an expository essay on the future of nigerian youths

Thursday, June 20, 2024

an expository essay on the future of nigerian youths

ANALYSIS: Nigerian youths and what the Future holds ahead of 2023

As the 2023 elections approach, two major political aspirants have come out openly to declare their interests. The two individuals, Bola Tinubu; National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar; an ex-Vice President of Nigeria, are not new in the country’s politics.

Tinubu played a huge role in taking South-west politics to the Federal level from the days of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to the now ruling APC and its common knowledge that he has been eyeing number 1 seat in the country.

He has built a formidable force across Southwest states and seen by his admirers as a trait of a great leader whose judgment on national issues should be respected, particularly for his role in ensuring that President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in 2015 and 2019 respectively. .

POLITICS NIGERIA reported that Atiku on the other hand has had a strong aspiration to lead Nigeria since his first outing in 1992 when he contested alongside Moshood Kashimawo Abiola for the presidential ticket of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He has repeatedly contested and has the followership to give the APC a good fight in the general elections.

The two major contestants currently in PDP and APC are certainly not interested in allowing younger ones to take charge.

This was made public at the palace of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Alaafin of Oyo, when Tinubu openly said Nigerian youths would only lead the country after he had fulfilled his lifelong ambition of ruling the country as a president.

“You won’t allow the elderly ones to pass and you haven’t become president. What if you become president, will you chase us out of town? You will grow old and become president. But I will become the president first.” the 69-year-old politician said.

For Atiku, the youths need to compete with his contemporaries if they really want to contest in the 2023 elections. He made this position during a visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Abeokuta residence.

Speaking with a straight face said, “let the youths compete if they want power.”

Long reign of disbelief in youths

For years now, Nigerian leaders have not seen the youths in a position that could place them in the drivers’ seats. The incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari in 2018 said Nigerian youths are lazy.

“More than 60 per cent of the population is below 30, a lot of them haven’t been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria is an oil producing country, therefore, they should sit and do nothing, and get housing, healthcare, education free,” he said.

In an interview with the BBC Hausa in 2010, Ibrahim Babangida, ex-military president said youths are not capable of leading Nigeria. For him, “a country like Nigeria cannot be ruled by people without experience.”

Aside from these individuals, many others have argued that young Nigerians prefer to rant on social media, particularly on Twitter than taking proactive steps to lead the country. Political pundits have also said 2023 does not appear like the year for the youths and if there would be change, they should start preparing now ahead of the 2027 elections.

Money as hindrance?

In the true sense of it, the APC and the PDP are the two major parties in the country and except there is a miracle, the two parties will continue to produce who governs Nigeria.

The danger attached to this is that despite the fact that the law provides that a 35-year-old person can run, the two major parties in the country have failed to do a review of nomination form fees for office seekers to deepen inclusion, and strengthen national democracy.

The gubernatorial expression of interest and nomination form sold for N1 million and N20 million respectively in the PDP in 2019. The party charged N12 million for both the expression of interest and nomination form for the Office of the President, N3.5million for Senate, N2.5million for House of Representatives, and N600,000 for the House of Assembly.

In APC, it sold expressions of interest for N5 million and N40 million for nomination form for the Office of President, N7 million for Senate, N3.5million for House of Representatives, and N850,000, for the House of Assembly.

“We should be looking for independent youths that will not go cap in hand to beg the old politicians to lend them the required funds. No old politician will bankroll the youths with his funds to retire him. If only the youths can reduce the money they spend on frivolities like clubbing and merriments, buying nomination forms and even funding their elections will not be a problem. They need to be independent minded if they will stand the chance to wrest power from the old politicians, former spokesperson of the APC, Yekini Nabena, opined.

In reaction to this, a veteran musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, has warned Nigerian youths to avoid joining the APC and the PDP.

“If you’re a youth and ready to contest for any position in 2023 please come out. The most important thing is to avoid the All Progressives Party, APC. Come out for the presidency , the House of Representatives just like Sowore, Yul Edochie,” he recently said in a video posted on Instagram.

