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Though the lockdown and prohibition from gatherings which are preventive measures against the worldwide ravaging of the pandemic of COVID-19 has greatly affected a lot of planned activities of the Oyo Diocesan Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria (CYON), it has however not deterred Organization from organizing programmes online such as Quiz competitions and Webinars on their Diocesan WhatsApp Platform.
The Webinars and Quizzes apart from being a great way of creating more enlightenment on various topics covering faith and religion, health, family life and vocation, civil law in the Society and lots more, has also been an innovative way of engaging the minds of the youths in this trying times when they have more time on their hands so as to prevent them from being the proverbial idle hands referred to as the devil’s workshop.
So far the impact of the online activities has been impressive as the massive feedbacks from people who have benefitted greatly from the wealth of knowledge continue to be a great thing to write home about. Through the programme, many who had disturbing questions about aspects of their lives found answers to them. Active participation of more youths in discussions has also been noticed and there has been increase in the number of requests to join the group. This is due to the fact that the valuable lectures on the Diocesan WhatsApp Platform are forwarded and shared to the Zonal and Parish Platforms and to other platforms too where they are found very useful.
Speaking about the achievements so far and what to expect in the future to come, the Diocesan Youth President – Mr. John ’Tunji Ojelabi said “So far we have had quiz competitions and talks on Civil and Society Law, Health, Relationship, Marriage, Faith, Catechism, etc. and the youths now look forward to more. Hopefully, we are hoping to touch more spheres of life in our discussions as it concerns the youth. We hope to touch other areas like Finance, Entrepreneurship, Vocations and more. More so, we hope to focus more on the entrepreneurship aspect as plans are in place to have a better presentation even while online and hopefully when the pandemic is over, we can have physical trainings around the zones”.
Apart from the online activities, with the approval and support of the Bishop, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, some of the youths around have also been trained by the Diocesan Youth Coordinator, Rev. Sr Elizabeth Agwu USOA in the Youth Office on how to make beads and Rosary, liquid soaps and Chin-Chin. It must be added that ongoing now in the youth office at the headquarters is the training of some individual youths on how to play some musical instruments.

– Festus Oyelakin.