Cross River State - Imoke Donates 23 Months Salary to Church

[CrossRiverState]

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has donated his salary from this July this year till he leaves office in 2015 to Grace Consulate (Grace Network Ministries Incorporated) as his contribution to the church's youth development programmes.

Imoke, who was the Chairman and Special Guest of Honour, at the unveiling and launch of album by the church tagged "Earth Shakers and Frank Edward, "na'ar Youth Swagger", made the donation at Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel Calabar where the programme was held.

He said the beauty of what the church is doing goes beyond the normal Sunday worship as it impacted 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 were doing was 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 Programme, which emphasizes youth and leadership qualities they ought to posses.

According to him, the programme would create impact on youth in future and advised them to be committed to whatever thing they were 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 words 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 call 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 in "The vision", said he thought about "Youth Swagger" eight months ago when potentials in the youth started manifesting to, adding that through the programme, he has become a father to many children.

Okpata disclosed that apart from the religious aspect, the programme is intended to raise people who could earn a living and someday become great personalities, explaining that it was also a platform for many to grow.

The Pastor said the State Government has been a great shelter, providing them with equipment, but stressed that the intention was not only to buy buses but also to buy studio equipment to enable them praise God effectively. He maintained that though the Church is using Youth Swagger as a point of contact to convert souls, everything earned from it will be used for the ministry.

Special Adviser, Governor's Office on Events Management, Mr. Nzan Ogbe, reasoned that one's vision cannot be suppressed because it emerges at the appointed time and that he shares the same view with the initiator of the programme, who though trained as a lawyer, decided to serve the Lord.

Ogbe, who was represented by Efa Imoke, noted that monitoring of youth is not only bringing them together, but also allowing them experience what it takes to be part of a  family, emphasizing that all should recognize that they owe the children a responsibility by contributing to their growth.

He explained that the programme also afforded children opportunity to maximize the benefits provided by the occasion and to call for total support from the older ones.

[Glory Skales Charity]

WOW!!! Not so many Nigerian governors can do this

[Nifemi Donald]

While most governors don't even touch their salaries, they just prefer to steal from their state's money.