Imoke Donates 23 Months Salary To Church

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has donated his salary from July 2013 till he leaves office in 2015 to Grace Consulate (Grace Network Ministries Incorporated) as part of his contributions to the church’s youth development programme.
Imoke, who was the Chairman and Special Guest of Honour, made his donation at the unveiling and launch of album by the church tagged “Earth Shakers and Frank Edward, “na’ar Youth Swagger,” at Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel Calabar.
The Governor disclosed that the donation was borne out of his commitment and passion for youth development, which also prompted him to float the Bridge Leadership Foundation, a project dedicated to helping youths develop their talents as future leaders.
Imoke commended Senior Pastor Lawrence Okpata, the brain behind the launch, for doing wonderfully well, adding that” What he and his wife are doing is affecting the society because they know Nigerians will depend on new generation of leaders as leaders do not just happen”
He advised the youths to get education first because one cannot be successful without education, stating that Pastor Okpata has succeeded because he was trained as a lawyer which contributed to the success of the church.
According to him, the programme would create impact on youth in future and advised them to be committed to whatever thing they are doing to achieve their goals while, stressing that, “The kids need support because it is this generation that will produce the next leadership.”
The wife of the governor, Mrs. Obioma  liyel Imoke, in a welcome address, described the launch as a great event because it is aimed at  catching the children young, explaining that the first thing a parent should do is to teach a child how to sing.
Mrs. Imoke lauded Pastor Okpata for grooming the children because it is not easy to be young especially with the spate of serious distractions which calls for their encouragement to follow the right track, observing that her daughter, Elenda, who was one of the singers, was in a great company of children that have time to praise God.
Also speaking, Senior Pastor Lawrence Okpata said he thought about “Youth Swagger” eight months ago and the potentials in the youth have begun to come out, adding that through the programme, he has become a father to many children.