Nigeria’s Catholic Youths Urged to Rediscover Faith, Reject Social Vices, “become agents of peace”

“We keep telling them to be good, be stable, and avoid anything negative – criminality, drugs, and all those things that do not contribute to progress,” he said.

The Nigerian Catholic Archbishop went on to cautioned against the assumption that the Church possesses limitless resources to meet all youth-related challenges.

“The little God has blessed us with, we use wisely to help our young people,” he said.

Reflecting on the increasing trend of Nigerian youth migrating abroad, Archbishop Kaigama blamed the situation on failed leadership rather than a lack of opportunities.

“Nigeria is a beautiful country. We have everything – intellect, agriculture, minerals, oil, human resources – but we don’t know how to use them. That is why we continue to suffer,” the Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal Ministry in April 1995 as Bishop of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Jalingo said.

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He called for empathy in addressing rising cases of youth involvement in cybercrime, drug abuse, and sexual immorality, and added, “We cannot generalize and demonize all young people. There are good young people, especially the ones we find here. Our duty is to help them become better and see the light.”

He identified social deprivation, broken families, and inadequate upbringing as key factors contributing to the increasing involvement of young people in deviant behavior.

Archbishop Kaigama also expressed concern about digital exposure eroding moral values. He said, “The modern society rooted in internet culture exposes children to things they shouldn’t see. Parents have lost control because children live in a digital world of their own.”

Good upbringing and value formation can “minimize immorality and criminality,” he said, adding that peace and moral renewal must begin at the personal level. He called upon youths to “become agents of peace.”

“Peace should start from each young person. Just say, ‘I am an agent of peace,’ and promote peace in all circumstances,” the Catholic Archbishop said.

He encouraged Nigerian youth, across religious and ethnic divides, to take initiative rather than wait for change to be imposed.

Christian youths, Muslim youths, Archbishop Kaigama said, “if we all decide that peace starts with me, then our society will change. But when you wait for others to begin, you will wait forever.”

Abah Anthony John is a Nigerian Catholic journalist with passion for Church communication and media apostolate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Benue State University, Makurdi in Benue State Nigeria. He has a background in print, electronic and multi-media production.