GIDEON OLANREWAJU ODUKOGBE

I carry a burden for my generation. We are witnessing a generation torn apart by the very thing that was supposed to bring us together. Social media has come between us — the internet, which promised connection, has instead classified us and distinguished us from one another.

We are living in an age marked by distraction, confusion, and a spirit pushing young people toward depression and suicide. So many of us are asking: "Why was I born in this day and time? What is my purpose? Why does my life feel so different?"

I battled addictions — more than a few, more than I'd like to admit. If you've drifted so far that you feel locked in — in masturbation, pornography, or confusion about your identity — know that you are not alone. My journey is what I want to show the world: the truth behind the mysteries of the battles so many of us fight in silence.

A boy who came out of the slumps of Bariga and found Mercy. My life is a testament to the power of God. I am genuinely grateful that I found my purpose and my calling early in life.

The best part of our journeys is locked up in the possibilities we haven't seen yet. But we know that, with time, we'll do the work — and live out the destiny that was placed inside us all along.