The plight of Nigerian youths

To buttress his argument, one of the young boys eloquently compared a Nigerian citizen with other nationals who are forever ready, at home and in diaspora, to die for their country. Citing America as a case, he rationalized how an American citizen enjoys unimpeded access to all the basic needs of life including healthcare, quality […]

To buttress his argument, one of the young boys eloquently compared a Nigerian citizen with other nationals who are forever ready, at home and in diaspora, to die for their country. Citing America as a case, he rationalized how an American citizen enjoys unimpeded access to all the basic needs of life including healthcare, quality education, clean portable water, good roads, stable power supply, profuse job opportunities, security of lives and property, fairness in the administration of justice, equity in the control of natural resources, and prudence in the management of national wealth.
“This is why”, the frustrated young man uttered in anger and continued, “an American national who enjoys all these rights and privileges would want to die for his nation over mere mishandling of his country’s national symbols such as the national flag”. Another one screamed, perhaps out of the hopelessness that nakedly stares them in the face and asked, “Is it with hunger, unemployment or ASUU strike that our generation will be persuaded to save the Nigerian flag from any abuse?”
This group of potential future leaders of our country seems to have a point in their argument. Why would a citizen refuse to pay the supereme price on earth for his fatherland if his fundamental human rights are preserved and basic necessities of life guaranteed in the most equitable manner that is devoid of sentiments (ethnic and religious), discrimination and undue favouratism? It would be folly to pretend to be patriotic in a country where access to healthcare is limited; a nation where education is not a priority to government; a society where criminals are celebrated and protected; a setting in which corruption rather than being an exception is not only a norm but seen to be a “virtue”; and a land where impunity is the mace with which leaders command authority over state resources! These young Nigerians sent me into a brief but irresistible nostalgic session.
From the time I was enrolled in to primary school until my graduation in 1979 from Government Arabic Teachers’ College (later renamed as College of Arts and Islamic Studies) Minna, my father paid no single kobo as school or boarding fees. Government provided all the necessary learning and teaching materials respectively required by us and our teachers throughout my years of primary and pot-primary education. The standard of education in Nigerian schools then could compare favovurably with others in Africa and Asia.
For the five years we spent in the Teachers’ College, each student at the beginning of every academic session was issued with a new set of class uniforms usually in three Pairs; a pair each of sportswear and canvas; a pair of Kaftan and trouser for outing-days; a 6” mattress and a sheet of blanket; a mosquito net; textbooks for all the subjects on the school time table; a mathematical set of instruments; and a dozen of notebooks.
On a weekly basis (usually on Saturdays), each student received two tablets of toilet soap; a stick of bar soap; a packet of omo detergent; two rolls of toilet tissue; a tin of margarine butter (Blueband) and two tins of cooked Sardine. Banana and cooked eggs were some of the appetizers that accompanied meals at Lunch on every other day basis. Chicken was even part of the menu in Nigerian tertiary institutions at that time. 
On vacation days, we each received transport money that would take us to our respective hometowns. Those who went to school before us even enjoyed more. We proudly carried and waved the Nigerian flag at our leaders on every occasion of children’s or Independence Day celebration. This one is now a dead tradition. Most Nigerians have today been alienated from having or expressing love and patriotism for their fatherland!
After graduating from the Teachers’ College in June 1979, we were immediately employed. We enjoyed July, August and September salaries as “Awaiting Results” even before our posting to various schools was released by the local education authority. On my appointment in to the Federal Civil Service in 1985, I was given a return ticket to Lagos (as a teacher for that matter) for documentation purposes.
But sadly, the generation of our children has been severely short-changed by the atrocious leadership styles of those who benefitted from the selfless service of Nigeria’s First Republic leaders. The same beneficiaries as leaders today consider it a taboo for Nigerian citizens to enjoy basic necessities of life including quality education and healthcare. With the huge wealth that accrue to government, our children and youths deserve better than what currently obtains in all spheres of life.
The socio-economic climate in the country is very unfriendly to nearly everyone except the few that control the country’s God-endowed wealth. Unless Nigeian citizens become direct beneficiaries of state resources through the provision of basic needs of life, no amount of economic slavery, garrison politics or intimidation would suffice to coerce today’s youths to lay their lives for Nigeria. May Allah (SWT) touch the heart of Nigerian leaders to ameliorate the miserable life which Nigerian children and youths have been subjected to over the years, amin.