Medical Doctor, entrepreneur, public speaker, author and founder Petra Ministries; Dr. Apoki O. Charles was the guest speaker at Salimo-Wits Leadership Club (SWLC) youth empowerment programme held at the Redeem Christian Church of God (Place of Enlargement) Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos on Saturday 23rd June 2018. Arrival and registration of participants at the venue started about 10:20 am. The program moderated by Ambassador Blessed Omonose (an exco member of the Salimo-Wits Leadership Club) officially started at 12:45 pm with opening prayers and rendition of the National anthem. In his welcome address, the President and founder of Salimo-Wits Foundation – Ambassador Dan Ekoko highlighted the importance of values orientation. He stressed the need for youths to avoid vices such as armed robbery, cultism, violence, terrorism, and kidnapping. He enjoined the participants to engage in activities that would lead to their positive growth and development.

The guest speaker Dr. Apoki O. Charles commenced his presentation by appreciating the leadership of Salimo-Wits Foundation for organizing the training programme and their commitment to the empowerment and development of youths. He described entitlement mentality as a state of mind in which an individual believes that privileges are instead rights and that they are to be expected as a matter of course. He said many Nigerian youths erroneously believe that the world owes them something. They are always looking to others to do something for them rather than take their destiny in their hands. He explained that it’s by solving problems that the average Nigerian youth could overcome poverty and achieve financial independence. He defined financial freedom as being debt free, being financially stable, regular income and living a comfortable life.

The speaker urged the participants to cultivate a saving culture; develop content, character, and charisma. According to him, “You must have a mentality to become wealthy. This mentality of graduating from the university and getting a job is a slavery mentality. You don’t have to start with a large income to make it big. Start with what you have and from where you are.” The participants were inspired and thrilled as Dr. Apoki O. Charles rounded off his presentation with this words, “Be disciplined. Delay your gratification and keep investing. A great message doesn’t make great people but great decision makes great people.” Gifts were given to youths with Permanent Voters Card (PVC).

SWLC is the signature training programme of the Salimo-Wits Leadership Initiative; organized three times a year with the vision of helping young Nigerians discover, develop and deploy their innate leadership potentials towards national and global impact. Our next training holds on August 12th, 2018.