As the agitation for the inclusion of youth in the governance of Nigeria continues to gain relevance, Omoyele Sowore, has expressed his views on how it could be achieved. He said “what we have now are young people who are mostly hungry, not for relevance and power but for picking up crumbs from the table of people who sometimes are not even as intelligent as they are.”

“Youths are the leaders of tomorrow”

The above quote has become a gospel without the truth in Nigeria. This has been the slogan since 1960 and the tomorrow that youths are expected to lead is yet to come. And the cycle goes on and on.

To make an impact in the forthcoming general election, there is a need to create innovative ideas that the electorate can buy into, building alliances/coalitions with various pressure groups and being ecumenical in movement with already existing coalitions or political parties.

To ensure youths get to power, they must take advantage of their numerical strength and queue behind a candidate that will make a difference in their lives. More than half of all voters, 51.1 percent, are between 18 and 35, according to INEC. Hence, 2023 is a year to form a critical mass as witnessed during the #EndSARS protest and be a part of the decision on who becomes next president of the country.

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One comment.

My only consternation from the piece bugs down on what could be defined as the age of a youth. All past heads of Nigerian states were below the age of 50 when they governed, before the second coming of the Otta brute in 1999. Including, I am not sure the supposed doctor of Zoology was above 50 years of age when he assumed the leadership of the states of Nigeria.

WHAT PART OF THE CONSTITUTION PRECLUDES THE YOUTHS FROM ASPIRING TO THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE NIGERIAN LAND?

What are the cravings for a special breed status for the youths all about? Anybody who wish the office should go out and work for it. It should not be given to any age group on a platter.

““Youths are the leaders of tomorrow”.

TIME TO DISCARD AND DUST THE ABOVE APHORISM IN RELATION TO THE NIGERIAN YOUTHS. SHOULD Yahoo BOYS LAY CLAIMS TO THE PRESIDENCY, ALSO OR SHOULD THEY BE CONSIDERED AS “leaders of tomorrow”?

Youth Development in Nigeria/Africa: The Pathway to a Sustainable Future

To a more microscopic degree, youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) is widely touted as an untapped channel to present fundamental answers to a large chunk of the challenges threatening the fulfilment of the continent’s potential.

In its race towards building a suitable life for humans on the planet, commitment to youth development is the most important decision the world could ever make. This is necessary to maximise youth potential globally and inspire them to play critical leading roles in future development.

The world is constantly evolving, with the people witnessing the dramatic progressions happening before their very eyes. Everyone is sucked in, intrigued by the direction the world is headed. But despite countless studies, documentation, postulations and innovations, no one can tell for certain.

What new innovations would further change the world? What new policies would alter the way humans live? And what would be the role of new generations to come are only a few of many unanswered questions the people seek answers to every day.

Through the collective cluelessness, however, one factor has remained constant: the evolution of man. And central to this unstoppable evolution is the growing youth population globally.

Today, there are 1.2 billion young people in the world aged 15 to 24 years, accounting for 16 per cent of the global population, according to the United Nations . Also, over half of the world’s population is estimated to be under age 30, and today’s global youth generation is the largest in history.

In Africa, recent data estimates that almost 60% of its population is under the age of 25. And with almost a billion people under the age of 35 representing 22.7% of the world’s total youth population, it is one of the leading continents with the largest youth demographic. Similar numbers describe Nigeria’s youth population, where over 33.6 million are currently aged between 15 and 35.

These numbers are critical in understanding the importance of youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) as a vehicle for shaping the future.

Franklin D. Roosevelt , the great American leader who was a central figure in historic world events during the first half of the 20th century, couldn’t have described the importance of youth to global advancement better when he said, “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”

While Roosevelt made this observation over seven decades ago, effective strategies toward youth development have more than before, become a global challenge.

A 2020 Global Youth Development Index, as referenced by the Commonwealth Organisation, reveals that although the conditions of young people have improved around the world by 3.1 per cent between 2010 and 2018, the progress remains slow.

