By Victor Gotevbe

Jepther at 23 is  full of life, and passion for what he does. He is the Managing Director, Power Edge Resources, a youth training company dedicated to maximizing human performance and transforming the lives of the younger generation through its seminars and conferences. He is currently studying Microbiology at the Imo State Polytechnic. Today, Saturday Youthful Vibes brings to us the story of Jepther all the way from Owerri.

Life in the last 23 years
Full of lessons, trials and errors! However, I’ve figured out that to be a true champion, I have to be stronger to face and defeat my challenges and that gives me the opportunity to help other youths solve their problems in extraordinary ways.

My background
I grew up from a science background that believed so much that you become what they wished and that resulted in my studying sciences instead of social sciences. I am actually the fifth son in a family of six, and currently, an HND1 microbiology student at Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo. However, my plan is to delve and engage fully into my PASSION full-time upon my graduation from the Polytechnic.

JEPHTER AKAEHIE

Building a career
I am a Youth Life Coach and Motivational Speaker dedicated to shifting negative mindset to positive mindset and helping Nigerian/African youths maximize their personal values. I have been enjoying this career of helping people get better since 2008. I have been able to influence more than 5000 Nigerian youths through my books, seminars and conferences. I strongly dream of transforming millions of lives in Nigeria and the rest of Africa in the nearest feature.  I am personally dedicated to my career and I’m loving it!

I started writing at age 10 and eventually stopped during my secondary school education due to my being a science student. However, upon my graduation from secondary school in 2007, the fire to see changed youths kept burning in my bones which prompted me to write my first published book titled “Life’s Inevitable Dangers” which I used in teaching at various secondary schools to counsel the youths on some dangerous habits that could destroy their future like; pornography, masturbation, lesbianism, etc. I kept doing that but was slowed down due to my admission into the Polytechnic.

Lately in 2010, the fire in me was rekindled to start holding seminars on self-discovery and performance enhancement and I also went further to start a 5 minutes motivational program for the youths on radio which stopped due to low finances. In the midst of all these, I cherished what I was doing and usually gain my strength from numerous testimonies people share with me about how positively my seminars and books have influenced their lives.

Hope in this current dispensation
Well, I believe this current crop of political leaders stand a chance to get better than the past political leaders if we truly learn from our past mistakes. I see hope in them as we continue to make Nigeria and Africa the most desirable nation and continent  to live in respectively.

Challenges living your dreams?
Parental understanding; most times, parents don’t seem to understand that every child existing on the face of the earth has a pre-planned destiny to fulfill. Getting this opportunity to express my dream had always been a challenge. Finally, it’s not always easy to organize and conduct seminars which require finances for logistics.

However, there must always be a way. I took the challenge of embarking on holding seminars even though I could not get all the materials I needed. Sometimes, I had to pay with my extra-moral class fees. I really thank God for the strength to stand all the challenges!

Monitoring and evaluation of projects
I receive immediate and long term feedback from places and people whom I conduct seminars for. The students begin to perform extremely better than before. I also receive phone calls from various youths informing me of how my messages have influenced their live. Most schools keep recommending me for their in-house performance enhancement training as a result of the outcomes of my approach in what I do.  That truly tells me am on track, even though I keep learning and improving on what I do every day.

Funding for any of your meeting?
At the moment, I have not received any funding from anywhere which I am sure if done, would help me expand my network of influence.

Current project requiring  both financial and technical support
Yes! The most recent is my annual YOUTH CONFERENCE tagged “MAKE IT HAPPEN” which will be hosting about 1000 Nigerian youths on Sat. 21st April, 2012 in Owerri.  I am also working on Back2School Project for primary and secondary school students which will be launched September, 2012.

Motivation for young people
Parents should help in assisting their children in studying what they are passionate about instead of dictating what they should study which makes them feel so bored with education and going to school.

Every young person needs to understand that he/she has a crap out date (C.O.D) which no one can pre-determine and so needs to be as fast as the speed of light to live their dreams before it becomes very late.

Our youths also need to understand that no matter some successful one claims to be, until you utilize your naturally deposited talent, you’ve never lived! My PASSION is my life and I can’t abandon it for anything not even pleasure!