Christ Apostolic Church Oke-Agbara along Mologede Obete Village along Sokoto/Igboora, Oyo State will commence a three-day revival from Tuesday, December 9.
The grand celebration holds at Christ Apostolic Church Ori-Oke Gbogunmi headquarters at No 18, Onasanya Street, Arigbanwo Area, Mowe town in Obafemi/Owode local government area of Ogun State on December, 21st by 10am.
The host, Prophet Michael Idowu, special prayers will be offered for the nation during the celebration.
The Presiding Chaplain of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Lagos State chapter, Rev David Kolawole, has challenged youths to work against politicians who do not mean well during the 2015 general elections.
He spoke at the praise and prayer night organised by the Youth Wing of Lagos CAN recently.
Kolawole noted that the voting population consists mostly of youths but lamented their intelligence has been insulted by self-centred politicians.
He warned youths against apathy or indifference but urged them to register and vote for candidates who can move the nation forward.
“It is high time youths took their stand and move against leaders that will not give them the opportunities to develop God’s destiny for their lives. They should go out and take their voters card and register to vote,” he stressed.
Kolawole appealed to Christian youths with pedigree to embrace politics with a view to making the difference.
“If youth can take advantage of their population, energy, creativity and strength, they can outwit corrupt and money bag politicians who are in public offices to milk the nation dry of its resources.
“Let us reject money from those who want to use us against our conscience and take a position that will position more youth in power,” he stated.
The founder and President of Young Disciples International (YDI), Pastor Joe Ogbe, spoke with Tajudeen Adebanjo on youth development and sundry issues. Excerpts:
How did you come about YDI?
YDI is a product of vision! As you are aware, every genuine assignment or ministry is located by vision. I am privileged to locate mine by vision. God has graciously given me the vision to raise young disciples for Him. Disciples properly groomed and mentored to make a difference in their generation for Him.
Our vision is about raising modern-day types of biblical Joseph, Daniel, Esther, Mary and other characters who pleased God with their lives as young people. To concretise this vision, we have come up with a powerful mission statement to drive this assignment. We are not beating about the bush!
We are called to groom highly informed, responsible, impact-making and God-fearing successor leaders that will be relevant to God and humanity.
How did it all begin?
The vision of YDI started unfolding in 1994. While doing my business, I started sensing a nudge in my spirit to reach out to young people out there, not just those under my tutelage in church. Then I was a youth pastor in Winners Chapel. I even toyed with the idea of using an office space at Johet Communications Ltd, a company which I co-founded with my wife, to attend to the youth on the street.
In 1995, I organised a 3-day prayer retreat with some brethren at Redemption Camp to seek the face of God concerning the vision. After the retreat I was moved to share the vision with my mentor and father in ministry, Bishop David Oyedepo, who readily blessed and encouraged me.
By December 31, 1995, my wife and I were commissioned into full time ministry. Work started immediately. God blessed us with a three-bed room apartment at Ponle Bus stop, Egbeda in Lagos. January 30, 1996 a take- off ceremony was conducted by Papa Oyedepo and then the doors of Ydi were opened to young people.
From inception, we have been involved in daily counselling and weekly discipleship training. It will interest you to know that some parents, especially widows, were enthusiastically sending their children to us. Our office became a beehive of youth activities. Our youth friendly bible school started in summer of 1996 with 107 pioneer students.
For six years, we occupied rented apartments for our office and youth centre. God who is not a respecter of persons or ministries graciously gave us this large place for our headquarters and youth development centre. God has been good to us. Who will ever imagine a youth ministry like us commanding the blessing of heaven? Who will ever believe that YDI can amount to anything when we started? Only God could have done all this and He only is worthy of our praise.
What kind of impact do you specifically make with the youths?
YDI has helped young people to embrace godly values and principles that easily position them for greatness in life by showing them the things that are really important for productive life. We inculcate in them values like Covenant of Purity (COP), academic and professional excellence, integrity, hard work, fear of God, service to God and humanity etc.
I can assure all and sundry that quietly we are grooming successor leaders that are positively impacting their families, schools, churches, communities, nations and generation for God.
Were there sacrifices you have made in the course of the pursuit of this vision?
Yes, of course. Can you really run a vision without sacrifices? Sacrifice is part and parcel of any thriving ministry. Without sacrifice, you cannot make impact. I am a beneficiary of the sacrificial ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. When YDI started, I closed down my business to focus on the assignment full time.