This is expected. At least 20% of all youth in the developing world are not in education, training, or employment, according to USAID. At the same time, 5 million new jobs are said to be required monthly to keep youth unemployment, which is twice the adult unemployment rate, at its current high rate.

In evaluating the situation around youth development in Nigeria (and Africa), all shreds of evidence show the challenges are even more deep-rooted. Decay in the country and continent’s socio-economic and sociopolitical landscape makes the youth susceptible to neglect with damaging consequences.

Apart from suffering poor access to quality education, high unemployment rate, and lack of representation in public office, youth in this region are largely victims of poverty, drug abuse, discrimination, conflict, and other societal vices.

It is no surprise Nigeria is ranked 161st on the 2020 Global Youth Development Index, which measures the status of young people in 181 countries around the world.

In an ideal situation, the benefits of youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) can’t be overlooked.

Youth development on the continent will enhance the status of young people and empower them to build on their competencies and capabilities to thrive in any environment. It will also enable them to contribute to a politically stable and economically viable environment, ensuring their full participation as active citizens for the continent’s betterment.

This is why, in today’s digitally transformative world where youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) has humongous benefits for young individuals and general economic growth, there is a need for more urgent strategies to harness the talents and brilliance of the young generation coming through.

To achieve this much-needed development of young people on the continent, we will weigh some key strategies to employ.

A pivotal first step will involve the deliberate address of issues facing the youth and the engagement of young people across all spheres of society in finding lasting solutions. Through this strategy, youth programming, participation and partnership in support of government or agency development objectives can be constructively and effectively achieved.

As the United Nations enunciates in its message to member nations, active engagement of youth in sustainable development efforts is central to achieving sustainable, inclusive and stable societies. With this, young people who are largely disenfranchised would feel more welcome and be more willing to play their part in national development.

Another critical strategy for consideration is the provision of access to new technological tools and a digital learning environment for young Africans, which would propel them to landmark achievements and position them as leaders in a fastly evolving digital world.

Currently, African youth’s involvement in digital transformation activities is impressive, with the creation of multi-billion tech startups and unicorns. But there’s no denying the gaps still to be filled. Compared to the rest of the world, Africa is yet to scratch the surface in the establishment of eco-friendly tech environments and institutions.

New age technology offers the continent a great opportunity to foster inclusive and sustainable growth among its young population while positioning itself to reach its potential as one of the world’s most promising economies. Considering the associated benefits, it is indeed an understatement to say it would be an unfathomable disaster for the continent to let the opportunity slip.

Perhaps the most critical factor in ensuring youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) is the involvement of young people in the unbalanced political dynamics, as nearly all decisions and policies with a life-changing impact on the citizenry are made by political leaders.

It is alarming that globally, less than 2 per cent of parliamentarians are under 30 years old, as the political landscape continues to be dominated by boomers.

In Nigeria, the Not Too Young To Run campaign remains but a farcical attempt at involving the youth in political positions, due to high entrance ceilings such as astronomical prices of party nomination forms and lack of political clout.

This necessitates an urgent need for more institutions dedicated to grooming and empowering young individuals with an interest in politics.

Opening this accessible pathway to youth involvement in politics is crucial to raising awareness of youth-related issues and the inevitable demand for actionable and practicable change. This standpoint is backed by various studies which have proven the youth as critical thinkers, change-makers, innovators, communicators, and leaders.

Interestingly, there are existing indicators of the possibility of these youth development strategies by many public and private organisations in Africa.

As a notable case study, driving real change in youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) through some of the strategies highlighted above is the Future Project. The youth-oriented project strives to build empowered citizens across Africa through inclusive enterprise and active citizenship while inspiring a network of young Africans to work together to solve the continent’s biggest and most urgent issues.

Human capital development projects embarked upon by the outfit in recent years have included a capacity-building Future Africa Internship Program where young Africans with less than two years of work experience are allowed to intern in their prospective area of expertise for deliberate career growth.

For 16 years, the noble project has also been instrumental in the celebration of young people who have challenged the status quo in their respective spheres of influence and have worked to build lifelong legacies that will transform generations for years to come.

