Our youths as future leaders should not be allowed to waste

The youths of today are supposed to be the leaders of tomorrow. The youthful age is a very important stage in the life of an individual full of energy, ideas, zeal to work etc. this is no doubt the reason why when youths chooses to use their energy to perpetuate negative act, the result is usually devastating.

Nigeria as a country is rapidly changing into a country not meant for the youths as the Nigerian youths are being used as errand boys. Those that were focused had their focus changed by the so called adults in the society. After the age of childhood, the next is the youth.

Unlike childhood where one is not in charge of ones act, the youths to a very reasonable extent are in charge of his/her acts.

It is now unfortunate as most of the elders hijack these youths as soon as they get out of their childhood stage brainwashing them for their selfish activities. By the time these youths realize they were being used, gets angry and wants to make up for the lost time at the expense of the others.

Take a good look at the Niger Delta region making headlines in world news, the key actors doing the dirty jobs are the youths. These innocent ones were brainwashed into thinking they were fighting a just course by the so called elders in the society; unknown to them (i.e. the youths) that they were being used for their selfish interest only to be dumped later. Now that majority of the youths got to realize that they were being used have resulted into various groups emerging. Looking at these various groups, their common aim is to get a sustainable living for the common Niger Delta indigene.

The question is since they have a common aim why is the fighting still on? Why can't they come together as one big force to speak a common voice?

You should realize that the use-and-dump-leaders are still in one of these groups hence the youths don't want to work with them any more.

In Nigeria today the voice of the youths are no longer heard when it comes to National issues as such. The Nigerian youths are no longer given the opportunity to do any major thing; it is rare to find major political positions headed by people less than 35 years. Most youths in the society at 30 years are still struggling to make a living in life (Graduates), our elders has totally forgotten the young shall grow theory.

A very vivid history in Nigeria today is the civil war, the key players were Gen Yakubu Gowon  and Emeka Ojukwu who both less than 35years then. How often do we have people of say about 30 year as members of the House of assembly etc, even the constitution has disqualified such a person, why? Is it that they can not rule effectively? Is it not surprising that a particular group of people from the 70s are still in charge; where is the concept of retirement or is it till death do us part. Why should a governor be celebrating his 70^th birthday in office, when is he going to retire? When is he going to stay to watch the young ones rule? The likes of Chief Anthony Enahoro who took part in the fight for Nigeria Independence is still alive watching, not into partisan politics while those that have tasted power refused to let go; look at Nelson Mandela. Why is a particular set of people ruling the country then still want to continue? Has the Nigeria government become monarchy? Is it that a certain particular few are the best to rule among all the millions of Nigerians?

When you look back into the pre-independence days, people of blessed memories that took part in the fight for independence, did so when they were full of energy but today the energy of the youths is being diverted into helping big politicians to stuff ballot boxes, thuggery, body guard and all sort of negative things in the society. The painful thing is that some of them can get away with these by building houses, driving flashy cars etc at the expense of the other youths who do not indulge in these negative acts. This is one of the major reasons why youths are looking for alternative ways of making a living since the ideal door has been shut against them. They go into fraudulent practices, stealing/robbery and the ones that can find their way go to foreign land. Some have said that it is better to be a slave in the foreign than to be one in your own land. It is painful that most Nigerians youths are loosing confidence in this country; talk of employment (no God Father, no job for you); things no longer come on merit as you need to call or get a letter from one big politicians before you can get a job. The educational system is gradually going down, it has been so much bastardized to the extent that graduate from higher institutions do not even have confidence in themselves. The introduction of various regulatory bodies is not even helping matters as it has given room for those whose parent can afford the prize to get into higher institutions. It is painful that higher institutions now live in past glory and our leaders are giving less thought to this because they can afford to send their children to study abroad. Most graduates after struggling through school have resolved to do any form of job different from their field of study just to earn a living, they "say no knowledge is a waste but its like some talents are waste in this country, imagine a university/polytechnic graduates degree holder driving bus or riding Okada etc to earn money. If he knew that the knowledge acquired cannot be used to serve the society, then he would not have gone to school in the first place. The use of job classification as professional, non-professional, skilled and unskilled no longer hold as such since some professional can now take to do unskilled labour just to earn a living. The degree cannot just manufacture food like that, it has to be used to work but if the work is not there? When the desired job is not available, the available job becomes desired or hunger that does not know whether there is job or not will be staring directly on your face.

