On Monday at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Bodija, Ibadan, more than 200 children gathered to pray for a secure future for Nigeria.

The prayer which was organised by the Children Evangelism Ministry, an interdenominational voluntary Christian organization to celebrate the country’s 57 years of independence gathered children from different church denominations to sought divine intervention in Nigeria’s challenges to enable citizens to have bright future.

Evangelist Olufunke Yerenchi, an Area Supervisor of the organisation, said at the event that children could be useful tools for nation-building. She further said, “Children play very important roles in nation-building and are precious in the sight of God. Jesus specifically said that the kingdom of God belongs to them. They should not be left behind concerning the issues of the Nigeria; we need to put the love for the nation in their hearts and give them a sense of belonging and responsibility toward the nation because children have the ability to pray with the sincerity that only a child can have.

Children can seek God’s face on behalf of the nation, and we know God will honour their prayers because they are precious to him,” she said. Yerenchi said praying for Nigeria should become a part of children’s daily lives.

She concluded by saying, “It is written in the Bible that we should train up a child in the way he should go so that when he is old, he will not depart from it. When praying for the nation becomes a part of them, love for the country will be deeply rooted in their hearts, and they will do their best toward the country’s well-being as they get older.”