OGBA, Nigeria — Bishop Richard Ikpegbu, of the Ogba Ward in the Lagos Nigerian Stake, set the tone for the beginning of the recent 2010 Ogba Ward Youth Conference.
"The country depends and hopes on you for a better future and prospects, and we can't afford to let you slip off before the future comes. We need you to be strong and of good courage as you make choices now which will determine your future," he told the nearly 50 Mormon youths and their friends who attended the March 13 conference, which was themed "Be Thou Strong and of Good Courage."
Other presenters spoke on educational opportunities, dating, preparing for missions and developing Christlike attributes.
Elder and Sister Wardsworth, the couple missionaries in charge of Perpetual Education Fund, discussed the vast opportunities available through the fund.
The Lagos State Government sent M.A. Adejumo from Ministry of Education. He reiterated the efforts of the government in seeing that there is no excuse for any youth not to have a high school certificate diploma in Lagos State.
The Ogba Ward Young Men president, Biodun Bakare, told the youths to be courageous in staying off drugs, away from bad media, pornography and cultism.
President Okechukwu Imo, the Lagos Nigeria stake president, gave the closing remarks. He said, "The church needs you, your parents need you, Nigeria needs you and you can't afford not to be there when the call comes."
Earlier in the day, the youths carried out a service project at a nearby Police Area Command Office in Ogba. They cut grass, cleared blocked drainage and swept the offices.