The Future Project’s annual award ceremony, The Future Awards Africa , has grown to become a staff of validation and coveted recognition among young Africans making a life-changing impact on their community as well as the nation.

It bolsters general confidence that these initiatives in the drive towards youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) are providing a monumental base for more work to be done. And it’ll be interesting to see the offshoots in the coming years.

Conclusively, there is no better time than now to define the future of our world, and it is critical to acknowledge the importance of youth development as an integral part of that. All things fairly considered, it should be their world, and everyone else should only be living in it.

So, when leisurely chatter about the strategy required to impact a dream future for our world ensues, youth development in Nigeria (and Africa) should reign supreme. And when strategic deliberations on the actions to achieving great results are had, there should be no look beyond the template and blueprint being laid by the Future Project.

While these strategies may not represent the only angles of passage through the needle, they sure are a good place to start.

By The Future Project
May 19, 2022
the future africa
Youth development

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Focus On Future Of Nigerian Youths, The Journey So Far

The saying that youths are the future of tomorrow has become a popular saying in Nigeria’s socio-political parlance. That saying which, ordinarily, is meant to lend credence to the place of youths in the social, political, and economic affairs of the country, seems to have become mere political usage that never comes to reality. In this special report, correspondent, Daniel Ezeigwe, takes a look at the future of the Nigerian youth, sixty years after independence.

The Nigerian youth seem to be at the receiving end of so many leadership failings that have become customary year after year, hence, their yearly migration abroad, in search of greener pastures, that have been denied them in a country where the light continues to dim on their future.

President Muhammadu Buhari had assented the not too young to run bill on May 31st, 2018, ending the age-long discrepancies in the age eligibility for contesting for political offices and giving the youth chance to be a major participant in political processes . But some political critics still argue that it is not enough to bring down the age eligibility when the country’s political environment is perennially hijacked by old players, shutting out youths from the mainstream politics .

Discussing the issue, the Anambra State President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, observed that the political elites have contained to manipulate the future of the Nigerian youth, calling on youths to organize a peaceful revolution that seeks to stamp their voice and authority on national decisions. Also speaking, the Managing Director, Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, ACTDA, Venerable Amaechi Okwuosa noted that though youth-related problems are not peculiar to Nigeria, all tiers of government must make inclusive efforts to address the vast challenges faced by the Nigerian youth.

The Anambra State President of National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Comrade Samuel Egwuatu, expressed sadness at what he described as state of the Nigerian youth, given the shortchanged nature of youth engagement in national development.

On his part, the Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Awka Community, Comrade Obi-Ochije Modilim, who observed that the present political atmosphere in Nigeria favours the youth, urged those, who want to make impact at the national stage to first of all gain the confidence and endorsement of the people at the local level.

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Future Of Nigerian Youths in Politics

Post author: Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka ACMC
Post published: February 8, 2022
Post category: Scholarly Articles

The Future Of Nigerian Youths: Who are the youths, and what range of age is considered the youth age? Youth is the totality of not treating oneself as incapable, the desire to explore life, the ability to embrace changes, and the enthusiasm to live each moment. Youthfulness in essence is about the possibilities in one’s own future, about human nature, and about the possibility of fulfillment in adult life.

Youthfulness is therefore the quality or state of being young. It is the stage of life immediately succeeding childhood. It follows therefore that there is no certainty as to the age range at which one may be considered a youth. Youth age may however range from and within 14 – 35 years of age, and may extend to 46.

Having discovered who the youths are or may be, and what constitutes the youth age, what then does the future of Nigerian youths look like? Youths are popularly referred to as the future of the nation. There have been contentions that as a result of the impossibilities and uncertainties existing in Nigeria, that the basis of the afore-highlighted phrase has been defeated. A better view is that the purpose of the phrase was redefined as opposed to being totally extinguished. If follows therefore that the now youths may have to struggle to survive till they get to their own old age in order to start leading.

This is exactly what the description looks like. Now, this takes us to the number one menace facing the Nigerian youths and of course the country as a whole, which is that the political structure of Nigeria is being manned by retirees; people who ordinarily ought to have retired. This setting is popularly described as the digital world being manned by analog minds.

