The Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos, (Anglican Communion), Rt Rev’d (Dr.) Humphrey Olumakaiye has urged Nigerian youths to desist from unhealthy lifestyle of ingesting hard drugs into their bodies as it could cause serious health challenges, as well as lead to untimely death in some cases.
Olumakaiye who said this during a sensitization walk of the youths with the Bishop held recently in Lagos, tagged “Say no to drug abuse” enjoined leaders in the country to ensure that the youths, who are the country’s future leaders are gainfully employed and empowered.
‘The government need to do all it takes to ensure that the youths are gainfully employed and fuel empowered, as they are the future of this country”, he said.
He also called on well meaning Nigerians not to leave everything to the government, but use their God given resources to help empower the youths in the society.
He harped on the need for the government, as well as the people to be passionate about positive development of the youth.
“There is need for us to be passionate about our youth development, because we believe that many of our youths are neglected, and are not brought up properly.
“Oil, gas and agriculture are not the greatest resources of a nation. The p youths are the greatest resources of the development of a great nation.We believe that they are the future of our great nation. In actual fact, they are the prosperity, they are the hope of our future in this country”, he said.
The cleric said that the Nigerian nation should have a holistic approach to your development to build great leaders.
“We believe that it will be proper for us to have a holistic approach on development of the youth, if we do that we are actually building great leaders.
“That is why we are embarking on this campaign because we know that drug addiction does more harm than good to anyone. If not quickly curbed, the habit will kill their their vision and destroy their future”,he said.
While noting that without the youths, there is no nation, the bishop urged parents to build their wards spirituality by teaching them the path of righteousness.
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“The biggest room is the room for improvement. We can do more by placing our children on the path of righteousness, honesty and dignity of labour.
“Above all, we need to make sure that they are empowered. We should build them up spiritually, without them we don’t have a nation.
“Our youths are energetic; they are charismatic, and I believe they have a bright future and we as a church should see that they make use good use of these attributes by bringing out the best in them”, he admonished.
On her part, Prof. Motunrayo Olumakaiye, wife of the bishop enjoined parents to give quality time to their wards rather than leaving them to strangers to bring up.
“It behooves on parents to be there for their children rather than leaving them to caregivers. The youths are the future of any nation, youths are very restless, they want to explore themselves and if they are not positively engaged certainly the devil will engage them.
She said the sensitization walk is a call to parents to be more vigilant towards their children and a way of letting the youths know that God’s plan for a bright future for them.
“Parents are not conscious of what their children are doing, especially now that they are exposed and influenced to internet. Some parents don’t know what their children are passing through emotionally, psychologically, academically. The church is really trying, but the basis starts from the home”, she said.
Also, Mr Olugbenga Obaparusi, Brand Manager, Emzor Pharmaceutical urged the government and the church to intensify efforts in creating employment for youths.
“We need to intensify our effort on youth empowerment and development. The rate of unemployment in this country is alarming, an idle mind is the devils workshop.
“The government and church should create employment for youths in the country. If the youths are empowered and meaningful engaged, they will be preoccupied, the rate of drug abuse will be minimized if not eradicated”, he noted.
“He advised the youths to desist from taking drugs and substance that are harmful to their health.
I implore them (youths) to shun drug and substance use because it is a time bomb waiting to destroy them’’, he said.
