The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, has urged Nigerian youths to be visionary and receptive to productive engagements that will position them as genuine agents of change in the country.
Aribasoye called on Nigeria’s productive population, whom he described as the pride of the nation, to enhance their innovative thinking and acquire the skills and knowledge required to thrive in the 21st-century economy.
He made these remarks in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Friday, during the fourth edition of the regional youth conference organized by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Region 25.
To cushion the effects of the biting economy, the conference, themed “Rise Up,” featured a “Jesus Market” where commodities were sold at a 50% discount, along with the distribution of sewing machines, towels, warmers, sterilizers, and cash gifts to empower youths to start their own businesses.
Speaking at the three-day event, the Speaker emphasized the importance of youths leveraging opportunities in agriculture, Information and Communication Technology, and other productive sectors to make an impact during these economically challenging times.
Highlighting the need for vision and a drive for excellence, the Ekiti Speaker, who also serves as the RCCG Region 25 Youth Pastor, urged the younger generation to develop ambitious goals and adopt principles practiced by great minds and mentors throughout history.
Commending RCCG leaders for their generosity and commitment to fostering economic awareness and spiritual renewal among youths, Aribasoye noted that the church had previously organized four youth-friendly conferences. These began with “The Future is Now,” followed by “Break Forth,” “Dominion,” and the most recent, “Rise Up.”
He said, “Don’t follow the crowd when making critical life decisions. Seek knowledge, as it is essential for navigating and succeeding in today’s economic realities. Cultivate a strong and voracious reading culture—this is a key step toward becoming a successful and influential leader.”
As the convener of the program, Aribasoye encouraged youths to remain relevant through constructive engagements in research, scholarship, and advocacy. He attributed his ability to overcome life’s challenges and rise to his current position as Ekiti’s number three citizen to these principles.
Explaining the core objective of the conference, Aribasoye stated that it was designed to enlighten and empower youths mentally while raising their spiritual awareness, enabling them to serve as agents of change both nationally and globally.
In his address at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the State House in Abuja, Olufunso Adebiyi, emphasized the importance of critical thinking, self-awareness, creativity, and identity formation as essential tools for success.
Adebiyi also advised the younger generation to resist the allure of quick wealth and instead focus on building capacity for work and engaging in positive experimentation.
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