by crossriverwatch admin
Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has donated his salary from this month, July 2013 till May 29, 2015 when he will be leaving office to Grace Consulate (Grace Network Ministries Incorporated) as his contribution to the church’s youth development program.
Imoke, who was the Chairman and Special Guest of Honor, made his donation at the unveiling and launch of album by the church tagged “Earth Shakers and Frank Edward, “Na’ar Youth Swagger”, at Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel Calabar.
He said the beauty of what the church is doing goes beyond the normal Sunday as it impacts on youth development.
The Governor disclosed that the donation was borne out of his commitment and passion for youth development, which also prompted him to float the Bridge Leadership Foundation, a project dedicated to helping youths develop their talents as future leaders.
He said today’s youths are faced with global challenges and it is important that they have access to information which creates an opportunity to do more than the adults, expressing that money generated from the launch should be used in purchasing equipment and building a studio to enable youths realize their potentials.
Imoke commended Senior Pastor Lawrence Okpata, the brain behind the launch, for doing wonderfully well, adding that” What he and his wife are doing is affecting the society because they know Nigerians will depend on new generation of leaders as leaders do not just happen”
He advised the youths to get education first because one cannot be successful without education, stating that Pastor Okpata has succeeded because he was trained as a lawyer which contributed to the success of the church.
He promised to advertise the Youth Swagger Program which focuses on the youth and the leadership quality which they posses.
According to him, the program would create impact on youths in future and advised them to be committed to whatever thing they are doing to achieve their goals while, stressing that, “The kids need support because it is this generation that will produce the next leadership”.
He unveiled the album by saying, “The album will edify and give us peace, appreciate the word of God and will glorify the name of the Almighty God”.
The wife of the governor, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, in a welcome address, described the launch as a great event because it is aimed at catching the children young, explaining that the first thing a parent should do is to teach a child how to sing.
Mrs. Imoke lauded Pastor Okpata for grooming the children because it is not easy to be young especially with the spate of serious distractions which calls for their encouragement to follow the right track, observing that her daughter, Elenda, who was one of the singers, was in a great company of children that have time to praise God.
Senior Pastor Lawrence Okpata said he thought about “Youth Swagger” eight months ago and the potentials in the youth have begun to come out, adding that through the program, he has become a father to many children.
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