Youth urged to seek wisdom from elders

YOUTH | ELDERS | NABASA

KAMPALA - Youth have been asked to seek wisdom from elders in order for them to take up leadership in the country.

Citing several stories from the Bible, former Uganda Law Society president Pheona Wall Nabasa said it is only the youth that follow the guidance of elders that normally take up the leadership.

“As you follow the elders, you are sowing a seed that you will reap when you are leading. So, if you are a disobedient follower, if you are a rebellious follower, it doesn’t help you because you are not learning,” Nabasa said.

Nabasa underscored the need to sharpen the minds of the youth in the country toward leadership.

Former Uganda Law Society president Pheona Wall Nabasa (C) said it is only the youth that follow the guidance of elders that normally take up the leadership. (All Photos by Colleb Mugume)

“We have to sharpen the youth and encourage them that they cannot lead unless they first follow the elders because you cannot give from where you don’t have. I thank the Bible Society of Uganda for this engagement,” she said.

Nabasa was speaking during the 10th version of the African Bible Society Initiative workshop at the MTN-Arena in Lugogo on Monday, October 24, 2022.

The event drew hundreds of youths from several schools including St Cyprian Kyabakadde and Katikamu SDA.

“Africa has resources such as gold, but we seem to be unfortunate when it comes to leadership. We realise now that leadership is a serious factor of production and we have to develop, nurture and encourage the youth to clean their hands, to get mentored and get prepared for leadership,” Nabasa said.

She urged the youth to embrace wisdom based on ethical principles to achieve greater heights in their endeavors.

St. Cyprian High School Kyabakade students jubilate after winning a recognition Award for best drama skits during the African Biblical Leadership Youth Forum organized by The Bible Society of Uganda at MTN Arena in Kampala.

“We see ethical leaders rising in difficult times. In fact, to the youth of Uganda today, if today is harder than it has ever been for any youth to grow, this is your opportunity and that is why we hear that everything you see that is against the youth is a joke. 50% of Uganda’s population are youth and anything that needs a critical mass is going to come from the youth,” Nabasa said.

Youth mentorship

Submitting on the topic of understanding the current state of mentorship in Africa, Bishop Alfred Olwa of Lira said there is a need to focus on youth mentorship since they are the majority in the country.

“In Lango, we have a saying if you want to catch a young rabbit, you send a young dog. We have so many young people today and our churches are full of young people and we need young people who have been mentored. In the Bible, there is a saying that iron sharpens iron. We want young people mentored in the way of the Bible,” Olwa said.

Rt. Rev. Prof Alfred Olwa Bishop, Diocese of Lango, Lira speaks during the African Biblical Leadership Youth Forum.

Olwa said several problems in the country are due to a lack of mentorship for the youth.

“We need to regain from where we have lost. The youth need mentorship in terms of biblical approach,” Olwa said.

Bible Society secretary general Simon Peter Mukhama also underscored the need to equip the youth with both development and leadership skills.

“Many young people are unemployed yet there is a lot to do and this means what is lacking is mentorship,” Mukhama said.