Youths make up a larger portion of Nigeria’s population, hence, they should attract special attention at all levels. The situation in the country shows that youths have not taken their place in nation building. Year in, year out, government and non-government organisations at local and international levels organise several empowerment programmes, despite all these, the situation of youths in Nigeria still leaves much to be desired.
It is true that empowerment is necessary but not sufficient to bring out the best in the youths. It is quite unfortunate that various organisations end their efforts at the empowerment stage in addressing youth challenges toward nation building; this turns our youths to a bunch of capacity without opportunity.
A nation progresses if it is able to engage the developed potentials in her youths positively. Neglect of youths in nation building may deny a nation fast growth economically.
A major cause of crime among youths is lack of engagement. There is no gain saying the fact that an idle hand is the devil’s workshop. Lack of engagement has made youths willing tools in the hands of politicians and crime master minds. The situation in the country shows that most of the crimes committed were by youths.
Another challenge faced by Nigerian youths is an enabling environment to thrive; inadequate infrastructural facilities such as epileptic power supply, bad road network, uneasy access to materials, government policies or process in getting loans, to mention a few, frustrate some of the empowered youths in making ends-meets, let alone contributing to the country’s economy.
Additionally, culture as old as time expects societal control on youths related issues. Today, a look beyond the surface proves that this is so untrue. Society, a major stakeholder in moral values building, seemed to have failed in its responsibility. It becomes worrisome as attention and honour is being given to the rich without or little reference to hardworking and intelligent youths.
The focus shifts from legacy building to quick money making, encouraging the youths to take to crimes and other immoral acts such as drug and human trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, money rituals, frauds, smuggling, prostitution and the likes.
Youths no longer care about negative effects on their future. Now, our societal values have gone down the drain. This is as a result of the neglect of societal control on issues related to youths.
Parents should ensure proper upbringing of their children and wards and live exemplary life styles because every experience shapes youths. Measures also need to be taken, mainly on the part of the society due to its vital role in nation building, to help sustain moral values and unanimously kick against quick money-making through criminal and immoral acts.
Aderonke Dada
Ogun State.
and then