There has been a remarkable convergence in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
This is not merely about the increasing number of events, conferences, productions, movements, or people coming into the city. It is a convergence that, from a prophetic perspective, appears to carry a deeper significance.
People from different cultures, tribes, backgrounds, and spheres of influence are being drawn toward Jos. Some are relocating physically. Others have reportedly begun dreaming about the city even before visiting it. For some, there is simply an inexplicable sense of being drawn toward this terrain.
Something is gathering.
And I believe the convergence has only just begun.
This word was received during a season of prayer and intercession, not merely to announce that something is happening, but to call attention to what the convergence may represent and how those being gathered should respond.
Jos: A Prophetic Gate
In this prophetic word, Jos represents more than a geographical location.
It represents a gate of influence to the north.
The reference to the “north” is not necessarily geographical alone, but symbolic of leadership, direction, authority, influence, and the ability to shape a sphere.
Every nation has gates.
Every industry has gates.
Government has gates. Media has gates. Entertainment has gates. Culture has gates.
And what happens at a gate can influence what enters, what leaves, what is permitted to thrive, and ultimately what shapes a generation.
Therefore, the developments taking place around Jos should not be viewed merely through a local lens.
There is a larger question of influence.
I believe God is interested in the gates of culture and in those who occupy them. He is interested in what flows through those gates, what influences a generation through them, and whether those carrying influence understand it as an assignment or merely as an opportunity for personal advancement.
This is why the convergence matters.
The Pattern of Those Who Are Sent
Throughout Scripture, we see a recurring pattern of people being sent into places and spheres with assignments greater than themselves.
But Scripture also presents a sobering reality: not everyone who is sent completes the journey.
Some are cut short.
Some become distracted by ambition. The very gift they received becomes redirected toward building their own name, platform, recognition, or influence.
Others reach the place of assignment but lose sight of why they were sent.
Some become compromised by relationships, opportunities, personal failures, or agendas that are fundamentally different from the purposes of the Kingdom.
The danger, therefore, is not simply failing to arrive.
Sometimes the greater danger is arriving and forgetting why you came.
Yet there is another pattern: the pattern of the remnant.
There are people who understand that their arrival is not accidental. They know they have been sent.
And because they know they have been sent, they understand the need for accountability, discernment, spiritual covering, discipline, and faithfulness.
A Word to the Film and Entertainment Industry
Filmmakers.
Producers.
Directors.
Actors.
Writers.
Storytellers.
And everyone whose craft communicates through film, television, music, performance, imagery, stage, or digital media: hear this call.
Your craft is not merely decoration.
You are shaping culture.
Through your work, you participate in determining what a generation considers normal, desirable, beautiful, acceptable, heroic, shameful, or worth pursuing.
A story can disciple.
An image can normalize.
A character can model behaviour.
A production can reshape imagination.
And a repeated message can eventually become a worldview.
This is why the entertainment industry matters deeply in the purposes of God.
You have access to a language that culture already understands.
And God can use that language.
The Gospel does not have to abandon story to enter culture. It can enter through story, excellence, creativity, performance, film, music, production, and imagination.
That is precisely why the stewardship of the industry matters.
The Sobering Sign
In the midst of this prophetic burden is also a sobering reminder through the passing of Dimbo Atiya.
He was a filmmaker who walked in his gift and contributed to the creative industry through his craft. His passing has brought grief to many, but within this prophetic reflection, his story also serves as a reminder to a generation about the fragility of life and the importance of faithfully stewarding one’s assignment.
The warning is not intended to create fear.
It is intended to produce watchfulness.
Having a gift does not automatically guarantee that an assignment will be completed. Talent is not a substitute for spiritual preparation, wisdom, accountability, or consecration.
Therefore, the response should not be panic.
The response should be preparation.
It should be covering.
It should be consecration.
And ultimately, it should be finishing well.
The Convergence Is Already Happening
While this warning is being sounded, there is also an encouraging reality: people are already moving.
Some are making plans to come to Jos.
Some are dreaming about the city before ever setting foot here.
Some are entertainers.
Some are producers.
Some are directors.
Some are actors.
Some are writers and storytellers.
Many may be carrying different pieces of an assignment without realizing who else has been sent into the same territory.
This is why the convergence must be discerned.
You may think you are simply pursuing a career, while God may be positioning you within a larger assignment.
You may think you are simply making films, while God may be concerned about what those films communicate to an entire generation.
You may think you are building a production company, while God may be interested in the gate of influence that company will eventually occupy.
You may think you are simply arriving in Jos.
But heaven may be saying:
You have arrived at a gate.