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Nigerian youths have taken steps to show that their future does not depend or lie with the governance in Nigeria. Nigerian youths have proven to be very hardworking, innovative and explorative in all sectors of life and the economy. In a country where absolutely nothing works, good percentage of our country youths, yet, are still successful. None is ever dependent on the government. In fact, the capacity of Nigerian youths is being appreciated overseas. We are beginning to loose our capable youths to the hands of other countries who appreciate their value and capacity.

If follows correctly that when our youths are subjected to the cruel governance in Nigeria, they still find their way to raise their heads and attain success. If Nigerians can become successful under such cruel circumstances and conditions as that in Nigeria, you can imagine how much more they would explore and attain in a more relaxed environment and conditions in other countries where things work. Currently and as expected, the future of the youths in Nigeria and of course, the future of Nigeria as a country suffers from the terminology known as brain drain.

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Brain drain is the migration of educated and talented people from less economically developed areas or countries to a more economically advanced areas or countries. Nigeria is unarguably a country with poor economic advancement; very poor one. It is not longer news but a norm that our youths are consciously making positive efforts and exploring means to leave Nigeria in search of better opportunities, and at most, relocate to a country where things work. There is practically no country in the world that Nigerians are not found.

We have all it takes to be found in every country in the world, after all, our population is endless. The large population of Nigeria is another menace contributing to the perceived nature of the future of the youths as well as the future of the country. Nigeria has excess population that its economy can ever carter for.

There are limited opportunities being struggled for by millions and thousands of people. Take higher institutions’ aptitude assessment for example, where the capacity of Nigerian universities cannot admit a fraction of the population on application. This population posing as a menace here clearly contributes to the rate of unemployment, and as well encourages criminal activities ranging from kidnapping, fraud, money laundering, etc. all these renders the future of the country unsafe, hopeless and scary; thereby providing valid reasons for Nigerian youths to seek the nation building of other countries instead of theirs. These points back to the brain drain factor. It then seems that the various factors revolve around each other. The future of Nigerian youths is something that can never be taken away from them.

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The worse that Nigerian youths may experience is the thorn process which is incidental to attainment of heights, though in a more extreme thorn process this time. A good percentage of Nigerian youths on the other side of the stream no longer believe in the process. Youths nowadays suffer and cannot withstand societal pressure, especially the male folks. It is sad that the act of fraudulently possessing the product of people’s sweat is now getting societal justification; that is, becoming socially recognized as something normal.

It is the popular trend of yahoo-yahoo (online fraud) which has been encouraged by the get rich quick syndrome, well; this certainly cannot be the future of Nigerian youths. People who engage in legal businesses in Nigeria sometimes get frustrated by new state policies; how much more, illegal ones? Policies are made day by day which seeks to restrict, regulate and promote financial security in the system. Check the banking industry for instance, the policies are getting tighter unlike it used to be. Not so long ago, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its supervisory capacity mandated all banks against the transaction of Bitcoin.

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The financial system is getting more security attention lately. The gist is that yahoo-yahoo is a risky temporal substance. One this basis, it seems better to stand on the proposition that the future of Nigerian youths has not and cannot be completely altered or extinguished. The real youths out there are bent on doing the right thing, securing opportunities, building on their capacity and self worth, and making changes in their realm of operation. Nigerian youths are now becoming self-aware. Go into the political sector, they are well occupied at least to a large extent. Talk about business, education, health sector, innovations and technologies, and the host of them.

Nigerian youths are not entirely lost in focus. The youths occupy quite an amount of the Nigerian population. Youths are by their very nature, self conscious, enthusiastic, goal driven and never incapacitated. In most realms, the youths cannot be done without. Their relevance in the country and to the economy can never be extinguished. But the center gist remains that the process is a lot more difficult than it ordinarily ought to be.

