Utilise opportunities in difficult times for national development – Primate urges youths
By EricJames Ochigbo
Abuja, April 11, 2023 Rev. Henry Ndukuba, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has admonished youths to seek and utilise the opportunities in every difficult time for national development.
Ndukuba made the call at the opening of the Joshua Generation International Youth Conference titled, ‘Understanding the Times’ organised by the Church of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.
The cleric urged the youths to shun vices and invest their energy and intellect into profitable ventures for inter generational impact.
According to the primate, we live in very difficult and interesting times; it is important that we come to an understanding of what God wants us to do.
He said that there is creasing violence, immorality, pains and uncertainty, general insecurity, collapsing education standards, youth marginalisation and increasing juvenile fraud stars.
Ndukuba said that there is increasing unemployment, inflation, political uncertainties, cultism, ancestral worship, drug abuse and dirty pursuit of materialism.
“Every time and season comes with its own opportunities, God is calling us into a life of divine purpose and we pray we step into the opportunities He has for us.
“Watch out for the opportunities of every moment in life and do not let them fly past you; see all your life not just as mere numbers but as opportunities that God has given; make the most use of it, you will not be young forever.
“Put your strength, energy and intellect into profitable use and the Lord will bless you, he said.
The Coordinating Bishop of the conference, Rev. Aloysius Agbo urged the youths to take advantage of the opportunities the conference provides.
He said that the conference is aimed at connecting the youths to God and to unleash their potentials and make them instrument of change for inter generational impact.
Agbo said that the targeted areas for impact includes academics, politics, business, family, culture, media and the entertainment industries.
He said that as a result of the resolutions after last year’s conference, a football club of 30!players has been set up, 70 youths has been trained in movie production and are doing well in the industry while others are doing well in agribusiness.
The Technical Advisor of the conference, Mr Biungi Billy said that African has its own peculiar challenges of lack of good leadership.
Billy who led the Ugandan youths said that the issue of leadership is a matter of the heart and that the church, through conference wants to touch the heart of young people.
“By so doing, they will in turn touch this continent and turn it around for God, he said.
