Youth and generational transition in Nigeria

The youth are the most active, energetic, vibrant and exuberant demography of any population. They are at the peak of their productive age, and, therefore, are the shapers of the present and determinants of the future of the society. No nation can aspire to grow, advance or develop without the instrumentality of its youth. In […]

The youth are the most active, energetic, vibrant and exuberant demography of any population. They are at the peak of their productive age, and, therefore, are the shapers of the present and determinants of the future of the society. No nation can aspire to grow, advance or develop without the instrumentality of its youth.

In Nigeria, the youth constitute a larger proportion of its population, and therefore can be the greatest asset, and the most important resource that can drive its economic, political and social development. But instead of tapping maximum benefit from this demographic endowment, the youth population in Nigeria is becoming a menace by the day.

The issues of unemployment, non employability and underemployment have rendered a large percentage of Nigerian youth into redundancy and idleness. As the saying goes, “an idle mind is a devil’s workshop”.

This has made them (youth) susceptible in the hands of mischief makers who find them as ready tool or cannon fodder for any political, religious, tribal or ethnic crises.

It is, however, clearly and glaring that, all the security problems faced by Nigeria are fully perpetrated by these youths. The terrorist groups, armed robbery gangs, kidnapping syndicates, banditry groups, ethnic hooligans, cult fraternities, religious fanatics and Yahoo-Yahoo boys are all majorly populated by youths.

The most frightening thing is that some of these youths are educated to undergraduate or higher levels. A large number of such graduates are been churned out annually by the growing number of the institutions of higher learning, without corresponding jobs opportunities to absorb them.

This is why the problem shows no sign of decreasing; rather, it increases daily. It is now becoming a time bomb that is waiting to explode, and the impact of which can better be imagined than experienced. The recent happening of the aftermath of the #ENDSARS protest all over the country is enough a warning sign, of what is waiting to occur.

These are the youth that are supposed to be warming up and preparing to takeover leadership positions in the economic, social and political arena. This is so, especially when the “Not Too Young To Run” bill has been signed into law. In this case therefore, it is expected that, the older generation should start stepping aside in a “Retired but Not Tired” passion, to give way for the capable youth to take over.

Those who are 60 or 70 years and above can serve as mentors to observe, correct, advice, guide and counsel the youth when and where it is required. While the elders enjoy their retirement and attend to their deteriorating health, the youth can use their energy, vigour, vibrancy, enthusiasm and exuberance to navigate the political and economic ship of the nation under the tutelage of the mature and experienced elders.

Meanwhile, this generational transition cannot occur when the youth population are hoodwinked, blindfolded and rendered hopeless, hapless and helpless in the scheme of political equation. Some unscrupulous politicians use religious leaders to stuff the minds of the youth with malice, envy, hatred, enmity and animosity so as to turn them into easy tools for their self-serving interests.

They turn them into tribal, ethnic, regional and religious jingoists to use them to achieve political relevance which they are not entitled to in whichever ramification. Therefore, the youth should free themselves from this psychological penitentiary, enslavement and encampment, to organise, mobilise and enlighten themselves to be useful to themselves and benefit their families, society and the nation in general.

They should engage themselves in productive activities that are capable of growing the economy of the nation.Nigeria is a hub of opportunities and potentials that are ready and waiting to be explored.

In addition, the Federal Government has come up with a number of programs, projects and policies specifically to help the youth to stand on their feet. Therefore, it is time for the youth to use these opportunities to improve their attitudes, develop their aptitudes and raise their altitudes to show the world that they have come of age to take over the leadership responsibilities of the nation.

Usman Aliyu Elnafaty writes from, Bauchi State.