Fides Media Living the Faith
…Empowers Over 50 Youths
By Adejumoke Aminnat Alebiosu and Anthony A. Akinomolafe
Following the declaration of the 2021/2022 Pastoral Year as the Year of the Youth by His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor, Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, the Committee on Youth Ministry, in-conjunction with the CYON, Awka Diocese, has carried out various activities at deanery, regional, and diocesan levels.
St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, Amawbia, hosting the Catholic Bishop of Awka and the Committee on Youth Ministry, 2021/2022 Pastoral Year, held a diocesan youth summit and empowerment on Sunday, 6th November, 2022. The one-day programme, with the theme, ”Youth, Arise and Shine”, featured a Holy Mass, Youth Summit and Empowerment.
The programme, being the first of its kind, cut across all CYON sectors; the NFCS, YCS, YCP and NACC.
The bishop, during his homily at the Pontifical Mass, centered his teaching on the truth about resurrection and admonished the youth on the importance of knowing the reason for their existence, what they were being called upon to do as youths, and defending their faith. He reminded the youths that they were leaders of today and not tomorrow.
The summit and empowerment programme commenced immediately after Mass. The youth from different deaneries participated in various skill exhibitions, ranging from baking, cosmetology, bead making, shoe making, make up, arts and fashion designing, and featured seven skills in all.
Rev Fr Pascal Udo, Chaplain, CYON, Awka Diocese, while speaking with Fides, encouraged the youths to empower themselves. ‘I want to encourage the youths to carry this message down to their parishes to empower themselves. The government cannot empower every youth in the country,’ he said.
Also speaking with Fides, Rev. Fr. Prof Boniface Obiefuna, sub-committee chairman, Committee on Youth Empowerment, Awka Diocese, encouraged the youths to develop themselves. ‘Let every youth get into himself/herself, realize himself/herself be aware of who he/she is and make the best of the moment for good,’ he said.
After the exhibition the best participants from different skills were rewarded. Obi Cynthia from Agulu Deanery emerged the best in bakery with a cash prize of N100,000 Hundred Thousand. Ifedigbo Emeka from Agulu Deanery and Anne Anekwe from Awka Deanery II, emerged the best in fashion and design (male and female categories), respectively, and received N100,000 Naira each.
Chidimma Ezenwelu from Awka Deanery I received the sum of N75, 000 as the best in makeup; while Anichebe Cecilia from Ebenebe Deanery, was best in Cosmetology. Emmanuel Nwofia from Agulu Deanery was best in art work and both received N75,000 Naira each.
Obinna Orjiakor from Enugw ukwu Deanery received N100, 000 Naira as best in shoemaking, while Ude Martha from Ugwuoba Deanery was best in bead making and received N50,000 Naira.
