My fellow Nigerian Youths On Independence Day : What Does The 53nd Independent Anniversary mean to 70 million Youths In Nigeria ? Nigeria is no doubt a strong country with so many potentials. If medals were to be given for potentials, we would make the top five in the world. Sadly, we continue to remain in the realm of potentials like a good looking automobile without an engine to run on. It is a very good thing to be identified as a country with great potentials. However, if potentials take forever to show forth what they can be, with time there will emerge only a museum of potentials; one that people can come to see and only shake their heads in disappointment at the quantum of greatness that has gone wasted. For how long shall we remain a country of just great potentials? A great deal of the potentials of the Nigerian State is buried in its youths; they are the energy force of the country. This is true because other areas of potential, for example, natural resources need purposeful and energetic men/women to harness them for national development. Today in Nigeria, we can estimate the population of the people in the working age group to be about 70 million. An estimated 50% of this group is employed, but less than 10% is gainfully employed, according to statistics from UNICEF and the World Bank. Unfortunately, the Nigerian youth is given to many forms of crime; and crime and poverty are children of the same mother. Boko haram is flooded with young Nigerians. Advanced fee fraud has given us global acclaim as scammers and dupes. Many times we hear of University graduates caught while engaged in armed robbery; kidnapping is also a serious scourge. Just today, a commissioner was kidnapped in Delta State, and many other crimes are perpetuated by Nigerian youths. So what does the 53nd anniversary of Nigeria’s independence mean to a Nigerian youths? Nigeria’s independence anniversary may mean very little to young Nigerians considering how dependent, frustrated, and unutilised they continue to be. In a country where the youths have no voice and are only good for serving the will of the ruling masters; where the youths strive to get some education but can hardly find jobs or the peace and enabling environment to start businesses; where they may spend 5-7 years in University for a 4 year degree programme and end up waiting another year to go on compulsory national service after which they may become unemployable because companies only want people between ages 24-26 or who graduated within the last two years, crime is bound to increase. Not only must we talk about the problems, we must find solutions. So, what should we do in the present situation? If we have to move forward as a country, we need a national change of attitude to involve respect for our laws, strengthening of our institutions and restoration of national hope. If I was the Nigerian President, I will compulsorily put all Nigerian Graduates on a three-year benefit system to help them find their footing in life after NYSC, this will serve the purposes of helping to maximise the country’s potentials and reducing crime. It will also serve as a means of encouraging every child and potential in Nigeria to take education seriously, considering same as a foundation for development. I believe if the Nigerian youth can feel a sense of worth, he/she will be able to relate to the Independence Day celebration as a day worth looking forward to or celebrating. Right now, it is just another day that reminds us of important milestones we are yet to achieve. I wish we can use this opportunity to begin actively building our country, Nigeria, into a great and efficient country like other five star countries of the world. Lets not talk about the millions of Nigerian Youth that are periodically contributed to building other economies under the ministry of brain drain. I do sincerely hope the Nigerian President; Goodluck Jonathan will use the occasion of the 53th independence as a means to engage in the deepest thoughts to figure out how to address this challenge of unemployment amongst the Nigerian Youth and how to harness our potentials to deliver quality product. Happy Independence day
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 05:19:33 +0000
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