The Head, the Due Process and Public Procurement Bureau, Abia State, Dr. Oluebube Chukwu, has charged Nigerian youth to rise above limitations and unlock their full potentials for personal growth, national development, and global impact.

Delivering a keynote speech entitled; “Rising Above Limitations: Unlocking the Potentials of Nigerian Youth” at the Methodist Youth Conference at Mbala Isuochi, Umunneochi Local Government Area, Abia State recently, Dr. Chukwu drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela’s famous words that “everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated and passionate about what they do.”

He identified limitations as obstacles; physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual that hold people back, warning that failure to overcome them could lead to missed opportunities, stagnation, dependency, and poverty of purpose. 

“The fastest way to rise above your limitations is to believe in yourself and embrace the ‘I can do’ spirit. Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve,” he said.

Dr. Chukwu outlined the major hurdles confronting young Nigerians, including poor access to quality education, high unemployment, poverty, inadequate skills, insecurity, brain drain, corruption, and lack of funding opportunities for entrepreneurship. Citing World Bank statistics, he noted that over 40% of Nigerians; about 87 million people, live below the poverty line, with a large percentage being young people.

He stressed that rising above limitations brings personal, professional, and societal benefits such as resilience, self-confidence, leadership growth, creativity, community engagement, poverty reduction, civic responsibility, and economic transformation.

To inspire the youth, Dr. Chukwu referenced global icons who overcame adversity, including Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking, Maya Angelou, and Saidy Brown. He also cited biblical figures such as David, Joseph, Esther, Job, Peter, Paul, and Ruth, who triumphed over trials through faith, courage, and determination.

As strategies to help young people rise above challenges, he advocated for improved access to resources, mentorship, skills training, networking, partnerships, and opportunities for creativity and innovation. 

He urged youth to pursue professional, personal, creative, physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development with courage and resilience.

“Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune, but great minds rise above them. My dear young people, do not be subdued by misfortunes on your journey to the top—rise above them! Soar like eagles, for the plan of God is to give you hope and a future”, further added.