By Ozolua Uhakheme
It was pomp as sought-after Nigerian role models in various fields of life, mentored hundreds of ambitious and exuberant youths on how they could become successful in their chosen careers. The event was the maiden edition of the Port Harcourt Youth Conference 2025, organized by IBGO Mentorship Network. The conference was held recently at the 2,000-seater state-of-the-art auditorium of House on the Rock, at GRA Phase III, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
According to the Chair of the organising committee, Dr. Tayo Isijola, who is the Theatre and Performing Arts’ Head of Department, Wigwe University, Port Harcourt, the conference was themed: “Emergence of Stars” resonated with its highlights on mentoring the conferees on how to achieve stardom in their chosen careers. Dr. Isijola said the conference is aimed at empowering the youths with proper mentorship on career success and advancement.
The conference, which was anchored by the duo comperes of- Buchi Rafua and Abiye Abere, featured talented rapper and music producer, Sammy Heart. His characteristic lyrical rap style connected the audience to the conference theme.
No fewer than seven choice speakers made presentations, followed by a drama performance titled “Stupid Question”, presented by Dr. Tee Repertory (DTR).
Pastor Lanre Oluseye, a leader of the House on the Rock Church in the South-south region, and life coach, opened the mentoring session with an iceberg question for young people- “Are stars born or made?” The speaker established the side of fate to the question, stating that the good God and author of fate had fashioned everyone for a good end. He stressed that individual’s choices, decisions and the willpower to achieving that “good end” play significant roles in the outcome. Narrowing down to the subject of choice of friendship, Pastor Oluseye noted that early choices and decisions to make or change ones’ circle of friends and network will always impact strongly on one’s life achievements and advancements. He noted that right friends and network also play important roles in stimulating an individual for greatness by situating one in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing and getting it right.
He therefore charged the youths to be resolutely intentional in choosing circle of friends and network.
Iroghama Ogbeifun, an inspiring young female captain of industry, spoke on the subject of self-appropriation for advancements. Her interactions with the conferees about self-awareness were beyond understanding one’s thought, feelings, behaviour or personality. Rather the speaker focused on the need to develop knowledge about self-strength and weaknesses, which should be followed by making conscious efforts to work on the weaknesses and enhancing the points of strength. She adduced the following as soft pillars for self-leadership: self-discipline, self-motivation, personal responsibility, emotional intelligence and submitting to an accountability partner.
Iro concluded that confidence and independence that can produce great achievements and advancement to stardom are premised on the application of the five (5) soft pillars.
Mr. Blessing Isijola, who is the Convener of the programme, spoke on a daunting phase in the journey to stardom, which he described as “passing through the process”. He corroborated the 1st speaker’s position that the early phase to achieving advancement into stardom, which requires “find the path” and “break inertia”, may be somewhat challenging in the absence of the right circle of friends and network. However, he noted that once the journey has commenced, the path of “passing through the process is mostly done alone. It is an incubating phase that comes with pressures of denials and pain. Hence, the speaker did recommend the following as duty to anyone “passing through the process”: engage self-mastery, convert strength to skill sets, work on your weakness and learn from mistakes.
Emmanuel Inyang, aka Prinx Emmanuel, a gospel music artiste narrated his travails in the path to stardom. He drew from his narrations to establish that the emergence of a star is never an instant occurrence, as no sustainable advancement comes in a hurry. He submitted that true advancement takes a process of development, which the convener already termed “incubation”.
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The fifth mentor, Chinonso Iwo, aka Nonso, addressed conferee on failure, being a necessity in the journey to stardom, remarking that “failure is the tuition fee for success”. Nonso, a successful entertainment and tourism entrepreneur, assured the youths that it is not wrong to fail, as failure can serve to provide the impetus for the knowledge to get bye, and be better.
The speaker explained that failure truly helps to build capacity through “unlearn” and “re-learn” processes, as the individual also develops patience, which is of great value to stardom.
Reigner Davies, aka Pa Ray, who spoke next, is the founding Director of Mouldbreak Learning Community- a well-sought after life coach and vision strategist. First, Pa Ray stressed that “Christ in you is the hope of glory.” He extended the position of the 1st speaker about an assuring fate ahead of everyone, and that the duty to fulfilling it lies in the hands of the individual. Then, his “pitch a tent” analogy, explained that the journey to stardom begins with an immediate starting measure. “Start by pitching your tent, is a charge to begin by erecting a temporary structure and not necessarily a building.” This also agrees with the positions of the 4th and 5th speakers who stressed on the need to start little, for the journey, only, begins by engaging a start.
Enioluwa Adeoluwa, aka Eni, stressed that everybody admires the glamour of stardom but not all may know that lots of work go behind the scenes, whereas a lot of people, who aspire to be stars do not admire the work that comes with it. He admitted that work is tedious, dirty and exerting, but it is a duty on the path of becoming and remaining a star. Charging the audience that individuals with apathy for work have no place in stardom.
He noted that for a plethora of reasons fear lurks at the starting point of every good end, and thus advised the conferees, “don’t be afraid to start.”
The convener, Dr. Isijola, announced the theme for next year’s edition: “Success Codes”, with a scheduled date of Monday, March 23, 2026.