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It is trite to say that the future of Nigerian youths lies in their hands. When a person feels that something which belongs to him is being withheld by another, the natural cause to do is to go and grab what is yours. Ordinarily, good things no longer come to those who wait, and nobody is ever ready to step down for another to rise. It has always been the survival of the fittest. The advantage which the youths have is that their youthful age has an enthusiastic characteristic. As long as they remain in the process, their future belongs to them. The only regret is that the current status of Nigeria has imposed extra difficulty on the process.

Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka, ACMC, is a lawyer and a certified mediator/conciliator in Nigeria. He is also a developer with knowledge in various programming languages. Samuel is determined to leverage his skills in technology, SEO, and legal practice to revolutionize the legal profession worldwide by creating web and mobile applications that simplify legal research. Sam is also passionate about educating and providing valuable information to people.

Youth and the future of Nigeria

Youth have therefore, historically been notable change agents and drivers of societal transformation. Contemporarily, however, especially in the so-called developing democracies, the trend has been that of relegation of youth interests and roles, thereby pushing the youth more into poverty, alienation, and turning them into agents of destabilization and conflicts, especially in diverse developing countries.

Nigerian Youth: Nature, characteristics and predilections

The Nigerian National Youth Policy (2009) defines youths as those between the ages of 18 – 35 years. (Contrary to the global trend, it excludes those 15 – 17!) Nigeria’s total population in 2016 was projected to be 193,392,517 (NpopC July 2017). Youth population was estimated at 61,306,413 or 31.7% of the total population. This is one of the highest percentages of youth in any country.

In 2012, using National Population Commission’s (NpopC) projections, Nigeria was said to have a population of 167 million. Half or 50% of these were said to be youth in the age category of 15 – 34 years (Akande, 2014). Nigeria is said to have the largest youth population in the world within the framework of this definition, with a figure of 33.652 million. Also, 2012 statistics suggest that 11 million youth were unemployed.

Nigerian youth face tremendous challenges, of poverty, diseases such as STDs and HIV/AIDs, unemployment and marginalization and exclusion in the political economy; arguably more so, than most countries in the world. There is a dire shortage of young persons occupying the political realm, either because of disempowerment, or alienation, or their perception that their involvement would not matter, given how elections are rigged and how policies are haphazardly conceived and implemented without input from critical stakeholders.

Additionally, there is a disjuncture between the old, the middle aged and the youth, in the sense of lack of appropriate and serious platforms for solidarity, engagement and dialogue. It hasn’t always been this bad. In the First Republic, the founding fathers ensured unity of purpose, empowered the youth, mentored them, carried them along and involved them appropriately. For example, the Enahoros, the Maitama Sules, all became prominent politicians, Federal/Regional Ministers, etc., as youth. The founding fathers themselves had been involved in students and other community affairs, political struggles and leadership roles quite early in their lives. But, somewhere along the line, a rupture seems to have occurred; perhaps beginning under military rule, and especially under politics of the Second and subsequent, republics, the youth came to be generally neglected and relegated to the background.

The marginalization of youth and their disempowerment cannot be adequately addressed unless and until more and more young people, both men and women, become engaged in the political, legislative as well as policy and governance processes. We must, therefore, reconnect with the youth, empower them, mentor them responsibly, give them responsible leadership roles and enable them become the key change agents for Nigeria’s stability, unity, progress and development. Young people cannot afford to be apolitical, apathetic and indifferent to what is happening in governance and in the larger political economy. They need to get engaged and involved. Effective mechanisms and platforms need to be established to nurture and mobilize youth engagement in the wider political and policy-making processes. Credible youth leaders must necessarily help to organize and pilot such platforms of engagement.

Enhancing the role of youth in the Nigerian political economy

We must work hard in all respects to empower our youth in the Nigerian political economy. The goals of youth empowerment, as identified by UNESCO, are to nurture in the youth values, ideals and notable skills as follows:

– Positive sense of self

– Self-control

– Decision making skills

– Moral system of belief

– Pro-social connectiveness

We have to work hard, with government leading the way, and other stakeholders providing critical support, to create better opportunities for our young people so that they can explore their potentials in education, in employment, in entrepreneurship, and especially in politics and governance, and in global competitiveness as well, in all facets of life. A situation in which political and governmental processes, as Sweigart observed, “seem out of reach, out of touch and ineffective” (NDI June 28, 2017) for youth needs to addressed and be reversed.

