IKONO YOUTHS: BEACONS OF HOPE FOR A GREATER IKONO.

IKONO YOUTHS: BEACONS OF HOPE FOR A GREATER IKONO.

By: Edet John

Ibianang Ediene

May I begin this piece with this simple advice from Jennifer Gayle, one of the finest Actresses in her time when she said “… be a guiding light, a safe harbor, a beacon of hope and a solid foundation for those around you”. Taking a lift from this goodly advice, it will be safe to conclude that as a youth and most importantly a fellow indigene of the geographical landmark known and called Ikono LGA, we are supposed to be “beacons of hope” to each other.

The word, “beacon” has been variously defined to mean a different thing to different people depending on the context wherefor it is used. It is said to mean a signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy commonly of warning. It could be said to be a signal or conspicuous mark erected on an eminence near the shore as a guide to mariners and other of such definitions. But permit me, for the avoidance of doubt and easy understanding, to define beacon in this context to mean “a person that warns, guides or offers support with the intention of encouraging other people to find their footing”.

It is not an overemphasis to say that God, in His magnanimity, has blessed Ikono Youths with wisdom and knowledge, placing them in enviable positions of Authority in all walks of life for the collective benefit of the LGA. Time will fail me to narrate how enthusiastic an average Ikono Youth is whenever he/she fixes his/her mind towards getting a set goal achieve. It is always my joy whenever I observe these positive attributes coming to play in our little time of interactions. I must commend that. Kudos!

It is worrisome to note that majority of our youths, who by virtue of the wisdom freely given to them by God for the benefit of mankind, has been dissipating their energies on fights that needed not to be fought. As Paul the Apostle confirmed, the only fight permitted to be fought is “a good fight of faith” – (1 Timothy 6:12).  They engaged in negative activities which separate rather than unite us, giving themselves to thoughts which are not true, not honest, not just, not pure, not lovely, has no good report, has no virtue and finally has no praise in it as against what the bible wants us to think about in Philippians 4:8.

More worrisome is the activities of the few privileged youths, who by their positions and exposure, we are supposed to look up unto them as beacons for guidance, for warnings, for support and for encouragement but they have failed in their roles. Rather they prefer to use their privileged positions to pull emerged /or emerging brothers and sisters down, exhibiting in the open the “crab mentality”. So sad!

This left me wondering what will become of our next-generation youths in the LGA if they grow to emulate these negative attitudes.

It is in response to my wandering thoughts that I write to appeal to our youths that together we can rewrite the story of Ikono LGA to be what we all desire her to be. Hear this truth: Everyone of us has the power to be beacons of hope and goodness so that others can be uplifted by our presence, words and work.

Let me leave us by reiterating the advice given by Jennifer Gayle, “… be a guiding light, a safe harbor, a beacon of hope and a solid foundation for those around you”.  

Brighten the little corner where you are.