By Chinyere Okoroafor
Experts have charged Nigerian youth to be resilient and determined to make the best out of their lives in order to improve the country and change all associated negative narratives.
Speaking at this year’s Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP) organised by the foundation in Lagos with the theme: Nigerian Youth as a Tool for National Development, Founder, Rose of Sharon Foundation, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija said that YEP was a capacity building programme for graduates, undergraduates, job seekers, working-class and self-employed youth who are concerned about being a catalyst for change in this country.
She stated that the development of any country depends on the productivity and creativity of its youth. She said the youth in any society, provides the labour force for the production of goods and services to take effect.
According to the UN, Nigeria’s estimated population as of 2020 is 206 million people, with a median age of 18 years. This means that Nigeria has a majorly youthful population, she added.
According to her, the quantum of the Nigerian youth population is a great asset for the Nigerian state, only ‘if they are harnessed and utilised in the right direction. They have the power to develop the country and move her towards greatness.’
“On the other hand, due to their critical mass, negative behaviour can also destroy the fabrics of the society. This is evident from the daily reports on the incidences of crimes in the newspapers, television and on the radio. When you look at the demographics of those involved in the social vices such as kidnapping, terrorism and other civil unrest,
majority of the culprit are within the youthful age bracket.
“They are also the ones mostly involved in migration through illegal and dangerous means to leave the country, and also the major target for those who want to carry out evil activities, because of their strength and usefulness. We all can’t leave the country, but if we all work towards building the nation, through positive, creative and productive activities, we can make this country a better place for living.
“Our pursuit at the RoSF is to change these current narratives, and provide tools for the Nigerian youth to develop themselves, and harness their skills, so that they can provide for themselves, families, and also
develop the country,” she added.
She stressed that it was imperative that our youth channel their energies towards activities that can build this country, through constructive and positive endeavors rather than those that can destroy it. Principal Consultant, Joe Mekiliuwa Consulting Services Limited, Dr. Joe Makiliuwa harped on the need for youth to skill up and develop themselves so to become too relevant to be ignored, and work towards a brighter future.
“We must prepare the youth to recognise their roles in the path of national development. You become leaders, not overnight you become leaders by becoming good followers in order to get to the paths of leadership. They must show good examples to our youth so that our youth can learn the good path of leadership.
“As a youth, you have a creative mind, you can think your way out of unemployment, you can think your way out of poverty, and that situation that you are in. God has deposited that ability in you,” he said.
Strategic Partner and Senior Consultant, Tom Association Limited, Mr Temitope Jegede, said Nigerian youth must break away from divisive mindsets of tribalism, ethnicity, cultural barriers and religious device, if we must exploit the potentials of this country, we must see everybody as one.
Jegede said: “We must leverage our intellectual values and stop all intrigues of ethnicity that our father sowed. We must think differently if we want to move Nigeria forward. Youth must get involved in the political space. With the youth number in this country, imagine that we all vote for people that can move this country forward. Elect competent people that can challenge the status quo and chart a new part for the Nigeria that we all dream of.”
He added that the youth need to also get politically educated and oriented, involve in policy advocacy, and chart a new course for national development.
On her path, CEO, A Smile on Their Faces Limited, Mrs. Funke Oga explained that youth must be emphatic in their beliefs, desperate for a change, unite to change the status quo, continuously assess their journey so far and be accountable for every step taken for national development.
“They must have an impact on others, organise a value chain development among them, and must be nationalistic in their approach to life,” she said.
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