Invest in the youths

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word,” (Psalm 119:9).

A cliche often bandied around says: “youths are the leaders of tomorrow”. So, a youth, according to Oxford Dictionary is “the period between childhood and adult age, the qualities of vigour, freshness”. Therefore, it becomes apparent that youths are treasures to any given society or Church. They are worth investing upon.

Sadly, not many youths are gainfully engaged, and this the devil knows. So, he decided to provide them with roles, which are inimical to them and the society. To that effect, you can now find some youths in prostitution, armed-robbery, cultism, exam malpractices, indecent dressing and illuminati, among others. Unarguably, this portends a great danger to future of society and the Church.

Naturally, youths are expected to take over from us, but with what type of job, morality or integrity can they do so? Presently as it is, much need to be desired from the youths. The scripture says: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word”, (Psalm 119:9). Therefore, as individuals and people of God, we should be concerned about the proper way to guide, harness and invest in our youths to enable them be useful to themselves, society and the Church.

It is against this backdrop that we must commend and appreciate the lord Bishop of the Diocese of Arochukwu/Ohafia, Rt. Rev. Johnson Onuoha for the laudable programme he put in place recently at his just concluded synod, held at the Cathedral Church of All Saints, Arochukwu, Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State. At the event, he set up a board under the chairmanship of the Chancellor of the Diocese, Hon. Justice Anyalemechi Onwuchekwa with these mandate: “Identify graduate and non-graduate unemployed youths of the Diocese, recommend those who qualify to be sent to entrepreneurship skills acquisition centres and mobilise them to be trained immediately.” This implies that in the near future, such persons trained under this scheme will be self-employed and later employers of labour. It will also help them to be assisting their families, the Church and society at large. If youths are gradually taken off the streets, where they are idle and unoccupied to being gainfully employed, everybody, including the Church will be the better for it.

Therefore, we call on all levels of government, the Church and lovers of the youths to take a cue from the Rt. Revd Johnson Onuoha and then invest in youths. Certainly, if tomorrow is to be better, anything done in this direction will be a welcome development. I think such ventures, as entrepreneur skills acquisition is good. So, the Church should boldly invest in this area and the government, too. Remember, the future of our youths and their rehabilitation should be the concern of all. May the Holy Spirit enable us to act aright. Amen!

Ven. Ernest Onuoha
Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical
Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.
www.ibrucentre.org