I also committed what I call “class suicide” to be able to work with young people. I brought myself low to their level to reach out to them. You require sacrifice to be able to do this.
How do you react to youth unemployment in the nation?
As a youth- friendly pastor, my greatest desire and prayer is to have unemployment banished from our shores. Beloved, you will agree with me that unemployment is the greatest challenge in the world of young people today. Check out the number of graduates we churn out every year. No job for them.
If nothing is done fast this country we will experience serious upheaval. No doubt, unemployment is one of the major reasons behind prostitution, kidnapping and other heinous crimes. Unemployment is an abnormality. It is unacceptable! I see no reason why able bodied person cannot be fully engaged productively.
What are your dreams for the future of Nigerian youths?
I have a great dream for our youths, it is a dream birthed on the infallible word of God as seen in Ps.144:12: “That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:”
I dream to see highly responsible Nigeria youths who accept responsibility for their greatness and life of contribution. I want to see Nigerian youths take giant strides in IT, academia, politics, business, entertainment, clergy, military and what have you.
I don’t want Nigerian youths to be first in crimes or vices. No! We should not be known for evil things. I believe God designed us to matter to Africa and the world. I dream to see our youths take this nation to our economic and political Eldorado via their profound mental resourcefulness.
All over the world young people are beginning to take the centre stage of problem solving. Not being the problem but problem solvers. Nigerian youths too can make a difference.
Our continent needs moral rearmament. Our change agents must be men and women of integrity. As a ministry, we are proud of one of us who went to university with fake results but upon embracing the ministry’s principle of integrity, reported herself to the university authority and left the campus! Today, we hold her in high esteem as our moral authority ambassador!
In 2007, Blessing Bassey’s first appearance on the run way was on the platform of Nigeria Model Awards organised by Lexy Mojo-Eyes-led Legendary Gold Limited. Standing at 5ft 11inches, she strut the runway to clinch the coveted title and her journey to stardom began as the big apple beckons. She later joined other supermodels of the world to contest in the Ford Supermodel Competition, New York. Though she did not win, it gave her the much exposure she needed for her career to blossom.
And because she is always looking for new challenges, she relocated to Johannesburg, South Africa in 2009; this afforded her the opportunity to audition for the glamorous M-net Face of Africa Competition. She shared her experience in the modelling world and other issues with Adetutu Audu.
AFTER the Nigeria Model Awards and M-net face of Africa, not much has been heard from you. What have you been up to?
From NMA, which I won the competition in 2007, I went to New York for Ford Supermodel Competition. Though I did not win, it provided opportunities to be exposed. From there, I went to South Africa to build my book. What we called portfolio in Nigeria, where you have strong pictures and all the jobs you have in the past. I was in South Africa for a while, and then went in for the M-net Face of Africa competition in 2009. I was able to make it to the top 10. The opportunity was good; we travelled to a lot of places and we had lot of exposures, though I did not win too.
It is been travelling to different places for me, booking a lot of jobs. Modelling takes one out a lot.
Presently I am a Psychology student in the University of Lagos and I also still strut runway for fashion shows.
Did you shelve modelling because of academics?
Not really, I still do it. I came back to study. It does not affect my academics.
Modelling has opened doors for you, has it robbed you of anything?
Nothing that I can think of for now. It is not perfect yet, but everything is okay.
How have you been able to manage fame?
I have tried to manage it well; I don’t allow anything to get to me. I have always remembered who I was before the whole thing started. I have not gotten there. So I don’t have to allow the little fame to get into my head.
How has your status affected you academically?
It has not been easy. I had wanted to be a regular girl. I did not know that people would recognise me. But everybody knows one or two things about me, but it does not change anything in me. I still keep my friends. Life is easy and simple for me.
You have talked so much about the modelling world, when is the wedding bell tolling for you?
That is still far away, I am still young. I am not ready for marriage yet.
Is there no man waiting for you?
I am still very much single. I still have a lot of things ahead of me; marriage is not on my mind now.
You are studying Psychology, how do you plan to combine that with modelling?
Modelling is just for a while for me. You know how women are; I am not going to be a model forever. I am going to be married and have my kids. By the time I get to certain time, I may not be able to model again and my Psychology becomes handy then.
How did modelling start for you?
My first shot at modelling is the NMA which I won in 2007. Since then, it has been different kind of exposure for me. It just started when I got the form for the NMA, though I never thought I was going to win. But lucky me, I won.
What keeps you going?
The fact that I have to wake up every day, go to school and learn new things.
Your beauty routine
I don’t have any. I just have my bath and rub normal cream and powder.
