Street Fishing Evangelism Outreach Hosts Believers Talent Competition In Ibadan
•••As Visioner Urges Govt To Stop Seeing Faith-Based Projects As Threat
•By KAZEEM OYENIYI
IBADAN – THE Visioner of Street Fishing Evangelism Outreach and organiser of the Believers Talent Competition, Mrs. Modupeola Awofolaju, has urged government authorities to stop viewing faith-based youth initiatives as threats, calling instead for collaboration to build a more productive generation.
Speaking at the Believers Talent Competition held at Lavista Event Centre, Akobo, Ibadan, Awofolaju said it was time for the government to recognise that religiously inspired social projects can play vital roles in nurturing young minds and curbing societal decay.
The event, themed “Evolve and Thrive,” attracted over one thousand students from various schools, alongside key stakeholders in education, skill acquisition, and the faith community.
According to Awofolaju, “We sometimes face resistance from government agencies because of concerns over religion. But this isn’t about religion — it’s about the future of our children. The government must stop seeing faith-based projects as threats. We have talented young people; the sky is not their limit.”
Awofolaju, who has been running vocational training programmes and school-based clubs since 2017, explained that her initiative was designed to channel teenagers’ energy into positive pursuits and help them discover their purpose through creativity, mentorship, and skill development.
“We’ve been engaging students in both public and private schools to help them uncover their gifts. If we don’t engage them early, they’ll channel their energy elsewhere. Our goal is to catch them young and help them thrive,” she added.
The competition featured artistic and musical showcases from students of Angels College, Living Stone College, J Nissi College, and Akobo Baptist Church Teenagers Fellowship, who competed across three categories — Art, Music, and Dance.
In the Art Category, Angels College clinched first place, while J Nissi College and Akobo Baptist Church came second and third respectively. Living Stone College emerged top in the Music Category, with Folashade Emmanuel (a solo contestant) and J Nissi College taking second and third positions. J Nissi College also won the Dance Category, ahead of Angels College.
Guest speaker, Pastor Tayo Ogunleye of Harvesters Church, Ibadan, challenged educators and policymakers to reform Nigeria’s school curriculum to reflect innovation, skill acquisition, and modern realities.
“Our schools still use decades-old curriculums that don’t reflect today’s challenges. We need to start looking at each child’s potential beyond academics. If we don’t, we’ll keep reproducing old failures,” he stated.
He also urged parents to support their children’s natural abilities, saying, “If your child can play football, sing, or draw, support them. Education isn’t a scam — it should complement their talents.”
One of the participants, Usman Mariam of Angels College, who won a scholarship after topping the Art Category, described the experience as life-changing.
“My victory shows that my talent means a lot and I can do better. I feel proud and want my colleagues to also follow in my footsteps,” she said.
A highlight of the event was the unveiling of Awofolaju’s new book, “DISTRACTION — Overcoming the Subtle War Against Focus,” which she said was inspired by the need to help young people remain purpose-driven in an age of noise and confusion.