The training of Catholic Youth Animators taking place at Osogbo Diocese School for Youth Animator, Our Lady & St. Kizito Pastoral Centre, Oke-Gada, Ede, Osun State has finally concluded.

It was an intensive 6 weeks course spread over a period of six months. The programme attracted participants from Osogbo, Oyo, Abeokuta, Ilorin, and Lagos Dioceses and Archdiocese respectively. Youth Animator is a development envisioned by Osogbo Diocese that will act as catalyst in enhancing the efficiency and care for the youthful category of the Church across board.

The focus of the event was to train men and women between ages 30 to 50 years; who, at the end of the six months programme would have received necessary skills and education required to coordinate, nurture and moderate the youth category.

Recall that the first phase commenced Thursday, 30 May to Saturday, 1 June 2024. The second, third, fourth and fifth phases took place between Fridays to Sundays of the following months afterward. The final phase, Friday 25 to Sunday 27 October was the conclusion of the training. Several courses spread over 6 modules for the entire training included: Child Safeguarding Policies, Christian Marriage, Psychology, Ethics and Morality, Liturgy/Spirituality/Doctrinal/Catechesis, Fundamentals of Youth Ministry/Models for effective youth ministry and The Youth Animator. At the end of the training, participants from all Dioceses considered the programme as one of the best that has ever happened when it comes to giving attention to the youthful population within the Church.

While some participants reported that the programme is strange to their Dioceses even after completion, other participants envisioned better performance and stability of the youths if allowed to freely deliver what has been learned at respective parish level.

The Diocesan Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Lawrence Olaniyan illuminate participants further that they have become not only Counsellors or Youth Animators but also pastoral givers who do not condemn. He educated them on needs to prevent the youth from going astray while promoting external and internal values that will make the youth to succeed. 

The Chaplain encouraged the Animators to advocate for the youths as regards their activities while including their budget into the Parish plan for the year, since youth ministry is impossible without adequate financing.

However, not all that started were worthy of certification and commissioning. With the look of things, Animators may have to sign legal notes of conduct as it relates to child safeguarding policies. Successful Animators will be presented with certificate and module compilation in conjunction with a Catholic Higher Institution during an official commissioning ceremony and Diocesan Harvest by the Bishop early in December 2024.