Last week, I was handed a complimentary copy of an Abuja-based magazine carrying on its cover the picture of a young Nigerian credited to have produced Nigeria’s first range of smart devices – phones and tablets. Chiwetel Ejiofor is being celebrated all over the world for his talent as an actor. However, whether it was Pliris or Inye that was first produced in Nigeria, these guys are making the devices we spend over 2 billion naira annually to import and Nigerian faces are pasted all over the world for successes in their chosen fields.
This is just a drop in the ocean and despite our challenges it is clear that our youth are clever and can channel their energies into creative and intelligent ventures across all areas of life. They should be applauded for the outcome of our recent categorisation – on paper – as a bigger economy than South Africa. Nothing epitomizes this fact more than the entertainment industry.
Just two decades ago, South Africans would only invite Nigerian artistes to entertainment awards organized by South African-based promoters. This was really just to make up the numbers. Why not, in the Rainbow Nation there is better equipment and a wealthier population who can afford the extra luxury of entertainment. Their artistes get better international recognition and thereby more support for their industry. In less than 20 years, Nigerian artistes are the toast of every African country; if they aren’t at your awards you simply lack credibility. This change of status wasn’t aided by any government policy; it was due to the sheer undying spirit of the Nigerian youth to pursue and conquer.
For we the older generation who have embraced the youth-propelled social media, we see daily the wonders that these people are performing. The youth in Nigeria are probably the most socially aware and the most driven we have had in our short life as a country. Many of them were not exposed to the best education and intellectual resources, yet they manage to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their counterparts in developed countries where education and training are not luxuries but carefully drafted plans in securing the futures of these societies. These are investments that are not toyed with, lest a nation be left behind.
Here, only the minimum is done, yet some go on to achieve incredible goals. Imagine if we had a plan. We should make provision for them to be better citizens; they will in turn be of assistance to the development our country. With a little help, the two young men behind those made-in-Nigeria smart devices mentioned earlier could engineer Nigeria’s equivalent of Silicon Valley in a tech world which is creating more jobs and wealth than any other sector. If we cater for the energy and ambitions of our young people, then we would have succeeded in commissioning a superhighway towards the progress of our country.
How does it work elsewhere? Politicians do not hand out branded rice or cash-for-votes during elections. They lay on the table; policies and programmes that, to the best of their knowledge, would help individuals achieve their dreams. We need to set out policies that are capable of bringing the best out of our youth; their energy has to be converted to tangible personal and national development. This is a responsibility that we cannot afford to play with because there are dire consequences for not directing this energy to development – we either lose the good it would have generated or we slide into a hole to wallow in poverty and insecurity. A situation that will only breed frustration and fright, the natural reaction to which is to run to safety and security a brain drain to where we will find a voice and purpose. We are presently experiencing both on an unprecedented scale!
Those who are not winning medals, saving lives or creating new products for other newly adopted countries have turned to the dark side here at home. They are hoodlums on our streets and are ravaging our towns and cities as terrorists, insurgents, kidnappers and secessionists. Our government cannot be serious, especially at this time when our polytechnic students have been at home for over a year now. What are we doing?
This is just a drop in the ocean and despite our challenges it is clear that our youth are clever and can channel their energies into creative and intelligent ventures across all areas of life. They should be applauded for the outcome of our recent categorisation – on paper – as a bigger economy than South Africa. Nothing epitomizes this fact more than the entertainment industry.
Just two decades ago, South Africans would only invite Nigerian artistes to entertainment awards organized by South African-based promoters. This was really just to make up the numbers. Why not, in the Rainbow Nation there is better equipment and a wealthier population who can afford the extra luxury of entertainment. Their artistes get better international recognition and thereby more support for their industry. In less than 20 years, Nigerian artistes are the toast of every African country; if they aren’t at your awards you simply lack credibility. This change of status wasn’t aided by any government policy; it was due to the sheer undying spirit of the Nigerian youth to pursue and conquer.
For we the older generation who have embraced the youth-propelled social media, we see daily the wonders that these people are performing. The youth in Nigeria are probably the most socially aware and the most driven we have had in our short life as a country. Many of them were not exposed to the best education and intellectual resources, yet they manage to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their counterparts in developed countries where education and training are not luxuries but carefully drafted plans in securing the futures of these societies. These are investments that are not toyed with, lest a nation be left behind.
Here, only the minimum is done, yet some go on to achieve incredible goals. Imagine if we had a plan. We should make provision for them to be better citizens; they will in turn be of assistance to the development our country. With a little help, the two young men behind those made-in-Nigeria smart devices mentioned earlier could engineer Nigeria’s equivalent of Silicon Valley in a tech world which is creating more jobs and wealth than any other sector. If we cater for the energy and ambitions of our young people, then we would have succeeded in commissioning a superhighway towards the progress of our country.
How does it work elsewhere? Politicians do not hand out branded rice or cash-for-votes during elections. They lay on the table; policies and programmes that, to the best of their knowledge, would help individuals achieve their dreams. We need to set out policies that are capable of bringing the best out of our youth; their energy has to be converted to tangible personal and national development. This is a responsibility that we cannot afford to play with because there are dire consequences for not directing this energy to development – we either lose the good it would have generated or we slide into a hole to wallow in poverty and insecurity. A situation that will only breed frustration and fright, the natural reaction to which is to run to safety and security a brain drain to where we will find a voice and purpose. We are presently experiencing both on an unprecedented scale!
Those who are not winning medals, saving lives or creating new products for other newly adopted countries have turned to the dark side here at home. They are hoodlums on our streets and are ravaging our towns and cities as terrorists, insurgents, kidnappers and secessionists. Our government cannot be serious, especially at this time when our polytechnic students have been at home for over a year now. What are we doing?
Upwardly mobile youth exist in all countries around the world and the race is one. It is only the countries that support their own that will progress. It is called selfish self-preservation. It is in this context that our leaders should understand the urgency with which we need to quell the insecurity in the land and invest in this development programme.
Say no to a leadership that shows no love for our children. I am ready to fight for my children. What about you? By the way, #BringBackOurGirls.
Well said Attah!
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