NIGERIA YOUTHS DO NOT SIT AND DO NOTHING SOME OF THEM
NIGERIAN YOUTHS DO NOT SIT AND DO NOTHING
A couple of days ago, I got several calls from friends and followers to react to the speech where Mr. President implied that Nigerian youths are lazy.
I chose not to react immediately for two reasons:
1. Because I was angry that the President will describe his country’s most valuable resources in any negative terms at all. And I have learnt that when angry, it is always wiser and better to keep quiet.
2. I had not yet seen the video where he made the speech then.
I have seen the video over and again, and without any sentiments: Mr. President was wrong!
In his exact words: “More than 60% of the population (180 Million) is below the age of 30, A LOT OF THEM hasn’t been to school, and they are claiming (you know) that Nigeria has been an oil producing country therefore, they should sit and do nothing, and get housing, healthcare, and education, free.”
That this was said at a commonwealth Business forum that was attended and watched by a lot of potential foreign investors, makes it worse.
While Mr. President’s media handle try to rationalize the semantics of the particular words used, when you say that “someone sits down and does nothing, and expect good things, free” you are unequivocally calling that person lazy.
Someone argued that this is the clearest evidence that this government is not in touch with the people because, nobody who truly knows Nigerian youths of this generation will dare to say they are lazy. Because The character of the Nigerian yout is embodied in:
The graduates who because of no jobs and enabling environment, throws down our pride and starts hawking gala in traffic so that we and our families can survive.
The hustler at Alaba market without a shop, just directing customers to the right shops and who by dint of foregoing basic necessities, raises up years later to become global importers and merchants.
The young techpreneurs who build startups that attract millions of dollars in foreign investment -without regular power, or any government support.
The young professors, PHDs in our twenties, literary icons, academic giants, entertainment superstars, selfless soldiers and armed forces, and sports heroes like the boys who in faraway Saudi Arabia, looked at a match where they were already four goals down, with only their Nigerianess as a hope, believed they could still win, and went ahead to win the match against Russia in what history has memorialized as the Miracle of Daman.
Despite the fast spread of negative news from a few bad eggs, Nigerian youths are indeed some of the most innovative, hardworking, determined, and resourceful human beings of this generation.
The saddest part of what I call the “dehumanization” of the Nigerian youth is the fact that from the investor who wouldn’t give a young entrepreneur a chance because she or he is “too” young, or the old politician who wouldn’t relinquish power to a young leader because she or he is “inexperienced”, most youth bashers, have the myopic vision of defining and limiting youths to the current years and times.
The President and his ministers, about 30 or 40 years ago were “youths”. 30 or 40 years from now, this generation of youths whom this administration and the ones before them has treated with so much disdain, will no longer be youths. A new generation of youths will take over.
It is also particularly worrisome that those who most accuse Nigerian youths as unfit and unreliable, are those who have enjoyed the best of opportunities which this country under the leadership of government like them offered them when they were youths. But whom after enjoying those opportunities, have not only denied the current generation of Nigerian youths the same opportunities, but goes ahead to denigrate the current generation of youths at the slightest possible opportunity.
When the Umar Nasko Foundation called for volunteer trainers for its vocation skills training program, we were overwhelmed by volunteers, and also prospective trainees all of whom are evidence that Nigerian youths are determined to take their destinies in their own hands by empowering others to acquire skills that will help them to earn decent income. We have tens of youths volunteering to train others FREE thereby reversing the believe that we expect free things from government. We are actually the ones, giving back our resources FREE to do what government should do.
But I sincerely believe that the President’s unfortunate comments should serve as a catalyst for us youths to prove him wrong. By becoming even more resourceful, innovative, and determined.
So from my heart, to borrow the words of Barack Obama, I urge all Nigerian youths to believe again in what this country can be. To know that in the face of crisis, we the youths can bring peace. In the face of ethnic and religious tensions, we can bring unity, and in the face of bad governance, we can provide purposeful leadership.
And though Nigeria looks battered, and things seems not to be working, and the country seem to be descending into chaos, we as the youths owe it to ourselves and to the next generation of Nigerian youths to standup, roll up our sleeves, and get back to the work of rebuilding this great country, beginning with getting our PVCs and ensuring that our votes will not be influenced by intimidation or inducement.
It is wrong to imply that we are lazy but while we protest, my prayer is that our anger and disappointment today will serve as a lesson for us on how to treat the next generation of youths, when we become old.
In conclusion, I close with the words of Kofi Anan who said: "Young people should be at the forefront of change and innovation. Empowered, they can be key agents for development and peace. If, however, they are left on society's margins, all of us will be impoverished. Let us ensure that all young people have every opportunity to participate fully in the lives of their societies."
God Bless Nigerian Youths!