Now that the resources of the youths can be channelled into developing the economy, the old ones refused to retire and they go swearing affidavit in declaring age and getting younger in figures but not in appearance by the day; others are busy employing ghost as workers yet no vacancy but killing the economy for their own greed. I begin to wonder where they conduct interview for these ghosts. Cemetery or mortuary? Only God knows.

If the youths are considered in the forefront of the economy of the Nation then there will hope for the country. As it is now, if it continues then the worse is yet to come. There is the need to go back to watch from the roots since it will be difficult to ask an adult to do evil when he chooses not to unlike the child that can be easily convinced without know the consequence at the moment.

The Niger Delta region has been a big problem in Nigeria which led to the creation of Ministry of Niger Delta followed by who will be the head and now where will be its location. There are some people referred to as "militants" dissociating themselves from some of the acts carried the region. This gives the believe that if efforts are intensified, the crisis will be resolved in the nearest future. It is worth noting that there are millions of youths in that region that are not militants and will never take part in such activities, so there is the need to utilize them very well through a proper reform devoid of all form of bias as most of the youths have potentials which need to be used in the positive direction. Action speaks louder that voice, let verbal promises be made physical not only on TV (remember film trick?) or news paper. A simple structure can replace a thousand words.  Rome they say was not built in a day but they started some where on a particular day. Lets start building the country now, not focussing on particular areas most especially when every body cannot be there. The goodness of the country should be felt any where you are so long you are within Nigeria all we need is just a change of heart and attitude towards what we do on daily basis thinking about its consequence on the country.

There is so much hope, strength and energy in the youths; we should not allow these resources to waste as it is part of the blessing God has given us. For those that have been amassing wealth meant for the betterment of the society to themselves should stop because their children cannot use it. They should remember that as soon as they die all they have kept will be used by others without consideration. Their children cannot actually use it effectively because there is no structure that shows how the wealth was made nor how it will be utilized hence majority of it be wasted while some will be stolen. Some of these ill gotten wealth bring sorrow to these children. If such wealth are used for example to make good roads, provide water, electricity etc, not only will you enjoy it but your children unborn, friends, relatives also benefit from it and pray for you even when  you are gone. You can imagine what people say when they do not see electricity power in their homes, when they pass through long distance of bad road or when flood enter into their houses due to block drains etc yet they are forced to pay one revenue or the other, these words are not actually palatable. If you are contributing to the damage and you are around when the comments are being passed, the best you can do is to keep quiet.

All these can actually be a thing of the past as there is much to be done for the youths, let the old ones in power take their final bow, retire then assume the position of the adviser where they can mentor the young ones. They should not be waiting for death to remind them that its time to go, we are loosing because they cannot mentor nor give us advice from their grave. The youths should be given a very fair chance to prove their worth while the elderly should retire to their home where they can serve as coach to the young ones just as Nelson Mandela is doing now, not to only South Africa his country but the world in general as a real model of a true leader, elder.

The time is ticking fast; the strength of a young man cannot be compared with that of the old man. If no chance is given to the youth today, where will he get the experience you will require from him tomorrow? No patient wants a young doctor to touch him claiming that he does not have experience hence would not allow him to learn with him so wants the senior ones to come and do the work but such  patient forgot that the so called senior doctor was not born with his experience. The Nigerian youths should be encouraged in all ramifications at all cost as this can never be overemphasized. 

Dr. Oniovokukor Bright Ejakporvi
Indomitable Youths Organization
22 Textile Mill Road, Benin City,Edo State