By Sandra Kenneth
The Eze Oha Evo III of Evo Kingdom, His Majesty King Professor Leslie N. Eke, JP, Eze Gbakagbaka, has called on Nigerian youths to defy fear and look beyond current societal limitations to achieve their aspirations.
King Eke, who serves as the Nyerisi Eli Woji (Eze Woji XII) and Chairman of the Supreme Forum of Ikwerre Government Recognised Traditional Rulers, made the call while delivering the keynote address at the “Dare to Dream” Conference held at Pleasant Hope Ministries in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State.
Addressing the gathering, the royal father emphasized that present hardships should not define the future of the younger generation, urging them to cultivate resilience, discipline, and actionable focus.
“Your present situation is not your final destination. Dream without limits and dare without fear,” King Eke charged the attendees. “Stop negotiating with your excuses. The world will not change because you are afraid to begin. Steward your dream, take responsibility, and pursue it.”
The traditional ruler noted that systemic challenges should be viewed as tests of character rather than excuses for inaction, warning that vision without effort yields no results. He further appealed to parents, community leaders, and government stakeholders to establish mentorship structures and enabling environments to help young people translate their ideas into national development.
In his remarks, the convener of the conference, Ayodeji Stephen, commended the monarch for his steadfast commitment to youth empowerment. Ayodeji urged participants to complement the inspiration received from the event with concrete action, noting that personal determination remains the ultimate driver of success.
