Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jos and Bishop Emmanuel Egbunu, Anglican Bishop of Lokoja, called the attention of the Nigerian churches and the government to the plight of young people in interviews with Ecumenical News International on International Youth Day, marked on 18 August.

Speaking on the same day that Pope Benedict XVI addressed hundreds of thousands of young people in Cologne, Germany, Kaigama said, "By investing in youth the churches are investing in future generations." The archbishop noted there is a need for both the government and the Church to devote more resources to youth development to curb social vices. He also urged media organizations to inculcate moral, traditional and religious values in today's youth.

Bishop Egbunu said in a telephone interview that, "indeed there is the need to make the Church more relevant to the youth who find traditional forms of worship rather stale".

Egbunu noted: "Churches should make their services more youth-oriented." This he said is because, "In a number of cases, our liturgical frigidity has been a most formidable barrier to them. They are therefore left with few options: either to stay out of Church completely or go to churches that have room for their fancies. The practice whereby our youth are made spectators and squatters rather than participants and fellow inheritors is self-destructive."

The bishop added: "Granted youth are impetuous, idealistic, rash and radical. But they are also creative, swift, available, adventurous, and energetic. When they have a conviction, it immediately becomes contagious. A great number of the heroes in the Bible made their mark as youth - Joseph, David, Daniel, John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus and most of his apostles."