By Amaka Olua
The Daily Strength Devotional has organized a three-day national seminar for all the youths across Nigeria in collaboration with the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja. The three-day seminar which was held from Wednesday, 7th to Saturday, 10th August, 2019, at Arch-Bishop Obiefuna Retreat Centre, Okpuno, Awka South L.G.A.; Anambra State, was tagged ”Young People, The Faith and Vocational Discernment”.
The seminar was aimed at gathering the youths and nurturing them on the need to understand the Catholic Doctrine and on how to achieve their goals in their various career choices.
Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Muyiwa Matuluko, who spoke on ”Exploring Opportunities in Digital Media”, told the youths that they were in a digital world where they could explore many opportunities, noting that young people were making it through ICT. This is also as he stressed the importance of making use of their devices to make money online.
He encouraged them to make use of the internet to explore opportunities, saying that it was the essence of having a smart phone.
Matuluko, who noted that smart phones were not only for calls but what could be used as a way of making money online, advised them to pursue their goals and never relent in achieving what they desired.
He added that many young people missed opportunities because they were engaged in things that would not help them. He therefore advised them to take advantage of the opportunity in the digital media to build their skills and develop their talents.
Also speaking, Dr Emmanuel Okechukwu, who spoke about defending the culture of life, stated that a way of life and living was based upon the belief that human life was sacred from conception to natural death.
He charged them to value each other as they were, and not for what they owned, further challenging them to create the ability to protect their dignity.
This was even as he encouraged them to do away with anything that would tarnish the image of the Catholic Church. He maintained that the youths should know about the abuse of minors by adults and advised them to be part of pro-life advocacy in order to save life, as well as to promote and support crisis pregnancy care.
Dr Okechukwu charged them not support or fund abortion, saying it was against the Catholic faith and also against God. He maintained that many young people engaged themselves in abortion, thus destroying God’s gift to them.
Speaking to Fides, the Director and Editor of Daily Strength Devotional, Mr. Jude Chika, stated that the seminar was organized by Daily Strength Devotional in collaboration with the Catholic Secretariat, Abuja, saying that the essence of the seminar was to bring the catholic youth together to speak to them about their Catholic faith and things of life.
He disclosed that many youths from other dioceses were present, except for those who could not make it because of distance. Chika described youths as the future of the country and the future of the Church, saying it was good to bring them together and re direct them toward the things that would make them become better citizens.
He regretted that many youths had abandoned their faith and joined many bad groups, noting that the seminar would help strengthen their faith. This was even as he advised the youths to be more focused to God, so as not to engage themselves in what would ruin their lives.
Also speaking, the Chaplain, CYON Archdiocese of Lagos, Rev Fr Gabriel Odulayo, commended the initiative of the programme. He it was the right time to think positively about the development of the youths if only they believed they were the future of the Church.
He thanked the organizers of the seminar for recognizing the importance of youths to the Church, saying it would enable them to strengthen their faith and love towards God. This was even as he said that the youths had much to give to the Church and society.
