The reality the average Nigerian faces is one of despondence. Statistics show that 70% of the population of the country comprises of youth.
The Nigerian youths are exposed to all kinds of information from the Internet to the cable channel; they have seen what youths in other parts of the world are doing especially in Europe, America and even Asia. The achievements of these people awe Nigerian youths and make them ask several unanswered questions.
The amazement and questions keep the Nigerian youth in confusion, hence the title of this write up.
Reports have shown how the youth in America and other developed places are contributing to the innovations and rapid development such societies are witnessing today.
From the Facebook revolution to other mind blowing technologies from Silicon Valley, to corporate and political governance, the youths in these societies are seen playing very crucial roles in the advancement of their society.
Back home in Nigeria, the situation is the very opposite. Not only is the level of development in Nigeria advancing at a very slow pace but the seemingly few places that the youths ought to be so as to contribute their ingenuity are occupied by men as old as their grandfathers. Yet these old hands are not willing to leave or retire in order for vibrant young minds to take over.
This explains why creativity in political governance, corporate Nigeria and even the idea of the youths believing in themselves is far from been achieved. (I really don’t know what he was trying to say here)
To this end, the Nigerian youth and by extension her counterparts in Africa who face similar challenges remain bewildered. They continue to ask what is wrong with the system? Could it be that their youthful vigour is not meant for the benefit of society?
Since our society discourages the constructive expression of youthful exuberance, we are now witnesses to the disaster that results when these creative minds are engaged negatively viz cybercrime, pornography, ATM fraud etc.
Albert Einstein who is acclaimed to be the father of 20th century creative exploits warned never to ignore the creativity of the youth. Societies that are regarded as advanced have adhered to this advice. Are we going to be left behind? The bomb blast at the police headquarters in Abuja attests to the fact that our youth are using their creative energy to harm the society.
The confusion is still on, how long will it last, I do not know but the consequences of this confusion are very severe…..
By Yek Keme
[email protected]
Dept of Philosophy, Unilag
What an interesting observation. However, let me say this..whatever you believe about the youth in the US being sooo innovative has come with a price. First of all, young people cannot even enjoy a childhood anymore. Most young people have no respect whatsoever for their elders or others in authority. When Zuckenberg created FB he was not a “youth” but a full-fledged college student over the age of 22 very much a grown up. Don’t believe the hype other youth in the world being more advanced than Nigerians. One thing Nigerian youth have is love of their culture and family and for that–it’s priceless. No one is passing the torch to youth in America..and many of our leaders are old enough to be their grandfathers as well. Please do not make the youth in Nigeria feel as if they are inadequate to the rest of the world. America’s youth is in SERIOUS trouble and so is the educational system. Real talk, real facts.
I believe the average Nigerian Youth has an idea, potentials, talents, skills that can bring about innovative and better Nigeria, but the youths lacks motivations amd Empowerments both academically, morally, finicially and spiritually! If all these things are bein put in place with an enabking enviroment then the Nigerian Youth will perform better.
I am a Nigerian Youth and I am proud to be a Nigerian. I know vividly that we as an ambassadors of tomorrow if empowered can do great more than other country of the world and in the comity of nations because we have what it takes. We want our voice to heard and also we want to be involved in the decision making of this great nation because we are affected in one or the one, I believe in the youth of Nigeria and I believe in Nigeria. The shinning face of Nigeria youth is fast manifesting as we can now compete with others……
Nigeria as a diversified nation is suffering from many problem and one of the problems is the issue of tribalism. there are many communities in Nigeria and each community has it own settings and problems.the issue of youth should be trace back to the family,the home,the community or society which they came from.the Nigerian youth lacks creativity and motivation and we are in a society that is occupied with the elite and the class and the believe of every Nigerian youth is to be rich..