United States-based cleric, Pastor Tola Odutola of Jesus House Baltimore, has called on Nigerian youths to stop relying on the government for employment and instead focus on discovering and developing their inherent talents to create sustainable livelihoods.
Speaking over the weekend on the sidelines of an empowerment seminar themed “Maximizing Your Potential” in Ibadan, Pastor Odutola emphasized that individuals must identify their natural gifts and nurture them into impactful solutions for society.
“Where we start first is to ask yourself: what gift do I have? What is that thing that inspires me? Every greatness in life starts with a seed,” Odutola stated. He urged young people to cultivate their abilities so they can transition from job seekers to self-reliant problem solvers.
The cleric advised the youth to maintain unwavering self-belief, stressing that personal determination outweighs any environmental limitations. Recalling his own upbringing in the Oke-Bola area of Ibadan, Odutola challenged the audience not to let a lack of parental or societal support hinder their progress.
“I grew up in this same environment and went to school here. I wasn’t waiting for a father figure to pave the way. You have to struggle and push because you owe yourself the responsibility to succeed,” he stated.
Pastor Odutola also cautioned Nigerians against over-dependence on state support, noting that the world’s most vibrant economies are driven by individual entrepreneurs rather than government interventions. While acknowledging that the state holds the responsibility of creating an enabling environment, he maintained that the primary drive must come from the citizens.
Highlighting the need for career flexibility, the cleric observed that many university graduates eventually find fulfillment and financial stability outside their formal fields of study. He explained that the empowerment initiative was specifically designed to hand-hold aspiring entrepreneurs and provide the necessary support to help them launch their visions.
