The YOWICAN Ibadan land Seminar was held on Saturday 14th September 2024 at St. Anne Catholic Church Ogbere.

It started with an opening prayer led by Pastor Olusola Onadokun, followed by praise and worship songs by Miss Olaide Olasunkanmi from Ibadan North East and Miss Grace Akindele from Ona Ara, after which the introduction was done by Evang. Ayodele Falade.

Welcome address was done by Adult Vice-Coordinator for CAN Ona Ara, M.S. E. Omoboye. He welcomed youths of Eleven Local Government of Ibadan to Ona Ara on behalf of CAN Coordinator for Ona Ara, Rev. Fr. Stephen Balogun. He said, he is always happy to be in the midst of children of God and then charged them to always allow peace anywhere they find themselves. 

Also in his own welcome address, Bro. Jonathan Makinde, recognized the presence of YOWICAN Coordinator for Ibadan Land Zone, Evang. Kunle Obabiyi, State YOWICAN Secretary, Bro. Simon Seneya, Guest Speaker, Pastor Barnabas Oladipo and Former YOWICAN Coordinator for Ona-Ara, Pastor Taiwo Ishola and the youths in Eleven Local Government of Oyo state.

He charged them to be attentive to the lecture, because it’s going to have great impacts on their lives, not because they were in Ona Ara but that it will transform their lives better. 

The YOWICAN Coordinator for Ibadan Land gave the opening charges. He started by observing all protocols, recognized and appreciated Local Government Coordinator, Ona Ara Zonal Coordinator and the entire youths of Eleven Local Government on behalf of Ibadan Land Exco.

He made it clear to everyone that the idea of the seminar came up last year when he met with Guest Speaker and did not want to limit the knowledge to himself alone but share with others also. He thank God that the dream has come to pass.

The Guest Speaker, Pastor Barnabas Oladipo, appreciated the privilege given to him to deliver the seminar lecture, On a theme: "Conflict Management and Implicating Matters"

He began by encouraging everyone that in any disagreement with people whether right or wrong, we should always learn to say "SORRY" because it is a key to resolving any form of disagreement.  

He defined the word ‘conflict’ as a situation in which people, groups or countries are involved in a serious disagreement or argument. He cited some situations when conflict can occur like, anger, assaults both physical and spiritual: Physical conflict occurs between two people or groups of people, envy in Christendom, impersonation among drama artists, negligence of duty and non-chanlant attitude. 

 

The negative effects of conflict; 

It causes the following: Lost of lives and properties, imprisonment and so on, while stated some of the things that take people into prison. He shared his own experience with every youths that, not everyone in prison is a criminal. According to him, prison, is a mansion where you worship God, by fire - by force, wake up by 5am and 9pm, a place where you take permission before doing anything, you only have one special thanksgiving, a place where everyone is equal, a place where you cannot keep secrets.

 

How do we manage the conflict?

Learn to say I am sorry, i.e we should be a faithful sinners and strive to read the Bible always. He explained what BIBLE stand for as: Basic, Instruction, Before, Living Earth. He made reference to Book of Joshua 1vs 8, We should have the fear of God, avoid immoral way of dressing.

In addition, the Former YOWICAN Coordinator for Ona Ara, Pastor Taiwo Ishola shared his own contribution as an Officer in-charge of prison, He stated some implicating matters led people into prison like, purchase of items without receipt, illegal marriage, playing within the court premises, answering calls before judges, being a guarantor to people by leasing ones passport or signatory for someone, improper carefulness in one's personal job and so on. 

The speaker then gave the room for questions and answers after which the Coordinator for Ibadan Land YOWICAN asked the participants if they learned or not and they all gave a positive response.

He appreciated the Speaker for the wonderful lecture and also advised all of the need to empower ourselves by siting different examples after which the closing remarks was done by YOWICAN Assistant Coordinator for Ona Ara, Deacon Akinpelumi Adeoye while the closing prayer was said by Pastor Taiwo Ishola and grace was shared by Evang. Kunle Obabiyi.