By Adeyinka Adeniran
African youths have been charged to actively step into political and socio-economic leadership roles to secure the future of the continent.
This call was made during sideline interviews at the 23rd Foundation day annual public and enlightenment lecture of the Dorcas Oke Hope Alive Initiative (DOHAL), held at the Auditorium of Precious Cornerstone University Campus 1, Garden of Victory, Old Ife Road, Ibadan.
Centered on the theme “Why African youths must get involved in politics,” the event drew prominent religious leaders and policy experts who collectively emphasized that the younger generation possesses the unique energy, technological literacy, and education required to reshape society.
The guest speaker at the event, the Founder and Presidinh Pastor of Livingspring Chapel, International, Femi Emmanuel spoke on the imperative of youth inclusion, stressing that preparing young people for tomorrow’s leadership is a continuous duty that demands greater commitment from both the church and society.
Acknowledging the role of the Church and society, the cleric said more needs to be done to.encourahe the youths to join active politics.
He said, “The church is doing something, but we need to do more. We need to prepare the young people for leadership of tomorrow”.
He further encouraged the younger generation to look past limitations, stating, “The Bible says, ‘Let no one despise your youth.’ They have energy, they have technology, they have education, they have opportunities that the older generations do not have”.
Admonishing political officeholders, Pastor Emmanuel reminded them that leadership is a sacred public trust rather than an instrument for selfish ambition, emphasizing that “ultimately, we will all give account to God”.
Building on this perspective, the Founder, DOHAL, Archbishop Francis Wale Oke, expressed fulfillment in seeing youth empowerment initiatives flourish, noting that structured intervention keeps young minds productive as job creators and entrepreneurs rather than vulnerable targets for political manipulation.
He highlighted the broader vision of keeping youths away from destructive paths: “We do not want any youth to die needlessly. We do not want any youth to become a victim of any evil, to become thugs and touts and vagrants used by politicians and wicked people”.
Instead, Archbishop Oke said the goal of seeing youths grow reciprocally and productively, “contributing to the growth and development of our nation, contributing to the betterment of other people one life at a time”.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of th the occasion, the Ambassador for Political Affairs in African Union, Pastor Akin Akinpelu, Ambassador for Political Affairs in the African Union harped on the resilience and potential of the African child.
He explained that the discussions atcthe event targeted building a “prosperous, integrated, and also a powerful Africa” by confronting the developmental hurdles facing the African child.
While acknowledging that the African child may sometimes appear disadvantaged on the global competitive index, Pastor Akinpelu maintained that with hard work, resilience, and extensive preparation, the future belongs to them.
He warned aspiring young leaders, saying “Nobody will hand over power to you because you are young; it’s not an emotional thing, you will rise up in capacity to take over that”.
Hhighpoint of the event was the presentation of cash donation of N100,000 each to 14 young entrepreneurs who had been diligent with initial start up capitals received last year to support their business.
