By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Youths in Nigeria have been advised to step up innovative thinking and acquire skills and knowledge required for survival at critical periods like the present times.
As contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Speaker, e Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye stated this over weekend at the fourth edition of regional youth conference organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Region 25, Ekiti State.
Aribasoye who joined other top personalities to speak to youths at the three day event, said it has become imperative for them to maximize advantages in agriculture, Information and Communication Technology, ICT among other fields, so as to make a difference at this time of economic challenges in Nigeria and globally.
Highlighting the importance of a strong desire to excel by youths in Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Aribasoye implored the young generation to develop great visions and embrace principles adopted by great minds and mentors in time past.
He counselled them against following the crowd in taking critical life decisions, adding that voracious reading for knowledge is a major key to becoming successful and influential leaders.
The Ekiti Speaker, who is the region 25 Youth Pastor and the convener of the programme, called on youths to make themselves relevant through productivity, research, enlightenment and resilience as he narrated his personal life’s journey and challenges before getting to the current height in life.
In his presentation at one of the sessions, the Permanent Secretary of the Villa, State House in Abuja, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi underlined critical thinking, self awareness, creativity and identity formation as necessary tools youths must be equipped with, to be successful in life.
Adebiyi, who advised the young generation to eschew dangerous desire for quick wealth, urged them to build capacity for work and take to positive experimentations.
The he event was graced by the National Youth Pastor of the RCCG, Pastor Sola Owoeye who also encouraged the youths to adopt godly principles and make a difference in the present generation.
The well attended conference which had the theme ‘Rise Up’ also featured empowerment of youths with relevant equipment and cash, requisite skills, knowledge impartation and spiritual tutelage.
A new initiative tagged ‘Jesus Market’ where items were sold at 50 percent subsidized rate was equally introduced as many attendees accessed goods and commodities including staple food items, meat, vegetable oil and ingredients among other benefits, all purchased at much discounted rate.
The enlightenment and empowerment conference, aimed at raising heavenly focused and earthly useful youths, had the Pastor In Charge of region 25, Tunde Abdullahi and other Ministers in attendance as they added their voices to the tutelage churned out to youths.
The first edition of the conference was tagged ‘The Future is Now’, while the second edition was themed ‘Break Forth’ , and the third tagged ‘Dominion’.
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