Wednesday, August 12, was the 15th edition of the International Youth Day—a day that’s been set aside by the United Nations to draw attention to youth issues worldwide. For me, it’s a day of sober reflection and that’s because the government in my country, Nigeria, has totally failed the young people. While some people strongly posit that Nigerian youths are not well equipped to partake actively in governance, others believe that the current crop of political leaders have marginalized them. Either way, the bottom line is that the youths have been left uncared for.
Buhari-led federal government really needs to formulate and implement youth-friendly policies, actively engage and therefore give young people the opportunities to rule the roost. After all, this former military dictator became, in 1975, the governor of the old North Eastern state when he was only 32. I also expect Mr Buhari to give consideration to them as he is set to form his cabinet next month; he should involve young, competent and bright minds that are well equipped with a lot of innovative ideas in his government.
I still have the vivid image of how our teachers used to routinely tell us, as primary school pupils, that “we are the leaders of tomorrow.” Tiresome as it were, we would always recite the famous rhyme, “children listen to your parents…. we are leaders of tomorrow… try to pay our school fees and give us sound education.” I would later find out—after several years—that many students in the university also had a similar upbringing. But, today, we are yet to become the so called leaders; instead, we have become mere dreamers.
As it stands now, it is believed that youth unemployment rate is over 50% in the country. Nigerian youths —those persons between the ages of 15 and 35 according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)—are largely unemployed. With this figure, it therefore means 5 out of every 10 Nigerian youths are out of a decent job. Frankly speaking, young people are not actively engaged economically, socially and politically in Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy. This is a time bomb that could spark off in the nearest future if appropriate measures are not taken as soon as possible.
In the historic March 28 general elections that brought Mr Muhammadu Buhari into power, young people played a key role especially via the effective use of social media. That was the first time an opposition leader, Mr Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defeated an incumbent president, Mr Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in a fiercely contested election. But for the use of social media, Buhari’s message of “Change” which swept across the country, like a tornado, during the campaign couldn’t have, almost certainly, been made possible.
There is need to review those sections of Nigeria’s constitution, which put the minimum age requirement of 30 years to hold any elected office— it’s a great impediment. 20-year-old Mhairi Black of the Scottish National Party shook the entire political landscape during the May 2015 general elections in UK, when she toppled Douglas Alexander, a long time Labour Party heavyweight. Upon her victory, she became the youngest British Member of Parliament since 1667.
In November 2014, 18-year-old Saira Blair became West Virginia’s youngest lawmaker after a landslide victory. In her victory speech, she said: “When I made the decision to run for public office, I did so because I firmly believe that my generation’s voice, fresh perspective and innovative ideas can help solve some of our state’s most challenging issues.”
Imagine that Nigerian youths are given these opportunities? Then, that would doubtless establish what Mr Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General, recently said as he kicked off a Headquarters event on empowering youth through employment. “When young people have decent jobs, political weight, negotiating muscle and real influence in the world, they will create a better future,” he passionately declared. Nigerian youths can definitely create a better future. But, they must be given the chance!
As a transformational speaker and nation-builder, I have spoken to thousands of secondary school students. And I would always tell them, basically, that they are the leaders of today—not leaders of ‘tomorrow’ which may never come. As young leaders, I would always challenge them to take responsibility and work ceaselessly for the progress of their nation, continent and the world at large.
I was told as a primary school pupil that “I’m the leader of tomorrow,” and yet, the tomorrow that my teachers talked about remains an illusion till date. As the world celebrated the International Youth Day on Wednesday, I was consumed by the thought that young people have been sidelined for too long in Nigeria. But I’m very hopeful that the new administration would turn things around.
Kofoworola Ayodeji is a Nigerian writer and transformational speaker that’s passionately involved in nation-building. Follow him on twitter @Generalkopho and facebook www.facebook.com/Kofoworolaak
Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates
