By Edward Dankwah, GNA
Accra, July 21, GNA – Elder Adeyinka A. Ojediran, the First Counselor in the Africa West Area Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has called for stronger families, empowered youth and collaborative community action to build resilient societies across Africa.
He said the strength of every nation was rooted in the strength of its families, stressing that investments in family values, education and youth development were essential to Africa’s future.
A statement issued by the Church, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said Elder Ojediran made the call at the Eighth Strengthening Families Conference (SFC 2026), held in Monrovia, Liberia, on the theme: “Strengthening Families, Empowering Youth, and Building Resilient Communities.”
He said supporting families remained one of the most effective ways of promoting national development and social cohesion.
“The strength of every nation begins with the strength of its families. When families are supported, when parents are empowered and when young people are given the values, skills and opportunities they need, communities become stronger and more resilient,” he said.
He urged governments, faith organisations and development partners to invest in values-based education, mentorship, skills training and employment opportunities that would enable young people to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Describing Africa’s youth as one of the continent’s greatest assets, Elder Ojediran said their enormous potential must be matched with opportunities to learn, innovate, and become self-reliant.
He said the Church supported initiatives such as BYU–Pathway Worldwide to expand access to education and improve economic opportunities for young Africans.
The First Counselor said the Church’s humanitarian mission extended beyond spiritual ministry to practical interventions in education, healthcare, humanitarian assistance and programmes that strengthened self-reliance among individuals and families.
He noted that the conference formed part of a broader week-long programme in Liberia, which included the groundbreaking ceremony for a new 116-bed maternity hospital in Paynesville and engagements with the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia to advance family-centred development.
Elder Ojediran said sustainable solutions to challenges confronting African families required collaboration among governments, faith communities, civil society organisations and citizens.
He emphasised that strengthening families was a shared responsibility and called for practical partnerships that addressed poverty, youth unemployment, education and social vulnerability.
He said when institutions worked together around shared values and practical solutions, communities would become safer, stronger and more resilient.
The conference also featured presentations from government officials, faith leaders, educators and youth advocates, who discussed parenting, leadership, education, child protection and community resilience.
Organisers announced that the 2027 edition of the Strengthening Families Conference would be hosted in Cotonou, Benin, as the initiative expands its reach across West Africa.
The two-day conference, organised by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, attracted thousands of participants, including government officials, traditional leaders, faith-based organisations, educators, youth advocates and development partners from across the region.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo