Church leaders on Saturday charged Nigerian youths to deploy their energy toward building the country and work for God through gospel evangelism.

The leaders made the charge at a one-day youth sensitisation workshop held at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church Parish, Onireke Ojo in Lagos state.

The event with the theme, “Youth for the Nation”, was put together to aid youths to refrain from election violence ahead of the 2023 general election.

The event, organised by the church’s youth wing, attracted people from other parishes within the zone as well as non Catholics.

Anthony Okeke, Parish Priest of the church, tasked the youth to be resourceful and use their youthful energy to build a nation of their dream.

Mr Okeke frowned at the involvement of young persons in violent and organised crimes, of which  has taken an alarming propensity in the society in recent times.

He urged people to desist from harmful acts against fellow beings, saying such acts tend to dehumanise humanity and cast a bad future to our collective existence as a people.

According to him casting blames on the older generation for the misfortunes of the country is not noble, rather it is expected of us to think out of the box and bring about innovative ideas capable of making impactful difference in the society.

“Self emancipation should be our preoccupation and not rely on handouts from narrow-minded politicians who wish to use youths as tool of violence to achieve their self ends in the polity. As young persons, we have stake in the system.

“Therefore, it behooves us to be responsible persons devoid of being beclouded by crime and unwholesome behaviours in order to be accorded the respect and confidence required to ascend leadership throne,” he said.

Stephen Nwaiku, Vice Chairman, Parish Pastoral Council, Onireke, said indulging in crime and violent behaviours especially during elections exposed young Nigerians to life-threatening dangers. 

Also, Abdul Lawal of the Nigerian Youth Council (NYC) Ojo, Lagos chapter, a guest at the event, said that Nigerian youth are known to be enterprising.

He called on the nation’s leaders to always put the youth in the picture during policy formulations for fresh ideas.

The leader charged the youth to embark on social works in their communities in order to be impactful.

He said that such voluntary works would portray them in good light and make them responsible people, capable of handling bigger tasks in the society.

(NAN)