By Adeyinka Adeniran
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on youths to continue to have faith and belief in the country while being mindful of how they live their lives despite the negative situations around them.
Noting that having a good name and integrity far outweighs whatever benefit might make them compromise sound and good judgement, the former President said youths are expected to show patriotism to the nation as part of the demands as future leaders.
Obasanjo gave the charge at the weekend when he participated virtually at an all night event organised by the Total Life in Christ Ministry (AKA Olorun Ajulo Outreach).
The 2025 annual event which was the 12th edition held at the Felicia Hall, Jogor Centre, Liberty Stadium Road, Ibadan with the theme: “The Needed Man”.
Speaking on the theme, Ex-President Obasanjo challenged the youths to stay committed to God in their youthful days, as a way of preparing ahead of whatever challenge that may come their way in the nearest future. 
Citing the exam of Joseph in the Bible who stayed committed to God, and was promoted from the prison to the palace, Obasanjo said God has a way of rewarding loyalty, patriotism and commitment.
He said a man that will be needed to bring about change in any situation “must be patriotic, full of integrity and stay positive to live a life of impact.”
In his charge on the theme of the event, a cleric at the Equipping Christian Ministry, Dr. Jerry Akinsola said a needed man to bring about desired change must not be a pretender, morally polluted, people pleaser but someone who is able to take hard decision to the glory of God.
He said, “The person that is needed is not a pretender. The person that is needed is obviously not someone who is polluted morally. The person that is needed is not someone who is a people pleaser. He must be able to take hard decisions to the glory of God. So who is the person that is needed?
“The person that is needed must be someone who is faithful in service. He must not be shy to do menial things. He must be diligent even when nobody is seeing you. So that you’re not somebody who is looking for prominence or who wants to serve only when you will be seen.
“The person that is needed must be someone that is available mentally, physically, to really do what he has to do. Emotionally, you have to be available. He must be someone who is intimate with God. You love God. You relate with God. You must be truthful in whatever endeavour the Lord has called you to. Otherwise, you will disappoint yourself, disappoint those who have sent you there. You must be holy. Beware of vices.”
He charged the youths to “Be self-controlled. Flee from anything that contaminates morally. Drugs, alcohol, women, gambling. Live a holy life. And of course, if you are going to be the one that will be used, you must be flexible. Don’t be rigid. Listen to other people. Be teachable. You must be understanding and wise, emotionally intelligent. And of course, you must be loyal to the Lord.”
On the political scene, the guest preacher said many of those serving in political offices today are not the needed men.
“I don’t want to castigate a total political class. Some of them are not. Some are. We use a brush to tarnish everybody’s not right. But some, obviously, have not passed the test of being faithful to the Lord in secret. See the politicians and office holders with all the scandals that you hear all around. Billions of Naira, billions of dollars.
“Of course, that shows that they see the office as a place to enrich themselves corruptly. But we also have those who are upright. I know some who diligently want to make things right. They are truthful. They step on toes. They may not do what we want now. But like a parent, you sometimes don’t do what your children want. You look at the future for them. So, let me not say the entire political class, but maybe the majority are on the wrong side”, he added.
He however said, “To get it right, if only those of us who know what is right keep doing right. How many matchsticks do you need to set a forest ablaze? If we would do what we ought to do and be tenacious to insist on what is right, in the military, in the school, in the education sector, in business, if we would keep doing that, with time, with patience, things will get changed.”
In her remarks, the Convener of the event, Dr Adenike Victor-Tade, popularly called Mama Empowerment said the event was convened as a platform to nurture the youths into what they should be in the interest of personal and nation building.
She said, “There’s need to nurture our youth to a kind of taste we want. As parents, as pastor, and as leader in this nation, we cannot just sit down and be blaming our youth. They need mentors. This programme is one of the ways we mentor our youth between age 18 and 45. If they are well nurtured, they will become good parents, producing good children, good citizens, becoming good leaders. As leadership has been a problem for us in this nation, having good leadership, it starts from home.
“And if there are no parents, mentors, leaders, godly leaders, that can see our youth through, there will be problems. We are already having the result of not having good nurturing. So the objective is, like I said, preparing youth towards becoming godly citizens, good leaders, good entrepreneurs, and of course godly parents.”
She added that as the nation enters its election year, it is important that youths are properly guided so as not to be used as tool in the hands of desperate politicians.”
Highpoint of the event was a lecture on Coconut cultivation and value chain business with some youths getting empowerment for further training and business support.
She further expressed the willingness of the organization to partner relevant stakeholders in her bid to reach and empower more youths with needed life skills.
