General News
EU launches 25 ‘Youth Sounding Board’ to deepen role of youth in decision making
The European Union (EU) on Monday lunched its ‘Youth Sounding Board’ (YSB) in Nigeria with 25 youth drawn from the six geo-political zones in the country as board members.
The EU-YSB, is a space created for young people to influence the EU’s development cooperation in Nigeria.
Also, the EU believes that young Nigerians must be involved in shaping and implementing its development cooperation decision making for more inclusiveness.
The inauguration was, therefore, part of the EU’s commitment to incorporate young Nigerians in its decision making process.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, lauded the EU’s cooperation in youth development in Nigeria, observing that youth development could only be done by government in collaboration with partners, such as the EU.
“This is why the concept of having strategic implementation partners has become the rubric of our engagement and the EU seats in this vital role.
“The EU-YSB is a welcome idea and the continued engagement of our youth is the only way we can meet them at the point of their needs.
”Also, we can deal with the burning issues of inclusiveness, either in governance, development or even in the careers they want to choose.
“The 25 youth chosen, I am sure would be worthy Ambassadors, and they will go beyond what they will learn to ensure that other youth in their communities, work places and societies also benefit from this process.
“The EU-YSB is another opportunity which, even the ministry wishes to embrace, and also welcome because it has open a window of opportunity for our youth”, he said.
The minister added that there was need for a global action plan for the youth, which can be used to design national policies and initiatives at the Federal Government level for the programmes to be mutually reinforcing.
Cécile Tassin-Pelzer, the EU’s Head of cooperation, also speaking at the event, said the EU-YSB aimed at creating a space for meaningful engagement in the EU’s cooperation policy.
According to her, the EU was also aligning with Nigeria’s national goals in three key areas: Green and Digital Economy, Governance, Peace, Migration and Human Development, in which young people were at the core.
Tassin-Pelzer said cooperation between EU and Nigeria started in 1976, and in 2009 they joined to proffer the way forward in strengthening their cooperation in key common issues that included; peace and security, economic development, social development, human rights and equality.
According to Tassin-Pelzer, the reaffirmation to strengthen our cooperation was done in 2020 at a high level meeting, by which we, at the EU, are starting a new programme of engagement for a seven-year financial cycle.
“The last 12 months, we have not only consulted with civil society, but the private sector and representatives of government.
“Our cooperation is based on Nigeria’s agenda because the EU does not come to a country with its own agenda.
”We are here to align with the national agenda on policies and to discuss on how the EU can assist the government and the country to reach their goals.
“So, for the seven years we have agreed to focus on key priority areas; Green and Digital Economy, Governance, Peace, Migration and Human Development.
“They are interconnected and the common focus of the three priorities are the youths, and in any of our engagement we focus on creating opportunities for jobs and in governance for the youth voices to be heard”, Tassin-Pelzer said.
She added that in the coming months and years the EU sees it as a privilege to have the 25 Youth Sounding Board to help in consulting and shaping youth involvement in decision making.
The EU-YSB was unveiled by the Minster and the EU’s Head of Cooperation, with the minister thanking the EU for being worthy partners in youth development, NAN reports. (NAN)
General News
Clergy Urged To Put Members’ Welfare Above All Else
At a solemn ordination service in Abuja, senior church leaders have called on pastors to make the well-being of their congregations a top priority, following the example of Jesus Christ.
Speaking during the priesthood ordination and installation of a Sub Dean at the Cathedral Church of Advent, Life Camp, Abuja, the retired Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Okene, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Ajulo, described pastors as shepherds charged with the care of their flock. He urged them to shun worldly distractions and focus on meeting the spiritual and material needs of their members.
Bishop Ajulo also encouraged the newly ordained priests to remain faithful to their calling by teaching God’s word without compromise.
In his charge, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, urged the new clergy to preach the undiluted gospel and foster religious harmony wherever they serve. He expressed confidence that their new roles would help promote peace and unity in society.
The service also featured prayers for national leaders and divine intervention in addressing the current global economic challenges.
General News
1,000 Prayer Warriors Storm Ilorin for Tinubu, Nation’s Deliverance
In a dramatic show of faith and patriotism, over 1,000 fiery prayer warriors from across Nigeria will descend on Ilorin, Kwara State, this Saturday, lifting their voices in intense intercession for President Bola Tinubu’s success and Nigeria’s survival in the face of biting economic woes and mounting insecurity.
The spiritual siege, themed “Walking in Domini”, is the maiden convention of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), with its Kwara State Chairman, Evangelist Thomas Adeboye, vowing that “heaven will hear and respond to Nigeria’s cry.”
Aside from marathon prayers, the gathering will roll out free medical outreach to locals across Kwara’s LGAs, a gesture aimed at touching both body and soul.
Adeboye, lamenting Nigeria’s “troubling economic and security realities”, called for a nationwide prayer uprising, insisting that Tinubu has shown the will to revive the nation but needs massive divine backing to succeed.
“Banditry, a collapsing economy, and political tension demand we seek God’s face like never before,” he declared. “We will storm heaven for wisdom for the President and governors to steer Nigeria to safety.”
The convention will also feature awards to distinguished personalities, soul-lifting worship, fiery sermons, and unity-driven lectures—all capped with thunderous prayers for Nigeria’s redemption.
Adeboye urged the President to ensure every policy has “a human face,” stressing that Nigerians must not only endure but also enjoy the fruits of governance.
With the OAIC promising to reaffirm believers’ authority in Christ and rally spiritual boldness in the face of national challenges, Ilorin is set to become the epicentre of a powerful spiritual warfare for Nigeria’s destiny.
General News
Nigerian Anglicans Condemn Lesbian Archbishop of Wales, Deepening Global Anglican Rift
…Church leaders accuse Welsh counterparts of “spiritual decadence” and “abandonment of faith”
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has issued a forceful condemnation of the election of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, as the Archbishop of Wales. The move is the latest in a series of developments that have deepened divisions within the global Anglican Communion over sexuality and doctrine.
In a statement from Primate The Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, the church denounced the election as a “serious departure from biblical teaching” and a sign of “spiritual decadence” and “an outright abandonment of the faith once delivered to the saints.”
Archbishop Ndukuba warned that Bishop Vann’s elevation compromises the Anglican Church’s global mission and could obstruct evangelism. He compared the situation to the controversial tenure of Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, former Presiding Bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church, who also faced intense criticism from conservative Anglicans for her progressive views.
The Primate accused Bishop Vann of being complicit in the “ongoing crisis” around same-sex issues, stating that the election is a “clear revelation that many who claim to be members of the body of Christ cannot endure sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:3–4).
The Church of Nigeria called on Anglicans worldwide to reject “rebels” and “apostates” and to instead support conservative bodies like the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON).
“The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) condemns, unequivocally rejects, and will not recognize the election of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann as Archbishop of Wales,” Ndukuba declared. He concluded with a solemn warning that without repentance, the Church in Wales risks losing “complete relevance” and its leaders will face judgment.
