LEADERS OF TOMORROW
Youths are the back-bone of any society. They are the main labour force – productive force – upon whom almost the entire social activities rely. Thus, they are cardinal to societal survival and determinant of its future. For if you want to know the future of any society, look at its youths.
Nigeria, a blessed nation, is said to have the highest number of youths on the basis of 15 years to 35 years of age in the world, even though in Nigeria the age range is 18 years to 35 years, amounting to almost 67 million (NBRRI, 2017) of the estimated 182-190 million of the population of the country (NPC, 2017; NPOPC, 2017). This statistics may excite an analyst that Nigerian future is ascertain and bright. But this is just from the surface. Taking a deeper look is hard not to come to grief.
In the dawn of ‘not too young to run,’ youths – leaders of tomorrow – are almost completely absent in the political scene or rather, at least far at the periphery; relegated to mere voting and thuggery; embellished by all sorts of social vices and enmeshed in poverty and ignorance, for 42% of them are unemployed and only 20% have more than Secondary Certificate (NBRRI, 2017). One must wonder what is the situation of the Nigerian youths? Who are our youths?
No single article can comprehensively answer these questions. For the Nigerian youths – as a social stratum – are conglomerations of several peculiar characters drawn from the various social classes of the state. It is not a united force capable of bringing social change. In fact, the intelligentsia among them lacks dominant ideology – so is the rest of them. Many may argue that the ideology of the youths in Nigeria is ‘change.’ But that is just a farce. If the youths have any dominant ideology in Nigeria is ‘materialism.’ Take a look at the Student Union bodies across the country and you will agree with me.
The truth is the youths do not really want to change the system rather; they want to take over the system. The few who may want to bring change, even if given the opportunity, will not succeed, for they are short of knowledge-how; it is one thing to want to be a leader and it is quite different thing to know how to lead. And a good leader is what this nation demands for the youths to produce. Therefore change we must!
We first needs an attitudinal change; a national consciousness. This will necessarily lead to formation of ‘progressive associations’ geared toward REAL change – accountability, transparency and redistribution of wealth – partnership with organizations such as Oxfam will expedite the realization of such goals. Hence, each youth should be a member of any political party. This will give the youths the capability to exploit their number and bring internal democracy in the parties and ultimately, reduce the cost of becoming candidate(form); this is very necessary if we are to run young. For as Obasanjo urged “(The) Youths must be part of the action today and not relegated to leadership of tomorrow which may never come!”
BY IBRAHIM LAWAL AHMED,
B.sc POLITICAL SCIENCE,
BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO.
Nigeria, a blessed nation, is said to have the highest number of youths on the basis of 15 years to 35 years of age in the world, even though in Nigeria the age range is 18 years to 35 years, amounting to almost 67 million (NBRRI, 2017) of the estimated 182-190 million of the population of the country (NPC, 2017; NPOPC, 2017). This statistics may excite an analyst that Nigerian future is ascertain and bright. But this is just from the surface. Taking a deeper look is hard not to come to grief.
In the dawn of ‘not too young to run,’ youths – leaders of tomorrow – are almost completely absent in the political scene or rather, at least far at the periphery; relegated to mere voting and thuggery; embellished by all sorts of social vices and enmeshed in poverty and ignorance, for 42% of them are unemployed and only 20% have more than Secondary Certificate (NBRRI, 2017). One must wonder what is the situation of the Nigerian youths? Who are our youths?
No single article can comprehensively answer these questions. For the Nigerian youths – as a social stratum – are conglomerations of several peculiar characters drawn from the various social classes of the state. It is not a united force capable of bringing social change. In fact, the intelligentsia among them lacks dominant ideology – so is the rest of them. Many may argue that the ideology of the youths in Nigeria is ‘change.’ But that is just a farce. If the youths have any dominant ideology in Nigeria is ‘materialism.’ Take a look at the Student Union bodies across the country and you will agree with me.
The truth is the youths do not really want to change the system rather; they want to take over the system. The few who may want to bring change, even if given the opportunity, will not succeed, for they are short of knowledge-how; it is one thing to want to be a leader and it is quite different thing to know how to lead. And a good leader is what this nation demands for the youths to produce. Therefore change we must!
We first needs an attitudinal change; a national consciousness. This will necessarily lead to formation of ‘progressive associations’ geared toward REAL change – accountability, transparency and redistribution of wealth – partnership with organizations such as Oxfam will expedite the realization of such goals. Hence, each youth should be a member of any political party. This will give the youths the capability to exploit their number and bring internal democracy in the parties and ultimately, reduce the cost of becoming candidate(form); this is very necessary if we are to run young. For as Obasanjo urged “(The) Youths must be part of the action today and not relegated to leadership of tomorrow which may never come!”
BY IBRAHIM LAWAL AHMED,
B.sc POLITICAL SCIENCE,
BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO.
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