000-capacity Glory Dome, was finished and dedicated with mouths left widely agape. And the half of the world can't help but wonder how it was possible in such a setting, without the inclusion of the efforts of any external or international construction firm.

As is usual with the Nigerian mentality, many Nigerians could only see the investment as irrelevant and a misplaced priority. The social media has been awash by thought that what the country needed was a private social infrastructure such as a health center, an event center, or a public organisation of that grand structure, and not another of the many religious investments...and I laugh!

The fact is, those who are of this ill-thought-out perception are myopic, thoughtless and lack proper insight. Not talking about the fact that God deserves a structure as big as that, the current Nigerian social state is such that doesn't support or command tourism – an economic aspect in which developed countries generate billions of dollars from every month. Nigerians can spend millions to go to Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem but cannot support the alternatives that are being put up here!

The Glory Dome is now one of the world's wonders and the inflow of tourists and consequently, economic benefits, more than a single private or public business organization, which it will command will surprise many.

Currently, the likes of The Synagogue and Winners are the largest commander of tourism in Nigeria. The thousands of employment opportunities, foreign exchange inflow and investments religious tourism brings cannot be overestimated. I think it's high time we stopped looking at the religious sector as anti-govermment because we think it doesn't generate public revenue i.e. nonpayment of taxes, or give social services, apart from the spiritual growth it focuses on.

Of course, spiritual investments solely do not guarantee societal and behavioral changes, but is there anything wrong in having structures the likes of Rome, Mecca, etc use in getting social and economic growth?

In terms of employment opportunities, the Dunamis International's Glory Dome engaged over 5,000 indigenous construction workers. And it's still going to command hundreds of salaried workers for its day-to-day running. It doesn't matter what strategies used and the way we do it, this country has to be free of the shackles of chronic unemployment.

THE GLORY DOME: MAJOR CONCERNS
My only concern about the new structure is in its safety. It's going to house tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people, both from the country and from around the world, on a weekly basis. But is the structure safe enough for that number?

In a recent interview, Dr. Paul Enenche, the founder of Dunamis International, while explaining how the structure was accomplished with zero debt or borrowing, made a claim of fact which exposed what could be a major concern about the building's safety.

He said:
"There are very few in the world. Then, you are again spanning 274 metres. A football pitch is 90 metres, that means two football pitches under one roof without a pillar. That is a wonder."

Yeah, you have it! An 100,000-seater auditorium without a single standing pole or pillar to support the bulging and magnanimous roof. I'm not a structural engineer or an architect, but don't that sound eerie? I hope it portends no ill fate but my thought is that a structure built to last for probably tens or hundreds of years is supposed to have better safety assurances.

The fact the engineering and construction was carried out without engaging any local or internationally-renowned construction firm also calls the safety into question. In fact, Pastor Enenche said all the architects, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, etc were selected from the church, not even among the experienced private construction firms in the country or around the world.

There have been countless of architectural and engineering disasters in recent months and years, we do not have the heart so wild to bear another heartbreak so mercuric as those of the Synagogue 2014 disaster which claimed 114 lives and the church collapse at Uyo, Akwa Ibom which caused hundreds of casualties.

It's great to move on from the First World dependence and cultural imperialism, which have killed our society, by encouraging, building and engaging local manpower. But, first, quality and safety have to be in place.

If the Glory Dome has passed proper government go-aheads and protocols on public safety, then the new auditorium would definitely lead to a more buoyant religion tourism, and other positives such as the creation of employments, amongst others.

I'm not an overly religious fanatic, but I'm for development in whatever form. If this new investment could dot the I's and cross the T's in terms of public safety, then it's a highly welcomed development.

– By Timothy Odutolu ©

It is safe somehow.

odutolu1:
The world's new architectural wonder and the largest church auditorium on earth, the 100,000-capacity Glory Dome, was finished and dedicated with mouths left widely agape. And the half of the world can't help but wonder how it was possible in such a setting, without the inclusion of the efforts of any external or international construction firm.

