Group Harps on Innovation Among Youth, Adults for Sustainable Development

Esther Oluku

An alternative church group of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Youth And Young Adult (YAYA), have harped on the need for innovation among young people to enable them thrive in the changing times.

The Provincial Youth Pastor, Lagos province 19, and Convener of the RECALP Summit, Mr. Femi Aminu, explained that as challenges are inevitable in life, young people must imbibe a culture of innovation and resourcefulness to emerge successful.

Aminu also advised youth to shun the practice of magnifying problems but rather be providers and drivers of the solutions that the world desperately needs.

RECALP 2023 is the ninth in the series of yearly conferences organised by the group, an acronym for; Relationship, Entrepreneurship, career, Arts and Entertainment, Leadership and Politics, with a vision to touch and cater for the diverse dreams and aspirations of young people.

RECALP 2023 themed; “A New Dawn”, co-inciding with the nation’s transition to a new government, is an opportunity for the youth “to be agents of the transition by proffering solutions despite great difficulty”, Aminu said.

He said: “RECALP is an opportunity to invest in Nigeria and see how we can partner with the youth. In actual sense, the youth of every country own that country. This is the ninth edition and we give God the glory and this seed would germinate to be a blessing.

“We are in a new era as a nation. Still, the economy, organisations, families and people are all caught up in the same problems and yearning for solutions. Our youth must detach themselves from magnifying problems, discussing problems and pointing fingers of blame. Instead, they must rise to be agents of the new transition by proffering solutions despite great difficulty.”

On his part, gospel music sensation and facilitator on Arts and Entertainment for the event, Mr. Joshua Mike Bamiloye, noted that with entertainment being a major shaper of perception and character, the youth can make real progress is by activating the power from within by pursuing their purpose relentlessly.

“Let us take our minds off the government. We have an army. We have neglected the entertainment aspect. There is a lot of focus on just church and church activities which isn’t bad but the disadvantage is that you see youth trying to want to explore the creative side of them but we are trying to shape it down to church with a ‘ooh we do not do it in church’.

“We do not do it in church does not mean that it can’t be done. So we ourselves, let us begin to look inwards. If we all take that time to invest in one another. It could be your child, it could be in church and that way there is a level of noise that can be made that would now caught the attention of certain people,” he said.

Also speaking on the sidelines of the event, Relationship Coach, Mrs. Adetutu Osofowora stressed the need to invest in healthy relationships as relationships are the bedrock of society. In her submission, she noted that the prospect of having a better society is hinged on the quality of the home.

The host pastor and keynote speaker for the event, Mr Cyprian Orakpo, emphasised the need for resilience and nurturing of social capital for success.

“Many of us do not know the value of social capital. The only time we remember to talk to someone else is when we have need. Long before you have a need, maintain a good and cordial relationship. Life is more than needs so we can be more intentional in building strategic relationships.”