At symposium, teenagers take pledge as ambassadors against drug abuse, sexual immorality

As part of efforts to put teenagers on the right path and inculcate in them the right virtue that will ensure they explore their potentials, to take on their world, a free one-day symposium was held on Saturday, November 23 to prepare them for the next level in life.

The symposium themed ‘Today Determines Tomorrow’ was the maiden edition of a yearly programme under the Ifejola Akintunde Legacy Series: Tribute to Her Life and Values. A platform set up to continue the laudable efforts of Assistant Pastor Ifejola Irene Akintunde, who slept in the Lord in 2023.

While on earth, she had a vibrant teenage and youth ministry and was passionate about ensuring young people follow the right path and take the right decisions to ensure a bright future devoid of avoidable hazards.

The symposium availed the teenage participants who attended a platform to understand the principles of life as teenagers; discover their purpose, live a life that will ensure their destiny is not truncated and make them a source of pride in the society through basic knowledge on perseverance, self-discipline, godly attributes and biblical teachings on the climb to greatness.

The basic vision of the symposium was to avail the beneficiaries who are both secondary school and university students the opportunity for personal development, spiritual growth, civic responsibilities as well as equipping their leadership potentials while relating with others and above all, independence to resist peer pressure.

The vision is to continue the works of late Assistant Pastor Ifejola Akintunde in raising godly children in a perverse generation as part of efforts to build a better society.

Speaking on who late Pastor Akintunde was, her husband, Pastor Olusegun Akintunde stated that  “the symposium was conceptualised out of the need to sustain his wife’s legacy in building teenagers and youth as well as her passion for raising Godly youths that will be Ambassadors of Christ. He added that the programmes is a befitting tribute to her life and work, reiterating that it will be sustained and expanded to touch more lives.”

He added that the assignment of raising well-behaved and God-fearing teens that will find their purpose right from their teenage years and focus on their future as part of efforts to turn around the tide of moral decadence among youths, expressing the belief that more the programme will expand to have obvious impact on the society.

“Our vision is to set these teens to have the right attitude and go back to their schools and communities to be ambassadors of what this symposium preaches to enable them spread the gospel of living right to their peers. They have gone through specially designed topics that touched on every aspect of their lives; mentally, spiritually, and socially. It was a holistic approach to life as a teenager and I am happy that they learnt a lot and are generally prepared to be models of integrity in their immediate environment,” he added.

The symposium had four major sessions; the first session on ‘Sexual Purity’ was taken by Pastor Victor Olukoju, the President of Sexual Purity Academy (SPA): a commission with a mandate to raise Sexual Purity Ambassadors for Christ. He is a writer, actor, director and producer of gospel movies with over 20 books to his credit and he is the host of Beyond Entertainment Show with PVO and the pioneer missionary for Charismatic Renewal Ministries in Ghana for over ten years.

The second session on ‘Drug Addiction and Mental Health’ was taken by the team of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) from the Oyo State Command, while the third session on etiquette and appropriate dressing was taken by Dr Mosadioluwa Adegorite, an education specialist.

The last session; ‘Developing a personal relationship with God’ was taken by Pastor Olutope Babajide, the Youth Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Oyo Province 2.

The symposium which took place at the Teenage Church of the RCCG, Holy Ghost Power Cathedral, Oyo Province 2 Headquarters worked towards transforming the children, boosting their logical and intellectual capacity and motivating them to be the best version of themselves by following biblical precepts.

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