CYB president urges Christian youth to embrace skills, AI and entrepreneurship
The National President of the Christian Youth Builders (CYB) of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG), Mr Sylvester E.K. Nazah, has urged young Christians to combine their faith with practical skills, innovation and entrepreneurship to tackle unemployment and other socio-economic challenges confronting the youth.
He made the call at the 11th National Delegates Congress of the CYB, held at the EPCG Elorm Parish on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
Mr Nazah said the annual congress provided an opportunity for members to review the movement’s activities, identify challenges and develop strategies to strengthen its operations and impact on the church and society.
He said the CYB remained committed to nurturing Christian faith, developing leadership, promoting evangelism, Christian service and youth empowerment.
According to him, the congress should not be viewed merely as an annual gathering but as an opportunity to revive, reposition and rebrand the youth movement and the church.
Addressing the challenge of unemployment among young people, Mr Nazah urged members to identify their talents, acquire relevant skills and explore opportunities beyond formal employment.
He also encouraged the youth to embrace technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as tools for learning, productivity, entrepreneurship and leadership development.
“We must change our mindset and connect our Christian faith with the practical realities of our time,” he said, challenging members to think creatively and develop sustainable solutions to challenges facing them.
On the theme of the congress, “Cleanliness is Next to Godliness, Keep Clean, the Role and Relevance of the CYB in Perspectives,” Mr Nazah said it carried both spiritual and practical significance.
He explained that cleanliness should go beyond maintaining a clean physical environment and should also be reflected in the character, integrity, discipline, service and purpose of Christians.
He urged members to remain pure in heart, obedient to God and committed to Christian stewardship, stressing that stewardship extended beyond attending church services and organising programmes to actively contributing to the growth, unity and mission of the church.
Mr Nazah cautioned members against division, hatred, indiscipline and complacency, warning that such attitudes could undermine the identity and effectiveness of the CYB.
He commended the youth movement for its contribution to community development, particularly through blood donation exercises, and praised Presbyteries that had sustained and replicated the initiative.
He described blood donation as a practical demonstration of Christian love and urged the wider church to adopt similar initiatives to save lives and promote human welfare.
Mr Nazah also commended Presbyteries that had organised breast cancer awareness programmes, describing them as important interventions for public education, early detection and improved care.
He further highlighted the CYB’s collaboration with students of the Trinity Theological Seminary through fundraising activities and breakfast meetings, saying the partnership had strengthened relations with future ministers and supported Christian ministry.
He disclosed that the CYB was recognised for its contribution during the commissioning of newly ordained pastors and urged the next administration to sustain and expand the partnership.
However, Mr Nazah expressed concern over what he described as growing indiscipline, disrespect for authority and disregard for church directives among some members.
He reminded members that the CYB had built a reputation as a disciplined and well-organised youth movement and urged them not to allow internal disagreements to damage that reputation.
While acknowledging administrative challenges in some Presbyteries, he said progress had been made and appealed to members and leaders to respect church structures, resolve disagreements peacefully and prioritise the collective mission of the movement over personal interests.
Touching on the National Youth Project, Mr Nazah said his administration had intended to complete the project within its tenure but encountered challenges that affected the timeline.
He disclosed that the project had progressed from the foundation stage to decking and expressed appreciation to Presbyteries and other stakeholders for their support.
He explained that increasing demand for hostel accommodation in the project’s catchment area, coupled with poor road access to the site, had prompted the Council to reconsider the original design.
According to him, the National Youth Congress held at Ipetu considered and approved a proposal to convert the planned congress facility into apartments or hostel accommodation.
He said the revised plan would better address accommodation needs in the area while improving the long-term sustainability of the project.
Mr Nazah appealed to current and future leaders as well as members to continue supporting the project until its completion.
He urged delegates to make the congress a turning point in their personal lives and the growth of the CYB, saying the future of the movement depended on young people who could combine faith with action, spirituality with service, skills with opportunity and leadership with integrity.
“Let us use this Congress not only to discuss the future, but to prepare ourselves to build it,” he said.
He called on members to remain clean in character, service and purpose and to reflect the values of Christ wherever they found themselves.