The advent of social media has unarguably eased the world of so many impediments. In fact the human race is gradually adopting this man-made culture which is becoming more superior than the age-old culture of our forefathers. According to statistics if Facebook was a country it will be the most populated (beating china the world’s most populated country) of 3.16 billion people, it should however be noted that this statistics does not include the population of China, as Facebook has been blocked from the nation since 2009.
Today 43% of the world population are 25 years old or younger, this young group in according to Wikipedia are 33,652,424 in population (70% of the nation’s population). Research shows that these group are the most prominent users of social media, ranging from Facebook to Twitter, to Skype, to badoo, to instagram, wahtsapp, snapchat etc. Relationships are maintained, business deals are sealed, political participation is enhanced, we get first hand information about new trends and happenings etc. It is unarguable that this 21st century culture has made and marred our lives, most of us worship it, we met our lovers courtesy this new culture, we interact with our affiliates through this culture, we get the latest music updates through these platform, we learn tips on how to look good, we get updated about our favourite celebrities, we flirt and commit so many atrocities through this culture of ours.We detest giving out polymer notes as alms,but we don’t mind expending our last kobo to renew our data subscriptions all for this new culture that we adore and respect even more than our creator.
One of the lessons I learnt from my industrious father is that you don’t invest your money into a cause that won’t yield anything to you. What’s the essence of life if not for happiness, fulfillment,upliftment and service to God and Humanity? It’s very sardonic that this 21st century culture of ours has been malignant to Nigerian youths.
From my knowledge of history I know that youths were the agents of political change, the power house of the industrial world, the brain of the computer world, I learnt that Martin Luther King at 29 refused to accept things the way they are through the audacity of his dreams and revolutionary ideas. Standing Boldly on the floor of the parliamentary house with matchless eloquence of a seasoned orator, Anthony Enahoro at 30 stood in the midst of elder statesmen and fellow Patriots, armed with the courage that only the young can muster , looked the colonial government in their faces and moved the motion for the independence of Nigeria for the first time in 1953. He shut his eyes at the inducement and threats of the colonial masters and fought for the freedom of his countrymen. Before 28, Chinua Achebe, an acclaimed father of African literature had written and published Things Fall Apart- a book which according to Wikipedia has been translated into more than 50 foreign languages. At 13, Bill Gates wrote his first computer program and by the age of 19, founded Microsoft with Paul Allen (21) in 1975. They both created a golden opportunity for themselves and for others generating $77.85 billion annual revenue with the staff strength of 100,932 at the close of 2013. At age 12, Mark Zuckerberg wrote his first computer program, by 20 he founded Facebook with some of his colleagues in the University dormitory in 2004.
Majority of Nigerian Youths believe that they are not qualified to work on their dreams until they have gotten a degree certificate and concluded their National Youth Service, they waste their pristine age pursuing a degree certificate ; which today is a mere social status, they kill their creativity and channel their energy solely to making 5.0CGPA. At a stage where energy and ingenuity surge is at the highest level, we wait for WAEC, JAMB, BSC and NYSC as if success depends on these social time wasters. At a youthful age when aspirations and entrepreneurial spirits are strong and blossoming our educational system is busy tailoring the minds of our brilliant youths for non-existent jobs in government, banks, chevron, Etisalat, NNPC, Law Chambers etc.
We are too enthralled by the fun of the social media that we have refused to avert our minds to the the various ways we can add values to our lives through the media. If Galileo could discover the principle of pendulum at 18 without the help of Wikipedia, if Thomas Jefferson could draft the most potent and consequential document which secured the independence of America without the assistance of Google, if Albert Einstein could change the course of modern physics without the aid of downloaded pdf files and online materials, what exactly is the reason why we (21st century youths) can’t break the bounds and make billowing and landmark achievements? With the social media and the Internet at our finger tips, with the press at our Beck and call, with the ardor of our federal government to make things right, what is your excuse?
It’s not just about the ideas, it’s about tapping the unlimited resources at your reach to carve a niche for oneself. Million dollar ideas are a dime a dozen, the determination to see your idea through is what is priceless. Decide today to follow through on your idea, the Internet is available for you to research on the million and one lucrative businesses and innovations that are yet to be explored. You need not make beads before you are empowered, you need not learn make-up because that’s what every girl does, be unique, be different, start up something new. A lot of people left Facebook for Twitter because it’s a different idea, if every female youth learns tailoring, who will manufacture the clothes tomorrow? If every male youth learns printing jobs who will fix our cars in the future? If bead-making is the vogue today, what happens if wearing beads becomes old fashion?
Fellow Nigerian Youths; now is our time to enhance the media for our own good!
*Legal Eagle is the immediate past Vice president of Unilorin SUG and CEO of Eagles Foundation
Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates
