By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
THOUSAND OF young Nigerians gathered at the Baptist International Convention Centre along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for the Arise Congress 2.0, themed “The Emergence of Champions.”
The event, which runs from Wednesday 3 to Saturday 6 September 2025, drew more than 24,000 participants.
Delivering the keynote speech, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, described Nigerian youths as the champions of the administration.
Dare, who also chairs the Youth and Student Ministries Advisory Board of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, noted that the government has put in place several policies aimed at supporting young Nigerians to reach their potential through faith, talent, and skill.
Addressing the gathering, he stressed the importance of character, discipline, determination, and self-motivation as pillars of personal achievement.
Dare also explained that his message was not about politics but a charge to Nigerian youths to seize available opportunities under the Tinubu administration and translate them into positive impacts within their communities.
According to him, President Tinubu’s initiatives designed to empower young Nigerians include the NELFUND Tuition Loans and Stipends, which he said are already reaching more than 600,000 students.
He also highlighted the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer, targeted at providing affordable housing for three million vulnerable households, and food security measures that have released thousands of metric tonnes of grains from federal strategic reserves alongside emergency nutrition support programmes in several states.
He urged the participants to maintain faith in the administration’s efforts, emphasising that these programmes provide practical avenues for the nation’s youth to thrive.
The congress also drew a broad line-up of religious and community leaders. Present were Rev. Israel Adelani Akanji, FAR, Convener of Arise Congress 2.0 and President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention; Rev. Dr S. Olawuyi James, Host and Director of Youth and Student Ministries; Rev. Dr Israel Kristilere, Chairman of the Central Planning Committee; Rev. Michael Onyegbu; Pastor Fela Durotoye; and CP Lanre Ogunlowo, Commissioner of Police, Ogun State.
Organisers of the congress noted that the platform is designed to encourage young people to build resilience, develop leadership capacity, and play an active role in advancing their communities.
