The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, has tasked Nigerian youths with political and social participation to address the challenges confronting the country.
Oduwole gave the charge at the 10th Teens Career Conference, titled “Rooted for Impact,” organised by The Everlasting Arms Parish (TEAP) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Garki, Abuja.
Represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Trade Facilitation, Ms Olayombo Ade-Ojo, Oduwole urged young Nigerians to move beyond talking about problems.
She admonished all young persons to become active participants in finding solutions through political engagement and community development.
“I would say start early. For some of us as youths, we stayed in the place of talking about the problems and we were not doing anything about them.
“I would say start early; begin to participate. Once you get to the age of 18, you are eligible to vote and it also means that you can join a political party.
“Get involved on time. Joining a political party does not necessarily mean you will be running for office, but you can use your goodwill to influence happenings and things around you,” she said.
Oduwole added, “How will you use the good things you have learnt to chart the path for the country you want to see? It is one thing to complain and do nothing, and it is another to complain and participate.
“The little work that you do, no matter how little, in your community or sphere of influence to mould something is very significant.
“It might even be as little as picking up trash and getting other people to start doing things right, like building something small where you encourage people to go to school as you do.”
Also speaking, Pastor Evaristus Azodoh, the pastor in charge of the parish, said that bad people win elections because good people refuse to participate.
Azodoh urged youths who are of age to vote to take responsibility for themselves and for the country, as elections are everyone’s business.
The cleric, however, urged youths to reject political thuggery but take an active part in elections to influence the quality of leadership in the country.
“I will encourage Nigerian youths: any politician or anybody that comes to hire you to be a thug, tell them to first bring their children to lead the thuggery.
“If you are up to the age of voting, you should take responsibility for your own life; bad men get into office because good men refuse to participate.
“You stay here and shout that the election was rigged, but did you participate in the election? A lot of people who are making noise do not even have their Permanent Voter Card (PVC),” he said.
“How can you make a change? Some people say, ‘No, it is not my business,’ but election is everyone’s business; if you feel it is not your business, do not complain when things are going wrong.
“We all have a responsibility to participate, go and vote and defend your vote,” he added.
Mrs Elizabeth Ekpeyong, Head of the Junior Church Unit in the parish, said that the annual conference was an initiative of the church that connects teenagers to proper mentors worthy of emulation.
She said that the theme of the 2026 edition, “Rooted for Impact,” challenges teenagers to make a positive difference anywhere they find themselves.
According to Ekpeyong, youths must know that the future of Nigeria is in their hands and they must rise to support and make positive change.
The unit head said the objectives of the conference were to teach the teenagers to take responsibility for their future.
She explained that the conference sought to expand the imagination of participants through interactions with accomplished professionals in society.
“It seeks to make them realise that no matter the odds, they can reach their goals, by getting them to understand that God still intervenes in the affairs of men,” she said.
Master Ebubechukwu Ojini, a regular participant, described the conference as “a life-changing experience.”
He said that lessons learnt from the conference over the years had shaped his thoughts and his entire life for the better.
“This is the fourth year I am participating in the teens conference and I can truly say that this conference changes lives.
“The first time, it was Mr Tony Elumelu that came and he spoke about standing up to take responsibility; the second was Dr Donald Duke who spoke on the impact of music.
“Last year we had Dr Fela Durotoye who told us to find a skill and be the best at it and to leave everyone better than we met them,” he said.
Ojini added, “Now I am in the university and this has stayed with me. Anyone I meet, I think what I can do to make the person better.
“I don’t want to meet you today and you forget me tomorrow; I want to make an impact.”