Specific Recommendations

Given the arguments and points raised in the preceding paragraphs, and especially the predicament of youth in Nigeria, I wish to specifically make the following recommendations, which are informed by solid research of comparative global experiences:

1. Nigeria needs to adopt a “positive youth development approach”, which recognizes youth as active participants in societal development, and not merely as passive recipients of doled out goods and services.

2. Accordingly, the National Youth Policy should be urgently reviewed, enhanced and imbued with serious programs targeted at satisfying the needs and aspirations of the youth, with their active participation.

3. Youth employment and empowerment programs and projects need to be reviewed/replaced for greater effectiveness in meeting objective goals.

4. Effort should be targeted at the systematic removal of all barriers to effective youth participation in the Nigerian political economy.

5. Government should create and, with time, institutionalize a Nigerian Youth Interactive Forum, which meets annually or biennially, through which leading public officials would meet representatives of the youth; enable voices of the youth to find expression, to become in the center of governance and to drive change. This should become a sustainable participation forum for the youth in national affairs; to replace or incorporate cultural festivals, which presently are jamborees merely focusing on dances, singing, etc., consuming humongous amounts of public resources, with no substantive value-addition.

6. The three arms of government (Executive, Legislature and Judiciary) at all tiers need to carefully plan and introduce Internship schemes / programs for youth, especially those in tertiary institutions, during long vacation periods, which globally have been contributing to youth exposure, development of self-confidence, acquisition of gainful skills, and eventually nurturing youth agency. In addition, vacation job schemes, in the areas of public works (e.g. repairs and repainting of schools, hospitals, public building, etc.), which provide temporary employment and skills opportunities for the youth, with multiplier effects, should be introduced.

7. The Federal government should strive hard to implement all AU resolutions / decisions for youth engagement, empowerment and employment, which it is a signatory to. In particular, the Resolution of the AU Summit of heads of States, which required member states to endeavor to reduce youth unemployment by 2% per year from 2009 – 2018, should be resolutely implemented, through vigorous schemes of employment generation.

8. Nigerian communities must revive the constructive culture of socialization and indoctrination of youth with positive values and belief systems.

As Sweigart has aptly noted, “surging youth activism and leadership has the potential to change the world” (NDI April 20, 2017); and I add, to impact upon the future more positively. This potential of youth to change Nigeria for a better future must be tapped maximally No effort should be spared to encourage youth engagement, catalyze it, nurture and institutionalize it. Indeed, as Sweigart also averred, “young people are … indispensable change agents for sustainable development and the source of democratic dividend”, more especially in newly democratizing countries. Our public officials need to recognize this, and become more serious in handling youth development programs.

It is worth emphasizing, at this juncture, that “youth” is not a homogeneous category. Individual young men and women are differently and intricately linked to different social and class cleavages in a country. Even though they have many common challenges, concerns and aspirations, their approach to them will necessarily vary; coping strategies, responses and modes of engagement would differ amongst the youth, influenced by affiliation to cleavages.

Forging a united, common front, to address the multifarious and complex issues, therefore, is a difficult task. However, it is not an impossible task; it is a task that must be done. Building credible alliances, championed by credible leaders and change agents amongst the youth, is key but would require tireless sensitization, mobilization and engagement. Significantly, forging intergenerational alliances between the young, the middle and the old breeds, is the best recipe for assuring a better future for our country. In this way, the young would feel included, they would strive to add value, an amenable environment for their positive roles would be created and a smooth and seamless process of political and developmental baton-exchange would have been engendered.

The case for active engagement and participation of youth in the life of a nation and its political economy is solid, especially in new democracies, such as Nigeria, and is increasingly now being backed by evidence drawn from empirical research. For example, drawing from the findings of such research, Lagos and Rose have observed as follows:

In the new democracies of the world, the role of the youth is of special importance… older generations…include leaders of discredited undemocratic regime and many who supported or tolerated it… young persons are freer of association with excesses of the past… (“Young People in Politics…” I-IDEA).

