Our plans for Nigeria’s future, by young Nigerians

Young Nigerians have lamented the lack of a place for them in the country’s leadership, from the presidency down to the local government level. This has led to the signing of the Not Too Young To Run bill by the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government. Daily Trust sought the opinions of some Nigerians about their plans […]

Young Nigerians have lamented the lack of a place for them in the country’s leadership, from the presidency down to the local government level. This has led to the signing of the Not Too Young To Run bill by the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government. Daily Trust sought the opinions of some Nigerians about their plans for the future.

Pascaline Ikechukwu, 19, Student, Enugu

I would ensure that human rights of innocent citizens are protected, because a nation where citizens’ rights are violated with impunity is an invitation to crisis. Also, enable youths and every law-abiding Nigerian have unrestrained access to quality and affordable healthcare, because a healthy population can only produce a healthy and wealthy workforce. I will also conduct a critical survey to determine if, indeed, our young ones have the proper mindset for leadership positions. This is in view of the fact that some of them allow themselves to be used as agents of social unrest and bloodletting in the country. I will keep youths busy with skill acquisition programmes that would make them self-sufficient and employers of labour.

Shola Ojo, 36, Social Media Influencer, Kaduna

I want to see a Nigeria where national interest will be placed above individual interest, where youths will be given the opportunity to develop their potential without any form of intimidation as it is the case today. I want to see a Nigeria where issues of high maternal mortality and the health of children under five will be the top priority of our policy makers.

Queen Precious Nwodo, 20, Undergraduate, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)

We have just celebrated Nigeria at 58. When one takes a closer look at Nigeria’s health sector, it’s nothing to write home about. Therefore, as a youth currently studying Medicine at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), one of my main plans for a greater Nigeria in future is to take urgent and important steps to secure and procure medical facilities and also build good and functional hospitals so that Nigeria will be a better country where foreigners would come for medical tourism, rather than what obtains currently where rich Nigerians embark on medical tourism.
Also, I would ensure there is security of lives and property in the country, whether citizens or expatriates. It worries me to hear that Nigeria is the giant of Africa with a good number of intelligent men and women. But the question is, why the daily bloodshed of innocent people in a nation with intelligent people? We need to introduce proper security measures in order to avoid the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly killings of innocent Nigerians, and also make sure that whoever kills faces the law. The idea of allowing murderers in parts of the north, such as Plateau, Benue, Borno and so on, go free is an encouragement to prospective killers. I believe that a peaceful Nigeria can be actualized with great minds and the diligent spirit of the young at heart.

Muhammad Nurudeen, 43, Banker, Kaduna

We need social reorientation that will change our way of doing things, by reducing corruption and indiscipline to the barest minimum. We should give more priority to education, and it should be compulsory, at least for the first 12 years. Also, tertiary education should be subsidised. There should be emphasis on teacher training and development, and on quality and competence during teacher recruitment. Another area is depoliticization of education, curriculum review, focus on entrepreneurship, performance appraisal. We should also prioritise disease control in the health sector, invest in research, agriculture and so on.

Rabiat Umar, 20, Student/Baker, Kaduna

My plans for Nigeria’s future as a youth would focus on increasing investment in young people. This includes promoting quality education, training, and women empowerment. This would enable them determine when and whom to marry and the number of children to have. When women and girls are able to make these decisions, they are better able to complete their education and pursue jobs. When the government give the youths decent jobs, political weight, negotiating muscle, and real influence in our world, we the youths will create a better future.

Mohammed Salihu Tanebi, 28, Corper, Enugu

As youths, we face a lot of challenges and we need to contribute in tackling them. I dream of a country where the young will be given empowerment to acquire useful skills to enable them not only become self-reliant, but also employers of labour. In this way, I can contribute my quota to the growth of the nation’s economy.
I studied entrepreneurship at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi. My plan for Nigeria is to put into action the ideas and ideals I was taught at school for building a better and greater future for our country.

Adetayo Olarinwaju, 23, Corper, Enugu

One of my plans will be to concentrate more on education because that is the foundation of any country’s development. There is something wrong in our nation’s present education system. I would also like to change the arrangement and laws governing the country’s politics, in such a manner that it would be less stressful and cheaper to do politics. I will definitely change the idea that encourages the use of huge amounts of money to buy party nomination forms and expression of interest.
Having studied Mining Engineering, I realized that Nigeria is blessed by God with a lot of natural minerals buried under the earth. I will like to diversify the economy and develope the solid mineral sector. I strongly believe that Nigeria has not yet developed her solid minerals.

Zigwai Ayuba, 33, Media Professional and Youth Advocate, Kaduna

Nigerian youths have woken up from their slumber and are determined to change the preconceived notions and narratives that youths are lazy and lack foresight. We as young people are ready to inject new ideas into every sphere of development of our dear Nigeria. We plan to fix ourselves in strategic positions of power in order to improve the quality of leadership. We are not unaware that power can only be taken and not given, so many of the young people in Nigeria have associated themselves with political parties of their choice in order to achieve the set political goals.