Dr. Oby Ezekwesili has at the an annual
youth programme of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God revealed where
Nigeria’s greatness will come from.
A former Minister of Education, Dr Oby
Ezekwesili, says Nigeria’s greatness will
emerge through human capital development
programmes for youths and not oil or solid
minerals.
Ezekwesili said this in Abuja at “SHIFT,’’ an
annual youth programme of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God (RCCG).
The SHIFT initiative uses unconventional
ways such as dancing, singing, comedy,
innovation and empowerment that youths
could relate with to become Christians.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports
that the programme, which attracted youths
from the FCT, Plateau, Niger as well as
Kaduna and Nasarawa States, had as theme
“ Creativity Unleashed.’’
She said such programmes would give
youths a platform to showcase their hidden
talents that needed to be unleashed and
unlocked.
The former minister , however, advocated
that youths should be supported through
public policy, right instructions and
investment in education, health and other
social services.
According to her, supporting youths will
enable them to acquire skills needed for self
reliance.
“The more we emphasise education, talents,
diligence, values, the more we have youths
that can face competition with the rest of
the world.
“ Youths are the present leaders of the
country; if we don’t prepare them to
become people who are able to actualise
their utmost potentials, what happens will
affect them,’’ she said.
The National Youth Minister of RCCG, Pastor
Precious Akingbade, urged youths to
discover, develop and deploy their creativity
to profitable ventures.
Akingbade advised them not to wait for the
Federal Government to provide jobs for
them when they could enroll in skills
acquisition programmes.
“God in His wisdom has embedded into
every man greatness; it is just for that
individual to discover it, develop it and
deploy it.
“In the process of deployment,
opportunities would come and such an
individual does not really need to wait for
government jobs which are not just there.
“We have millions of young people who are
just roaming around the streets today
looking for white collar jobs but there are
few individuals that I know that this
programme has produced.
“They are doing well in the entertainment
industry, in creative arts and they are
making a lot of money and fulfilling their
destiny in life,’’ he said.
The Regional Youth Pastor, Pastor Akin
Meseko, , described `SHIFT’ as one of the
largest gathering of youths in Nigeria and
which had the blessings of the General
Overseer of the RCCG Worldwide, Pastor
Enoch Adeboye.
Meseko said that there were a lot of things
God had deposited inside every man that
was waiting to be discovered and
unleashed.
He, however, called on youths all over the
country to join others in discovering their
talents and skills to improve their lots.
NAN reports that the youths at the occasion
showcased different talents such as singing,
dancing, drama and public speaking.
