I greet you all; my friends and my partners in this incredible journey. Today, my heart is full brimming with gratitude, heavy with nostalgia, and alive with hope. The words of Psalm 107:1 echo in my mind: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His love endures forever.” I am thankful to you all, for this moment, and for the work we have done together. This farewell carries a weight I didn’t expect when I was first made the Lagos Archdiocesan Chaplain till I became the National Chaplain and as it may be my last official time in this ministry addressing you, I want to share what is on my heart and soul.When I reflect on our time together most especially as I began almost twelve years ago as the Archdiocesan Chaplain, then ten years ago I became the Provincial Chaplain, after that I was appointed deputy chaplain nine years ago and finally in May 2021, I was made the National Youth Chaplain of the Catholic Youths of Nigeria. By God’s grace, during these almost twelve years of holding these different offices, I was able to scale through the three tiers of being Lagos Archdiocesan Chaplain, Lagos Ecclesiastical Provincial Chaplain and National Chaplain simultaneously, (the Trinity chaplain as some youths named me). During this journey, I don’t just see meetings or agendas. I see a tapestry of moments, late-night brainstorming where ideas sparked like fire, quiet conversations where vulnerability changed us, this ministry has been more than a platform for leadership. Its been a crucible for growth, a sanctuary for dreams, and a mirror of who we are and who God is shaping us to be. I remember my first meeting vividly. I was nervous, unsure if I belonged, wondering if my voice mattered. But you welcomed me, not as a finished product, but as a work in progress, just like you. That is what makes this group so rare. We don’t demand perfection; we offer support. We don’t seek answers alone; we seek courage together. In that seeking, we have built something beautiful, a community that says, “You are enough to start, and we will walk this road as one.”Together we have been able to create a redefined structure of the Catholic youths in Nigeria with proper aims and objectives. Locally we have introduced and done several programs ranging from Camp in various Dioceses and Archdioceses, Archdiocesan Youth Day celebrations in every Dioceses, Quarterly prayer chain, Catechesis, Sports, Youth Empowerment, Quiz Competition and symposium, lectures and workshops, we also partook in various laity activities as we are also part of the Laity. Internationally, we represented our Country in various World Youth Day celebrations, Seminars and lectures on Youth involvement in the Church across the globe. Extensively, we have worked on our national uniform (new design), and our constitution reviewed, keeping it up to date with the present time, talent discovering and deepening, youth evangelization and spiritual development and also giving of detailed report on the various arms of the organization both at Arch/Diocesan, Provincial and National levels. I passionately call and encourage leaders to summon the courage to be accountable and transparent always, either as chaplain or elected officers and members at all levels.However, I would like to stress on a few things that I believe we should work on, togetherness, they say is a radical act in a fractured world. Its choosing to stay when you could leave, to believe in someone’s potential even when they doubt it. Jesus prayed in John 17:21, “that they may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” But unity requires commitment, and I have seen moments where we have faltered, where attendance wanes, deadlines slip, or enthusiasm fades when tasks grow hard. Commitment isn’t just showing up; it’s staying engaged, even when it’s inconvenient. Leaders must be ready to cascade information to grassroots for growth, (failure to do this will continue to affect us negatively). I urge you: don’t allow distractions or half-hearted efforts dim the fire of this work. You are stewards of something bigger than yourselves, treat it with the dedication it deserves. Secondly, our values and system are rooted in integrity, service, and faith that define us. Yet, I have watched us sometimes lose sight of them, chasing trends or settling for convenience over principle, we risk building on sand instead of rock. I admonish us to return to our foundation to ask, “Does this honor God? Does it serve others?”—before we act. A system without values is just noise; let yours be a symphony of purpose. Thirdly, Decision, leadership demands wisdom, not haste. I have seen us make choices rushed, reactive, or swayed by loud voices that didn’t reflect our best. Improper decision-making erodes trust and stalls progress. James 1:5 promises, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Pause. Pray. Seek counsel. Ensure your decisions align with your mission, not just the moment. You are capable of becoming a better version of yourself, choose it.This moment isn’t without sadness. There is a part of me that wants to hold on to the rhythm of these meetings, to the chaos of planning, to the comfort of being with people who understand. But letting go isn’t losing; it’s trusting. I trust that what we have built is rooted in God’s purpose. I trust that you carry a light that will shine beyond my sight. And I trust that the questions we have wrestled with will find new voices to answer them, guided by Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. The world can feel overwhelming crises, conflicts, change. It’s tempting to wonder if your efforts matter. But I look at you how you have turned dreams into reality, how you have shown up for each other, how you have refused to let setbacks define you and I am reminded that change starts small. My challenge to you is this: Don’t just lead. Feel the weight of what you are building, the joy of what you are creating, and the ache of what is undone. Leadership isn’t about being the loudest, it’s about being the most human, the most faithful. Let the stories you hear, the struggles you witness, the dreams you share move you. Let them guide you, because they will keep you tethered to why you began. And when the road feels long, remember Philippians 4:13:
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” You are not alone. You have each other, the legacy of those before you, and the promise of those to come.I wish to express my unalloyed gratitude to God Almighty, for His Grace, guidance, protection, Wisdom and Blessing upon me, may His Name be praised forever, Amen! I want to express my indebtedness to the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in particular to my Local Ordinary, the Archbishop of Lagos Archdiocese; Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins for his unwavering prayers, support, love, guidance and for choosing me to serve as the Youth Chaplain in the Archdiocese which opened the gateway to serve in this capacity. I equally use this opportunity to thank our Youth Bishop Chairman, Most Rev. Patrick Eluke, Auxiliary Bishop, and the Apostolic Administrator of Port Harcourt Diocese for his constant love, guidance and support towards me. In this same vein, I warmly appreciate the Secretary General to the CBCN, Very Rev Fr. Michael Banjo, the Deputy Secretary General and Director of Pastoral Agent CSN, Very Rev Fr. Augustine Okochi. I thank our beloved youth animator, Very Rev. Fr. Boniface Idoko, I warmly welcome and thank our newly appointed Chaplains, Very Rev. Fr. Maurice Mbeke, Deputy Chaplain, Very Rev. Fr. Tega Ogbeni, and indeed all our amiable Archdiocesan & Diocesan chaplains, Deanery chaplains & parish chaplains across all the various Archdioceses and Dioceses, for your unwavering sacrifices. I immensely thank all Elected Executive members, both past and present, Provincial, Archdiocesan and Diocesan Presidents, all NEC members, past and present, indeed every youth all over the country who have worked with me on this journey. I know that I am not leaving you in sorrow but in joy most especially in the hands of great persons who are fitted to serve and make our organization grow. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey. I will carry you in all my heart and I look forward to seeing the amazing things God has in store for you. Finally, avoid anything that has to do with sense of entitlement, don’t ask what your Arch/Diocese, my parish or CYON WILL DO FOR ME, RATHER, WHAT WILL I DO FOR MY ARCH/DIOCESE, PARISH AND CYON.Thank you for trusting me, challenging me, teaching me. Thank you for the arguments, the visions, the moments we didn’t need words. You have made me better, not just as a leader, but as a child of God. This isn’t goodbye; it’s a handing-over, a passing of the baton to a group I believe in with all my heart. You are the heartbeat of this work, and I can’t wait to see where God leads you. I commend you all to the intercession of our Mother Mary and our patron Saint Charles Lwanga to continue to intercede for you. AmenMay God bless us all. Amen!
LONG LIVE CYON!
LONG LIVENIGERIA!!!
For God and For Youth!!!!! Through CHRIST!!!!!!!!!!
