By Isaac Olufemi Ojo
Youths from diverse backgrounds have been charged to prioritize self-discovery, integrity, and discipline in their use of technology to fulfill their God-given potential.
The coordinator of Tabitha Missions, Mrs. Tabitha Bola Thompson, gave the charge during the week-long annual youth camp meeting organized by the ministry in Ibadan.
Mrs. Thompson disclosed that the residential camp, which has been running for free for a decade, was designed to cater to the all-round development of young people, spanning spiritual, academic, social, business, and mental well-being.
The convener explained that the programme goes beyond conventional spiritual meetings by integrating professional mentorship to guide participants on career paths, relationship building, and societal impact.
“Our purpose is to build young people who can grow into becoming fulfilled adults who have time for God, social life, family, and in essence, nation-building,” Thompson stated. “We are not just coming here to pray and read scriptures alone; we bring professionals to mentor and guide them on how to become who God has destined them to be.”
While speaking on the theme for the year, “Tarry here for a Reset “ drawn from the biblical 1 Samuel 10:8, where the prophet Samuel instructs King Saul to go to Gilgal ahead of him and wait seven days until Samuel arrives to offer sacrifices and tell him what to do, we have also brought them to wait to retrace, reevaluate their life journey.
Thompson noted that the camp hosted about 90 participants out of over 100 initially registered, following screenings and logistics adjustments.
He advised youths struggling with direction to anchor their lives on purpose and integrity, noting that self-awareness minimizes friction and prevents wasted efforts.
“Every human being walking the surface of the earth has a purpose to fulfill. If you discover your purpose, your struggle will be limited,” she said, drawing references from Jeremiah 29:11. “When you don’t know the purpose of a thing, abuse is inevitable. Position yourselves in an atmosphere of learning, be patient, seek God, and uphold integrity.”
While addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence and digital technology, the cleric warned against abuse and overindulgence, urging young people to exercise self-regulation.
“The internet is an open field. Young people should train themselves to moderate the sites they visit and what they use technology for. Self-control and self-regulation should be your priority when nobody is watching,” she added.
Participants at the camp shared transformative experiences regarding the blend of spiritual revival, academic mentorship, and technological insight.
A 400-level Communication and Language Arts student at the University of Ibadan, Omoyugbu Elijah, rated the camp 18 out of 10, noting that the sessions on artificial intelligence provided a fresh perspective on productivity.
“The teaching on AI showed us that technology should be used as a copilot, not as the main brain, to shape our work, make tasks smarter, save time, and give leverage,” Elijah said.
Another participant, Nakachi Daisy, a student at the National Open University and State Coordinator for the Association of Positive Youth Living with HIV in Nigeria (Oyo State chapter), described the camp as a mental relief and a spiritual turnaround.
“It has helped me mentally and emotionally. Coming out here away from the usual workspace and meeting lovable people has been wonderful. Spiritually, it has re-established my prayer life and consistency in Bible reading,” Daisy shared.
