As part of efforts to drive youth empowerment and community development, the National Youth Wing of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) recently embarked on a strategic three-day visit to Oyo State. Led by the National Youth Pastor, Pastor Oluwafemi Oyetunde, the delegation toured the state secretariat, the police command headquarters, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to forge partnerships spanning technology acquisition, security trust- building, and agricultural initiatives.
The itinerary kicked off with an executive meeting involving the leadership of the mission's youth affairs in the state, followed by institutional engagements on the second day, and concluded with a 24-hour spiritual retreat tagged 'BUILDUP'.
What commitments were secured at the Oyo State Secretariat?
At the state secretariat, the RCCG youth leaders held discussions with Victor Olojede, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Students’ Affairs. Olojede expressed the state administration's readiness to partner with the church on youth-focused programmes, noting that the initiatives align with government objectives to create viable opportunities for young demographics and students.
Olojede promised to forward a formal memo to the state government to ensure seamless student participation, assuring the delegation of his office's full cooperation. During this session, Pastor Oyetunde unveiled plans to roll out a free three--month digital skills training initiative designed to benefit approximately 10,000 young people across the state through a hybrid of virtual and physical learning sessions.
How did the police engagement address security and youth relations?
Proceeding to the Nigeria Police Force command headquarters in Ibadan, the delegation conferred with the state Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga. The church leadership emphasized the necessity of collaborating with law enforcement to curb crime and bridge the trust gap between young citizens and security personnel.
Furthermore, the delegation inquired about official recruitment pathways, such as short-service commissions, to guide youths interested in pursuing careers in law enforcement. In his response, Commissioner Olugbenga underscored the relevance of active community policing and strict adherence to the rule of law. He explained that community-led policing fosters a collaborative environment where citizens and security agents jointly tackle local security challenges. He further advised young Nigerians to thoroughly understand national laws and channel their grievances through peaceful, institutional avenues.
What are the goals of the proposed partnership with IITA?
At the IITA facility, discussions centered on expanding agricultural training and boosting food production in line with directives from the RCCG General Overseer, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, mandating church regions and provinces to venture into farming.
Oyetunde disclosed that the church currently holds about 165 hectares of land at its Redemption Camp, alongside other arable properties near Ijebu. With a network of over 50,000 parishes nationwide and humanitarian feeding initiatives that cater to millions during festive periods, the church aims to pivot youth from mere job seekers into active food producers, entrepreneurs, and employers of labour through a structured agricultural scheme. He noted that achieving this vision requires technical support, modern farming technologies, and business incubation.
Reacting to the proposal, Adetola Adenmosun, IITA’s Country Coordinator for Youths in Agribusiness, pointed out that land acquisition and market access remain critical hurdles for young agripreneurs, particularly women who make up a significant percentage of their programme participants. She advised the church to align its training modules with prevailing market demands and adopt a phased implementation strategy for its vast land resources, incorporating mentorship and structured marketing frameworks.