With the success you have recorded in your career, who would say is your greatest influence?
Oluchi Orlandi, the winner of the maiden edition of Face of Africa and fellow Nigerian, because she never gave up
Don’t you at one time think that you wish your parents could share in your joy now?
My late mum had always wanted me to be a model. I wish she is alive to say ‘that is my girl, Blessing’. But, unfortunately, she was not alive to see me win NMA in 2007, though my father was alive then. But he was not alive to witness the FOA. Life is full of ups and downs, they would have been proud of me. But I know wherever they are, they are proud of me. My mum was an Accountant and my dad, a Building Engineer. Their deaths took a toll on me but I pursued my dream, because I know that is what they would have wanted me to do. But I am glad that I get a lot of support from my elder brother and that also encourages me.
ONE time man-about-town, Obaro Ibru, who has been missing in action, has returned to the social scene. The St. Moritz man of style who is noted for night clubbing and one of the patrons of major clubs on the island is back on the beat and he is pulling his weight again.
The former director at the defunct Oceanic Bank has been spotted many times at the wave-making Quilox Club.
DAYO Benjamin-Laniyi is one of the master comperes that is causing stir in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.The English graduate from the University of Ibadan, has become a world-class brand in the events management industry, hospitality, tourism and entertainment industry. Fondly called Doxa, sources said she has been tested and proven in coordination and event management for prestigious occasions and ceremonials of various governments, social, diplomatic and corporate.
The managing director of Doxa Conference Management Bureau and Doxa Digital Nigeria Limited is Nigeria’s first female entrepreneur in professional sound reinforcement in the country, having founded ‘DOXA Digital Nigeria’, one of the 3 top performance audio companies in the country, with her husband Tunde, (who, incidentally, is also her persona brand coach).
Dayo, a powerful dresser is of dual origin Nigerian-Trinidadian.
THESE are definitely the best of times for Ehi Annanel Igbinedion, one of the daughters of former Edo State Governor, Lucky Igbinedion. Come December 18th and 20th, the family of the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, will be staging a superlative wedding. The couple had earlier had their introduction a few weeks ago.
POPULAR comedienne, Helen Paul, has welcomed her second child. The baby boy came last week. Married to Femi Bamisile, the couple already has a three-year-old son. Helen, popularly called “Tatafo,” a witty kid who addresses and lampoons societal issues in a satirical manner, has garnered massive and ardent listenership/followership in Lagos and several other states of Nigeria with the show.
It is no longer news that Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, and his beautiful bride, Maryam Augie, got married on Maryam’s birthday, November 24th, at Emir’s Palace Argungu, Kebbi State and there was a birthday dinner for the beautiful bride later that day in Abuja. There was surplus of the best cuisine and drinks money could buy, including performances from I go die, Banky W and Waje to everyone’s delight.
The gist is that high society is gearing up for the classy wedding reception slated for December 21 at the Harrow Park Golf Club, CBD Abuja, and this will be heralded with a black tie event slated for December 20.
Jibrin, a businessman cum politician, before joining politics, was the Chairman/CEO of Green Forest Group Limited and Chairman of Turkish Construction giants, TASYAPI.
The bride has become a young emerging leader from the north and a strong voice for the less-privileged. The CEO of AYAHAY Foundation holds a Bachelors Degree in International Business from the National American University Sharjah, Dubai and MBA from Ehsal University, Brussels. Her advocacy in the areas of education and girl-child empowerment has received critical acclaim in Nigeria and abroad.
JAMILAH Atiku Abubakar, the sophisticated and beautiful wife of the former vice president and presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, is not resting on her oars. The President and CEO of GEDE Foundation, a non-profit organisation based in Washington DC, has just been called to the bar. Her elated hubby took to the social media to celebrate her success. The mother of three who spends more time abroad is also a Ph.D holder from the American University in Washington. She co-runs American styled university Yola, ABTI, with her husband. After studying at the American University in Washington, the woman liked it so much that she and her husband decided to set up one in Nigeria too.
Formerly known as Jennifer Iwenjiora in her days at the Nigerian Television Authority, the Onitsha-born pretty woman metamorphosed from being a simple TV reporter to one of the wives of a former Vice-President. She embraced Islam and changed her name to Jamilah after her marriage to Atiku.
Highly cerebral Jamilah boasts an intimidating academic profile. She holds a doctorate in International Relations, a Masters in International Politics with concentration in International Law and Communications and a first degree in Political Science and Communications.