The Charge: Guard the Gate
Therefore, I charge the storytellers of this generation:
Raise an Altar
Do not allow your talent to run ahead of your consecration.
Giftedness without spiritual grounding can leave a person vulnerable. Talent is not a substitute for an altar.
Release Decrees
Be intentional about what you speak over your life, your productions, your scripts, your sets, your colleagues, and the industry around you.
Speak purpose.
Speak life.
Speak God’s intentions over the places where you work and the people you influence.
Get Under Covering
Do not become a lone voice accountable to nobody.
Seek spiritual authority and godly accountability. Surround yourself with people who can pray for you, correct you, challenge you, and help you remain aligned with the reason you were sent.
Guard Your Consecration
Do not trade your calling for access.
Do not exchange conviction for applause.
Do not sell your assignment for approval.
Do not allow opportunities, relationships, systems, or agendas to draw you away from the One who sent you.
The issue is not whether you will have influence.
The question is: What will your influence serve?
The Remnant Will Stand
The convergence at the gates of Jos has begun.
Some may fall short.
Some may become delayed.
Some may arrive and become distracted.
Some may arrive and become consumed by agendas that are not aligned with God’s purposes.
But there will also be a company that stands.
A company that understands why it was sent.
A company that guards its life and influence.
A company that refuses to separate gift from consecration.
A company that understands that a gate is not merely a place of opportunity, but a place of responsibility.
This is not a word that ends in fear.
It ends in resolve.
Let the storytellers arise.
Let the filmmakers arise.
Let the producers arise.
Let the directors arise.
Let the actors arise.
Let everyone carrying the language of culture understand the weight of the assignment.
May they arrive.
May they be covered.
May they remain consecrated.
May they guard the gate.
May they steward influence faithfully.
And when their assignment is complete, may it be said of them:
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted approval-in-principle to JP Morgan to set up a merchant in the country.
The move eases the path for the US largest bank to expand its services – payments, lending, trade finance and corporate banking – in Nigeria, where it has operated a representative office for years.
JP Morgan Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited plans to run wholesale banking, capital markets and advisory services, Michael Akuka, the CBN’s director of corporate communications and investor relations, said in a statement on Friday.
The approval-in-principle is the first phase of the licensing process, and does not translate into an ultimate banking permit.
JP Morgan needs to clear further regulatory hurdles such as incorporation with the Corporate Affairs Commission and operational approvals before it can commence operations, the regulator stated.
The push comes amidst hordes of banking sector reforms in Africa’s most populous country, aimed at bolstering the financial system, enhancing market confidence and boosting resilience.
According to the statement, the CBN also approved the nomination of Adedapo Olagunju as the managing director of the bank and Latter Kevin George, Nzelu Chinedum Izunwanne and Syed Gabriel Murtaza as non-executive directors.
“Our objective is to build a financial system that is stable, competitive and internationally connected, one that commands confidence and can effectively support investment and economic growth,” said CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso.
“We are encouraged by the growing interest of international financial institutions in Nigeria. Our focus remains on sustaining the reforms, strengthening the credibility of our markets and creating an environment in which both domestic and international institutions can participate and thrive,” he added.
On Tuesday, Bloomberg, citing sources with knowledge of the deal, reported that JP Morgan was on course to secure a banking licence in the country after depositing N50 billion ($38 million) with the CBN.
It noted that the bank hopes to receive the licence by year-end or in early 2027, provided it is able to obtain all the requisite approvals
P Morgan’s presence in Nigeria dates back to 1961, when Chase Manhattan Bank, which later evolved into JP Morgan Chase & Co., opened a branch in Lagos, providing a wide range of commercial banking services to local businesses and individuals.
A year earlier, Chase International Investment Corporation, a unit of Chase Manhattan Bank, served as the lead partner in organising Nigerian Textile Mills in Lagos, regarded as the first major private industrial project with an American interest in Nigeria.
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Instacart might sell itself to a larger competitor, according to multiple news reports
The Information reported Friday that the grocery delivery company has hired an investment bank to help it evaluate its options, and that it’s held acquisition talks with DoorDash. And Bloomberg reported that the company has also talked to Uber — although Uber reportedly walked away from those discussions.
Instacart currently has a market cap of more than $13 billion, and its stock price is up 25% for the year to date. The company could see this as a good time to sell at a desirable price, before the grocery delivery market gets more competitive — but Bloomberg noted that these are early discussions that might not result in a sale.
TechCrunch has reached out to Instacart for comment. The reports of a potential sale caused the company’s share price to spike more than 9.2% on Friday, while Uber and DoorDash stock declined.
News1 day ago
