Elder Gilbert Visits Education and Vocational Training Sites in Africa West Area

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On 12-14 January 2024, Elder Clark G. Gilbert, Commissioner of Church Education System for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and General Authority Seventy, toured Education and Vocational Training sites in Ghana and Nigeria.   During Elder Gilbert’s visit, he also met with BYU-Pathway Worldwide and Succeed in School focus groups in Accra and Lagos.

Accompanying Elder Gilbert in Accra was Elder Jörg Klebingat, a General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the Africa West Area of the Church.  While in Lagos he was joined by Elder I. Raymond Egbo and Elder Christian C. Chigbundu, both Area Seventies for the Church.  In Accra, Elder Gilbert met with Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, Africa West Area President and General Authority Seventy and Elder Alfred Kyungu, General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the Area Presidency.

During his time in West Africa, Elder Gilbert met with two focus groups to discuss remote employment for Pathway students.  The focus groups consisted of Pathway students and graduates who had achieved success in remote employment in Africa.

He also had the opportunity to visit the Gathering Place vocational training program in the Ghana Kasoa Stake. The Gathering Place is a designated church location for Young Single Adults (YSA) and their friends to gather and participate in priesthood directed and YSA led experiences and activities. The focus of program is to strengthen YSA spiritually, socially, emotionally, educationally, and professionally. There are Gathering Place locations throughout the Africa West Area, generally based in local Stake Centers.

During a Pathway devotional in Kasoa, Elder Gilbert asked the students to heed President Nelson’s call to, “see your education as a spiritual responsibility.”  He encouraged them to involve the Lord in their learning.

“Have confidence that the Lord will be there for you and ask for His help, especially when you are in a learning situation.  Also, seek the Holy Ghost and it’s guiding influence,” he said.  “No matter where you are, or what path you took to get there, the Lord has brought you there, and He has brought you there for a purpose.”

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Elder Gilbert visited the Succeed in School program in the Accra Ghana Ashaiman Stake. Succeed in School classes are for youth ages 11 to 18 who may need additional help after school. Classes help support students in their efforts to complete secondary education, pursue university schooling or vocational training, and become lifelong learners. In Ashaiman, over 200 students attend classes with the assistance of volunteer teachers from throughout the stake.  At the conclusion of his visit, Elder Gilbert spoke at a devotional with the students.

“Do not become discouraged in your schoolwork,” he said to the students. “Jesus took upon himself our most difficult moments and struggles.  He understands you and won’t forget you.”

Also touring the Africa West Area with Elder Gilbert were JD Griffith, Vice President of Administration for BYU-Pathway Worldwide, Matthew Eyring, Vice President of Operations for the Pathway program, Chad H. Webb, Administrator for Seminaries and Institutes of Religion, and Victor Ukorebi, Africa West Area Director for BYU-Pathway Worldwide.

While in Lagos, the Church education leaders met with local priesthood leaders, Pathway missionaries, Succeed in School teachers, seminary teachers and other Church leaders. They concluded their visit to the Africa West Area with a joint devotional for Pathway students in  the Lagos Nigeria Ikeja and Agege Stakes.