As is usual with the Nigerian mentality, many Nigerians could only see the investment as irrelevant and a misplaced priority. The social media has been awash by thought that what the country needed was a private social infrastructure such as a health center, an event center, or a public organisation of that grand structure, and not another of the many religious investments...and I laugh!

The fact is, those who are of this ill-thought-out perception are myopic, thoughtless and lack proper insight. Not talking about the fact that God deserves a structure as big as that, the current Nigerian social state is such that doesn't support or command tourism – an economic aspect in which developed countries generate billions of dollars from every month. Nigerians can spend millions to go to Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem but cannot support the alternatives that are being put up here!

The Glory Dome is now one of the world's wonders and the inflow of tourists and consequently, economic benefits, more than a single private or public business organization, which it will command will surprise many.

Currently, the likes of The Synagogue and Winners are the largest commander of tourism in Nigeria. The thousands of employment opportunities, foreign exchange inflow and investments religious tourism brings cannot be overestimated. I think it's high time we stopped looking at the religious sector as anti-govermment because we think it doesn't generate public revenue i.e. nonpayment of taxes, or give social services, apart from the spiritual growth it focuses on.

Of course, spiritual investments solely do not guarantee societal and behavioral changes, but is there anything wrong in having structures the likes of Rome, Mecca, etc use in getting social and economic growth?

In terms of employment opportunities, the Dunamis International's Glory Dome engaged over 5,000 indigenous construction workers. And it's still going to command hundreds of salaried workers for its day-to-day running. It doesn't matter what strategies used and the way we do it, this country has to be free of the shackles of chronic unemployment.

THE GLORY DOME: MAJOR CONCERNS
My only concern about the new structure is in its safety. It's going to house tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people, both from the country and from around the world, on a weekly basis. But is the structure safe enough for that number?

In a recent interview, Dr. Paul Enenche, the founder of Dunamis International, while explaining how the structure was accomplished with zero debt or borrowing, made a claim of fact which exposed what could be a major concern about the building's safety.

He said:
"There are very few in the world. Then, you are again spanning 274 metres. A football pitch is 90 metres, that means two football pitches under one roof without a pillar. That is a wonder."

Yeah, you have it! An 100,000-seater auditorium without a single standing pole or pillar to support the bulging and magnanimous roof. I'm not a structural engineer or an architect, but don't that sound eerie? I hope it portends no ill fate but my thought is that a structure built to last for probably tens or hundreds of years is supposed to have better safety assurances.

The fact the engineering and construction was carried out without engaging any local or internationally-renowned construction firm also calls the safety into question. In fact, Pastor Enenche said all the architects, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, etc were selected from the church, not even among the experienced private construction firms in the country or around the world.

There have been countless of architectural and engineering disasters in recent months and years, we do not have the heart so wild to bear another heartbreak so mercuric as those of the Synagogue 2014 disaster which claimed 114 lives and the church collapse at Uyo, Akwa Ibom which caused hundreds of casualties.

It's great to move on from the First World dependence and cultural imperialism, which have killed our society, by encouraging, building and engaging local manpower. But, first, quality and safety have to be in place.

If the Glory Dome has passed proper government go-aheads and protocols on public safety, then the new auditorium would definitely lead to a more buoyant religion tourism, and other positives such as the creation of employments, amongst others.

I'm not an overly religious fanatic, but I'm for development in whatever form. If this new investment could dot the I's and cross the T's in terms of public safety, then it's a highly welcomed development.

– By Timothy Odutolu ©

you are not aware that the roofing was done by American foremost company in the area of Dome-shaped roofs construction - GEOMETRICA? you can search google about this company. They were the one that did the roof work. It's just that, Pastor Paul said, the one that indigenous engineers couldn't do, they were trained by these foreign contractors and if the same facility is to be made again, it could be done fully by Nigerians. Hope you understood what I mean?