From Ovat Mike, Onitsha
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor has warned youths against indulging in nefarious activities capable of jeopardising their future.
Most Reverend Ezeokafor gave the advice at a special mass held at Assumption Parish, Nimo to mark this year’s World Youth Day celebration of the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON), Awka Diocese.
Ezeokafor represented by the Vicar General Two, Awka Diocese, Reverend Father Peter Akaenyi, lamented that lack of fear of God and indiscipline on the part of youths have robbed young people of their vital position in the society and charged CYON to concentrate more on winning back the youths for Christ and the society.
In a reception held after the mass, the Chairman on the occasion and the sponsor, Hon. Pete Ibida, representing Njikoka Two Constituency in the Anambra state House of Assembly, who noted that World Youth Day celebration shows the importance the church attaches to the youths, asked them to show the light in all their undertakings and shun negative activities that portray them in bad light.
On his part, the member representing Nnewi North Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Nonso Okafor called on youths to use the World Youth Day celebration to make amends where necessary, even as he charged them to aspire for elective positions as the “Not too young to run bill”, passed by the national Assembly has removed the constitutional blockage that prevented them from aspiring for elective positions.
In his address, the President Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria, Awka Diocese, Comrade Augustine Ubosi, explained that the world youth day celebration is an annual event for young people initiated by Pope John Paul the ll in 1985 to remind youths of their roles in church and nation building.