The Baptist Convention of Nigeria has attributed the country’s stagnant growth to the persistent mistakes of past and present leaders.
The convention stressed the urgent need for a transformative leadership approach to pave way for the progress and development of the country.
The National Patrons Forum Chairman, Royal Ambassadors of Nigeria, Rev. Dr. Kehinde Oladiran Olaleye, stated this at the ongoing 8th Royal Ambassadors of Nigeria Baptist Convention National Jamboree, at the Albarka Fellowship Baptist Church, Television, Kaduna State.
Represented by the National Patron of the Association, Rev. Dr. John Joseph Hayab, he reiterated that Nigeria’s leaders have spoken with one language but acted differently, saying that it is the reason why youths no longer trust them, an unfortunate attitude that he opined led to the recent nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
Hayab also stressed that with the thousands of young people gathered at the Royal Ambassadors Jamboree in Kaduna State, the youths will be equipped with requisite knowledge to be useful to the society using those that have gone ahead of them as practical examples.
“Our leaders have failed us. They have spoken with one language and acted differently. The disenchantment recently that led to the #EndBadGovernance protest is because youths no longer trust their leaders but it’s not enough to just protest and not trust our leaders.
“What kind of leaders are we going to be as the youths are very important. So we are calling on the youths to learn from the mistakes they are seeing, correct it so that they do not repeat same mistake in future.
“The reason why Nigeria is not progressing is because they keep repeating same mistakes. But we want our youths to be a good example by being sincere, patriotic and have good character so that this country can change for good,” he explained.
Earlier in his address, the Marshall of the Royal Ambassadors of Nigeria, Counselor Bitebo Eregoba, noted that the 8th jamboree is to unite the young boys, reflect on their spiritual growth and service, and also to encourage them to know God by themselves.
Bitebo added that the jamboree in its efforts to discourage drug and substance abuse is also marking the 20th year anniversary of the Antisocial Vices Club, aimed to encourage young boys shun societal ills and distractions capable of destroying their future.
He said, “The Royal Ambassador is a youth organisation whose sole responsibility is engaging and moulding young boys to become God fearing men between the ages of 10 and 35 years. The idea is essentially to catch them young based on the philosophy that it is more easier to mould them while they are younger than when they are men. So at this young age the boys are groomed to be the Ambassadors of their families, society and the world at large.
“We are also marking our 20th year anniversary of our Antisocial Vices Club to encourage young boys. You know the society is full of much ills, different distractions you cannot speak of but as young boys growing up in the society, I want to encourage our boys to remain focused and know that as Christ Ambassadors they represent Christ here on earth and anything Christ cannot be engaged in must be discouraged on their path.”
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the opening ceremony in Kaduna on Wednesday, the National President of Men Missionary Club of the Baptist Convention, Dr. Julius Ojebode averred that the meeting will teach the young boys on the need for them to be strong and confront whatever challenges that they may likely encounter in future.
Julius added, “What we are teaching them in this very Jamboree is to know God by themselves because to those who know their God they will be strong and do exploits.
“In this kind of environment where we found ourselves they need to be strong and stand on their own and that is why we come here together to come and learn from the word of God and those who are ahead of them so that they can go and challenge whatever that they might have been going through. They should not be afraid of any challenges that they are facing, they should confront it,” he charged the youths.
On his part, Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani praised the organizers, saying that the meeting is apt and urged the youths not to take the gathering for granted.
Represented by the Commissioner of Sports Development, Kaduna State Prof. Benjamin Kumai-Gugong, the governor reiterated his commitment to supporting initiatives that promote peace and unity in the state, noting that his doors are open to support such programs as panacea to encourage relative peace in Kaduna State.
Repeated leadership errors hindering Nigeria’s progress – Baptist Convention