By Gbenga Osinaike
The LAWNA Event Centre in Ketu, Lagos, was filled to the brim on Saturday, January 17. Youths, adults, and a large army of adolescents had converged on the hall for the second edition of the Pastor S.G.O. Uyeh Public Lecture. An unbridled enthusiasm permeated the hall as speaker after speaker took turns addressing the audience.
Though Pastor Gabriel Okpako-Uyeh, in whose honor the lecture was being held, is 84 years old, there was a clear bond between him and the young people who were the subject of this second lecture.
The event, themed “The Place and Impact of Christian Youth in National Transformation and Development,” was delivered by Elder Toyin Ayinde, a former Commissioner in Lagos State. Ayinde was also a foundational member of the Committee for the Welfare of Youth of the Church and is a sought-after resource person for youth mentorship and training.
Preambles
However, the main lecture did not begin until after a welcome address by the Provost of LAWNA Theological Seminary, Pastor Emmanuel Olowoyeye, and a keynote address by the President of TACN, Pastor Lawrence Oladele.
Olowoyeye observed that since the maiden edition of the public lecture in July 2025, positive feedback had inspired this second edition. Initially planned for December 2025, the event was moved to January 17.
While emphasizing that the aim of the lecture was to keep the values of Pastor Uyeh at the forefront and inspire the coming generation, Olowoyeye noted that Pastor Uyeh has consistently demonstrated a commitment to young people, providing them with opportunities and helping them achieve their dreams.
TACN president Keynote
The President of TACN, Pastor Oladele, provided a window into the main lecture with his keynote address. He expressed confidence that the choice of topic would bridge the gap between the old and the young, while also acknowledging the significant role the church has played in the transformation of Africa.
Oladele noted, “The time of being young is a time of blessing from God. It is a time of strength. It is a time when they are daring and filled with a vision for the future.”
He chronicled the stories of young people in the Bible who performed exploits, while also informing his listeners that the founder of The Apostolic Church Great Britain, Daniel Powell Williams, was in his 20s when he received the vision for the church after the Welsh Revival and later became its first president.
Oladele stressed further that young people have a responsibility to impact both the church and society, charging them to take up this mantle.
He announced that the mission has resolved to set up a youth ministry tasked with identifying the strengths of young people and harnessing them for the common good.
Main lecture
The guest lecturer, Elder Ayinde, took to the podium following the breathtaking keynote. He emphasized that his Christian faith, biblical beliefs, and the rigorous discipline of professional ethics informed his handling of the theme, while clarifying that he was not there to give a sermon or doctrinal teaching.
Ayinde stated that young people are critical to the emancipation of any society. “They represent the promise of sustainability; a system without vibrant, engaged youth is a system in terminal decline. The energy and presence of youth are proof of vitality and evidence of credible followership for a vision. Consequently, a vision without youth will soon perish because the future of every organization lies in its youth.”
He noted that young people were never sidelined in biblical accounts, drawing instances from the lives of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and a host of others. Citing examples of young kings and their impact on society, he stated, “They were not youth waiting for permission; they were youth responding to a higher call within their national context.”
Describing Joseph as the most comprehensive biblical archetype of a divinely prepared youth impacting a secular nation, Ayinde stated that Joseph’s success was built on integrity, trustworthiness, resilience, competence, wisdom, servant leadership, and a divine perspective.
Recommendation
Ayinde went on to identify the implications of a youth-centered church and society. According to him, such a church will experience revival and renewed energy. For young people to be relevant, he reasoned that they must reject the narrative of being “leaders of tomorrow” only. “They are leaders of today in preparation for tomorrow,” he quipped.
On how to fully harness youth potential, Ayinde recommended killing the fallacy of “instant success” and emphasized the need for young people to familiarize themselves with the concept of process. “Every youth in the Bible who impacted their nation went through a process—David in the fields, Daniel in study, Jesus in the carpenter’s shop and in solitude,” he said.
He urged the church to prioritize discipleship that includes civic and leadership education, while also being intentional in its search for leaders. “We must consciously scout for young people of character, competence, and conviction and tell them: ‘You are the one we have been waiting for,'” he submitted.
In Ayinde’s words, youth “must be given responsibilities within the church and community—managing projects, leading initiatives, and solving real problems. This will build resilience, accountability, and practical wisdom.” He stressed the importance of integrating young people early into leadership circles because “the very nature of transformative change demands strength, speed, and alertness—attributes which are native endowments of youth.”
As a professional town planner and former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Lagos, Ayinde challenged both the young and old to make themselves available to the process of transformation.
He stated that the youth should be ready to be part of the critical mass that engineers change, while those currently in leadership must be ready for the “costly work” of preparing and releasing young people for their transformative roles.
The lecture drew enthusiastic applause and elicited several questions, which were joyfully answered. The energy among the young people was palpable.
Celebrating Pastor Uyeh
The event concluded with a celebration of Pastor Uyeh, who clocked 84 on Sunday January 18. His history with TACN began at a very young age, and over the years, he has built a reputation as a devoted lover of young people. Having become born again in 1962, he has remained active in the church ever since.
He served in several capacities until November 2023, when he was elected the 6th Territorial Chairman of the LAWNA Territory and was later confirmed as the National Vice President of The Apostolic Church Nigeria.
Pastor Uyeh has also been a blessing to the larger Body of Christ. He was a member of the Bible Society team in Isokoland that translated the Bible into the Isoko language. He was also instrumental in establishing The Apostolic Church in Isokoland and helped translate the TAC Redemption Hymnal into the Isoko language.
That Saturday, many people paid glowing tributes to him. The youth did not hide their affection, cheering each time his name was mentioned as a cake was cut to celebrate his 84th birthday ahead of the day..