A couple of days ago, I got several calls from friends and followers to react to the speech where Mr. President implied that Nigerian youths are lazy.
I chose not to react immediately for two reasons:
1. Because I was angry that the President will describe his country’s most valuable resources in any negative terms at all. And I have learnt that when angry, it is always wiser and better to keep quiet.
2. I had not yet seen the video where he made the speech then.
I have seen the video over and again, and without any sentiments: Mr. President was wrong!
In his exact words: “More than 60% of the population (180 Million) is below the age of 30, A LOT OF THEM hasn’t been to school, and they are claiming (you know) that Nigeria has been an oil producing country therefore, they should sit and do nothing, and get housing, healthcare, and education, free.”
That this was said at a commonwealth Business forum that was attended and watched by a lot of potential foreign investors, makes it worse.
While Mr. President’s media handle try to rationalize the semantics of the particular words used, when you say that “someone sits down and does nothing, and expect good things, free” you are unequivocally calling that person lazy.
Someone argued that this is the clearest evidence that this government is not in touch with the people because, nobody who truly knows Nigerian youths of this generation will dare to say they are lazy. Because The character of the Nigerian yout is embodied in:
The graduates who because of no jobs and enabling environment, throws down our pride and starts hawking gala in traffic so that we and our families can survive.
The hustler at Alaba market without a shop, just directing customers to the right shops and who by dint of foregoing basic necessities, raises up years later to become global importers and merchants.
The young techpreneurs who build startups that attract millions of dollars in foreign investment -without regular power, or any government support.
The young professors, PHDs in our twenties, literary icons, academic giants, entertainment superstars, selfless soldiers and armed forces, and sports heroes like the boys who in faraway Saudi Arabia, looked at a match where they were already four goals down, with only their Nigerianess as a hope, believed they could still win, and went ahead to win the match against Russia in what history has memorialized as the Miracle of Daman.
Despite the fast spread of negative news from a few bad eggs, Nigerian youths are indeed some of the most innovative, hardworking, determined, and resourceful human beings of this generation.
The saddest part of what I call the “dehumanization” of the Nigerian youth is the fact that from the investor who wouldn’t give a young entrepreneur a chance because she or he is “too” young, or the old politician who wouldn’t relinquish power to a young leader because she or he is “inexperienced”, most youth bashers, have the myopic vision of defining and limiting youths to the current years and times.
The President and his ministers, about 30 or 40 years ago were “youths”. 30 or 40 years from now, this generation of youths whom this administration and the ones before them has treated with so much disdain, will no longer be youths. A new generation of youths will take over.
It is also particularly worrisome that those who most accuse Nigerian youths as unfit and unreliable, are those who have enjoyed the best of opportunities which this country under the leadership of government like them offered them when they were youths. But whom after enjoying those opportunities, have not only denied the current generation of Nigerian youths the same opportunities, but goes ahead to denigrate the current generation of youths at the slightest possible opportunity.
When the Umar Nasko Foundation called for volunteer trainers for its vocation skills training program, we were overwhelmed by volunteers, and also prospective trainees all of whom are evidence that Nigerian youths are determined to take their destinies in their own hands by empowering others to acquire skills that will help them to earn decent income. We have tens of youths volunteering to train others FREE thereby reversing the believe that we expect free things from government. We are actually the ones, giving back our resources FREE to do what government should do.
But I sincerely believe that the President’s unfortunate comments should serve as a catalyst for us youths to prove him wrong. By becoming even more resourceful, innovative, and determined.
So from my heart, to borrow the words of Barack Obama, I urge all Nigerian youths to believe again in what this country can be. To know that in the face of crisis, we the youths can bring peace. In the face of ethnic and religious tensions, we can bring unity, and in the face of bad governance, we can provide purposeful leadership.
And though Nigeria looks battered, and things seems not to be working, and the country seem to be descending into chaos, we as the youths owe it to ourselves and to the next generation of Nigerian youths to standup, roll up our sleeves, and get back to the work of rebuilding this great country, beginning with getting our PVCs and ensuring that our votes will not be influenced by intimidation or inducement.
It is wrong to imply that we are lazy but while we protest, my prayer is that our anger and disappointment today will serve as a lesson for us on how to treat the next generation of youths, when we become old.
In conclusion, I close with the words of Kofi Anan who said: "Young people should be at the forefront of change and innovation. Empowered, they can be key agents for development and peace. If, however, they are left on society's margins, all of us will be impoverished. Let us ensure that all young people have every opportunity to participate fully in the lives of their societies."
God Bless Nigerian Youths!
NIGERIA YOUTHS DO NOT SIT AND DO NOTHING SOME OF THEM
Reviewed by SAMSONGALAXY.com
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Reviewed by SAMSONGALAXY.com
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8:32 PM
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