No doubt, young people carry less excess baggage and are better placed to face the challenges of creating stability to replace the “chronic instability” of the past. But neither them alone, nor indeed, the so-called “new breed” politicians can do it alone. All hands need to be joined and placed on deck, as a by-product of credible patriotic alliances for all-inclusive engagement in national development. Adult – youth partnerships are required and these ought to be forged systematically and with sincerity of purpose, not opportunistically. As Sweigart has observed, young people not only deserve a seat at the table and must be given one, but they also aspire for more than just a seat at the table, they aspire to learn in practice how to drive the process, a role that they clearly would be called upon to discharge sooner or later.

As for the youth, there is the absolute need for a change of their mindset, from despondency, apathy and “Exit”, to hopeful and positive, can-do attitude; indeed to engagement and activism, with purposefulness and integrity. These, I believe, are the attributes of the mindset required to move Nigeria out of its current state of chaotic befuddlement, to a greater future more assured.

Nigerian young men and women must rise to get involved; to organize, not agonize! And take their destiny and our nation’s destiny in their hands. They should not allow others to hide behind, or wear, their toga to advance particularistic, non-youth agenda. They should lead to get the agenda crafted and their concerns squarely addressed.

Being a paper delivered by Professor Attahiru M. Jega, OFR, Department of Political Science, Bayero University, Kano at the 5th Convocation Lecture, Nile University, University Village, Abuja.

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THE ROLES OF THE NIGERIAN YOUTHS IN NATION BUILDING: CHALLENGES

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In the vibrant tapestry of Nigeria, a troubling thread weaves its way through the lives of countless individuals, casting a shadow over families, communities, and the nation itself. This thread is the menace of drug abuse, a complex issue that affects people of diverse backgrounds and ages. In this expository essay, we shall delve into the layers of this problem, exploring its causes, effects, and the measures that can be taken to combat it.

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Drug abuse, a deeply rooted concern in Nigeria, has ensnared the minds of many, including students who should be shaping the future. From the allure of cocaine to the grip of heroin and the haze of hash, the usage of these substances is far from uncommon[1]. The ripples of this problem extend far beyond the individual user, impacting families, communities, and the broader fabric of society.

The intertwining of drug abuse with criminal activities casts a dark cloud over Nigeria. Often, addiction and drug usage become entangled with a web of criminal behavior, including prostitution and sexual exploitation, resulting in vulnerable individuals being preyed upon[2]. The vicious cycle leads to tragic outcomes, with users often falling victim to violence, abuse, and exploitation.

The toll of drug abuse on health is a stark reality. The human body bears the brunt of the choices made, as substance abuse paves the path to heart ailments, kidney malfunction, and irreversible damage to the brain[4]. The very essence of self-control is under siege due to altered brain functioning, perpetuating the cycle of addiction and further physical deterioration.

The devastation caused by drug abuse stretches beyond the individual to disrupt the harmony of families and communities, undermining the foundations of society itself. Relationships are strained, families fractured, and social fabric torn asunder. The burden placed on healthcare systems and law enforcement compounds the issue, diverting resources from pressing matters.

Nurturing a solution to the epidemic of drug abuse requires a multifaceted strategy. First and foremost, awareness campaigns are pivotal in illuminating the path towards a drug-free society. Through education, individuals can be enlightened about the dangers that lie within the grasp of addiction. Accessible and well-funded rehabilitation centers must be established to provide a lifeline to those ensnared by substance dependency. The gears of law enforcement should turn towards dismantling drug trafficking networks and curbing the influx of illicit substances.

In conclusion, the specter of drug abuse in Nigeria is a formidable adversary, impacting individuals, families, and the entire nation. As we stand at the crossroads of a healthier future, it is imperative to address this issue head-on through comprehensive education, robust rehabilitation, and vigilant law enforcement. By doing so, we unravel the shadows that drug abuse casts, nurturing a society that thrives on resilience, unity, and wellbeing.

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