Tag: UNESCO

This year’s edition of the Port Harcourt Book Festival focused on the youth as a vehicle of possibilities for Nigeria. It was a festival of books that sparked up debates over the role of the government, society and youths in building a Nigeria of possibilities at 100. Senior Correspondent EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

What bothered most of the participants at the seventh edition of the Port Harcourt Book Festival, was how to harness the rare potential of Nigeria after its 100 years of existence.

The week-long event held at a time when there were lots of political activities going on, which attracted thousands across the state. While some governorship aspirants were kick-starting their campaigns, Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi was marking the seventh anniversary of the Supreme Court judgment that brought him to power. Interestingly, whatever the occasion, youths formed the largest population of the army of supporters – they were often seen chanting diverse songs and screaming their hearts out.

The role and participation of the young ones at such events and the need for a reorientation formed the major part of the discourses at the book festival. The constant conscription of unemployed youths by politicians for such “campaigns” also raised fears in some quarters about the future of the youth and the nation, if such trends were not checked.

Stakeholders at the annual fiesta, therefore, looked beyond the current economic and security challenges bedevilling the country, and called for courage and hope for a better Nigeria through the empowerment of the youth.

Held at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, the gathering of intellectuals, government officials, literary enthusiasts, captains of industries and students turned out to be a haven of Possibilities for Nigeria at 100, justifying the theme of the week-long festival.

The organisers, Rainbow Book Club (RBC), in collaboration with the Rivers State government, must have achieved their goal of using books to unite the world, especially at a time when Port Harcourt was adjudged by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), as the 2014 World Book Capital.

The programme, which began on Monday, October 20 through Saturday, October 25, was full of activities in which the youth were given the opportunity to express their minds on how they feel the world could be best-managed.

Addressing the guests, including writers from various parts of the world, the Festival Director, Koko Kalango, who was also one of the recipients of the recent national honours from President Goodluck Jonathan, said the festival formed a crucial part in the move to build a new and better Nigeria. Her organisation, Kalango noted, has also established 200 reading clubs across the state to promote the reading culture among the young, which, she said, has the power to change thoughts and character of the young.

She said: “The youths are key in this conversation hence our festival this year is aimed at the youth. Using the book as a focal point for discussion, we would look at the key pillars of national life and how we may, through them, work at transforming the society. As we journey from one century to another, in our national life, we have an opportunity to reflect on our past and explore the opportunities before us that can enable us build the Nigeria of our dreams.”

In his keynote entitled: Possibilities for Nigeria at 100: Youths as Underdogs and Misfits, the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, charged Nigerian youths to be more articulate with strong will to become an agent of change, at least for the coming century. Kukah said Nigeria has been wracked by internal wars and that the society needs to find a way to wean its youths from the agony and consequences of the war, advising that they focus on other areas of educational pursuit as opposed to seeking  monetary gains in their endeavours. While lamenting that Nigerian youths appear not to be ready to take the leadership role, having allowed   money bags to corrupt her natural edifice, the cleric, therefore, charged the youths not to stand and look but to get busy.

“Confronting the Goliath of corruption and inefficiency and gross mismanagement of resources that has rendered our country what it is today should be our battle. The problems may look like a mountain and of course, it is tempting to say that we cannot do anything…Are you looking for weapon called money or power? Look no further. David had only a stone. He did not wait for the politicians and the men and women of power of his time to save his people. The time to act for a better tomorrow is now and the generation to ensure a greater tomorrow is here. If we are to change tomorrow, we must slay the Goliath of injustice and corruption that has held us down.”

He also lamented on the sad penetration of fraud in the domestic vocabulary of Nigeria, blaming the nation for laying a legacy of corruptible values and disdained educational policies for her youths, saying: “Sadly, with no strict regulations over conduct by teachers in our secondary schools and universities, young female students have been reduced to victims to be preyed upon.”

“Youths are prepared to form gangs, become thugs as they angle for positions of advantage and access. Youths can only access politics by way of patronage and through the institutional process of transaction. They serve as consorts to the high and mighty, they are conference materials shipped around cities and foreign capitals; they are trafficked and rented for parties and so on,” he said.

The seasoned author implored the youth to be more involved in legitimate business and activities of governance from the grassroots, advising the youth to challenge the corrupt leaders so as to win back the glory of the country through needful protest, saying there is value in protest and in saying no.

“Jesus was angry with the money changers in the temple and he flogged them and overtuned their table. It is one of the rarest expressions of violence by our Lord.  Anger is not necessarily a negative outlet if it energises us to moral revulsion. Why are the youth no longer angry in Nigeria? The American youth were angry about Vietnam. They took to the streets in revolt. The youth in China were angry in their society and they took over Tiananmen Square. Do we not remember the picture of the young man facing the armoured tanks in Tiananmen Square? We are young only once, but it must be a matter of great concern that the youth of Nigeria have, at an early age become caught up in consuming the position of corruption and greed that their parents never tasted at their own age,” he said.

The cleric condemned the mutual relationship between today’s student union leaders and those in government, an act he considered as betrayal to the constitutional content of their services to establish the gospel of truth and justice. He called for the need to channel youth frustration into a more productive means of engaging government across the board.

He noted that the universities in Nigeria have been tribalised to the extent that community fights against the appointment of vice chancellor that is not from their tribe.

“It is little wonder that we now only have NANS’ marches in solidarity with the government as opposed to marches against the oppression of students, joblessness, social conditions or even Boko Haram. The students are looking for a politician to adopt them as thugs or to use the expression, Youth Leader.”

The cleric queried the rationale behind the extinction of history in today’s secondary school curricular, saying Nigeria is preparing to face the risk of losing its cherished monument if care is not taken.

He also affirmed that most Nigerian children cannot trace their origin, the issue, he stressed, could jeopardise the hope of communal relationship in the nearest future.

He observed that an average Nigerian abroad has perhaps lost the totality of knowledge of her culture and values, a scenario he also described as national embarrassment to every citizen. He said significant percent of Nigerians cannot speak their mother tongue because of the craze for globalisation, while decrying the outcome of this endangered social malady in another 50 years of existence of Nigeria nation.