One Year On: Whither Nigerian Youths
On
Democracy Day, President Goodluck Jonathan addressed the nation and
outlined the achievements of his administration in the last one year.
Much has been said about the administration’s strives in Aviation and
Agriculture sectors, but John Oba in this feature insisted that the same
could not be said about youth development.
It is obvious that the last one year was challenging both for the Jonathan administration and the nation as whole. The security situation, indeed, affected the socio-political and economic activities, thereby creating an atmosphere of fear in the minds of the people. Every waking day brought news of tragedy, of terrorists attacking people or rumours of terrorist attack.
This situation dampened the moral of most Nigerians and dashed their expectations under the administration. This was worsened by the apparent inability of the government to effectively mobilise its security agencies and government apparatus to address the situation in a meaningful way so as to find solution to the lingering security crisis that had all but crippled social life.
While this portends danger, it is unfortunate to note that the weak capacity so far displayed by the relevant security agencies to curtail the menace of the insurgents seems to suggest that they have been defeated psychologically going by their inability to muster the appropriate will to address the security challenges.
That the youth could embrace the terrorist option to vent their misgivings was a clear indication that something was wrong. The young persons who should appreciate and protect lives and be at the vanguard of national development have suddenly lost confidence in the leadership of the nation to the extent of being a threat to the entire country.
Most Nigerians, in their opinion, did not believe that the president did enough for the Nigerian youth. Barrister Abiatha Zadok, reacting to the administration’s performance on youth development said that the government has not been able to come up with a clearly defined programme for the youth of this country. He said: “It is so unfortunate that a lot of talents are wasting away for lack of purposeful engagement. I am not saying government must provide employment for very Nigerian, but government should put in place the enabling environment for every Nigerian willing to work to eke a living.”
On his part, Mr Francis Adachaba insisted that there was nothing to celebrate. “Come to think of it, what are we celebrating, success or failure? On youth empowerment not much have been done, permit me to give you some promises made by Mr President on job creation. In September 18, 2010, he declared the creating of over 600,000 jobs. At the presidential debate of April 1, 2011, he promised one million jobs for Nigerians. August 18, 2011, Dr Ngozi Okonjo- lweala, Minister of Finance declared that her main priority as she resumed duties was to create jobs, which was a key component of the president's transformation agenda. Oct. 11, 2011, the media carried report that the federal government will create 50,000 jobs. This was also as the assured Nigerians that in January 31, 2012 government will create 370,000 jobs in 2012.” These are some of the promises of the president that he has not find time to fulfill.
To Mr. Ayo Thomas, the implementation of the YOUWIN and other programmes are just cosmetic approach to youth empowerment issues and not enough to impact the life of Nigerian youth. It cannot, therefore, be seen as meaningful effort towards reducing increasing rate of unemployment and underemployment. It has therefore become very imperative to develop synergy among all the critical government and private sector institutions with a view to developing the right approach towards creating a new national consensus and attention on the plights of the youths.
Also, Mr Linus Oota stated that the administration has not taken any major steps to address the challenges facing the youths. This is one administration that had watched helplessly youths and students were decimated; the rate of youth unemployment increase. From all indications, those selected for the YOUWIN programme were relatives and friends of those in government.
To say that not much has been done on youth development is to say the least, considering the fact that, the administration started in office by spilling the blood of Nigeria youths. It is well known that, the election that brought this administration to office claimed the life of more youth than any administration since the inception of democracy in Nigeria.
On the way forward, Mr Ayo suggested that the government must be more responsive to their responsibilities of creating the enabling environment and incentives for individuals, civil societies organisations and youth groups themselves to collaborate and develop the right approach that would create enabling environment for the youths to thrive.
Putting it more succinctly, the way forward lies in institutionalising youth concerns and creating the national awareness for all the critical stakeholders to take responsibilities for their actions and design appropriate responses to them in their various catchment areas; federal, states, local government and other stakeholders. In addition, government should evolve policies that would guarantee, design workable, result based, and implementable programmes in addition to enacting enabling laws that would foster harmonious partnership among the critical stakeholder institutions as nothing short of this could guarantee sustainability of all government and public sector efforts towards youth empowerment.
It is obvious that the last one year was challenging both for the Jonathan administration and the nation as whole. The security situation, indeed, affected the socio-political and economic activities, thereby creating an atmosphere of fear in the minds of the people. Every waking day brought news of tragedy, of terrorists attacking people or rumours of terrorist attack.
This situation dampened the moral of most Nigerians and dashed their expectations under the administration. This was worsened by the apparent inability of the government to effectively mobilise its security agencies and government apparatus to address the situation in a meaningful way so as to find solution to the lingering security crisis that had all but crippled social life.
While this portends danger, it is unfortunate to note that the weak capacity so far displayed by the relevant security agencies to curtail the menace of the insurgents seems to suggest that they have been defeated psychologically going by their inability to muster the appropriate will to address the security challenges.
That the youth could embrace the terrorist option to vent their misgivings was a clear indication that something was wrong. The young persons who should appreciate and protect lives and be at the vanguard of national development have suddenly lost confidence in the leadership of the nation to the extent of being a threat to the entire country.
Most Nigerians, in their opinion, did not believe that the president did enough for the Nigerian youth. Barrister Abiatha Zadok, reacting to the administration’s performance on youth development said that the government has not been able to come up with a clearly defined programme for the youth of this country. He said: “It is so unfortunate that a lot of talents are wasting away for lack of purposeful engagement. I am not saying government must provide employment for very Nigerian, but government should put in place the enabling environment for every Nigerian willing to work to eke a living.”
On his part, Mr Francis Adachaba insisted that there was nothing to celebrate. “Come to think of it, what are we celebrating, success or failure? On youth empowerment not much have been done, permit me to give you some promises made by Mr President on job creation. In September 18, 2010, he declared the creating of over 600,000 jobs. At the presidential debate of April 1, 2011, he promised one million jobs for Nigerians. August 18, 2011, Dr Ngozi Okonjo- lweala, Minister of Finance declared that her main priority as she resumed duties was to create jobs, which was a key component of the president's transformation agenda. Oct. 11, 2011, the media carried report that the federal government will create 50,000 jobs. This was also as the assured Nigerians that in January 31, 2012 government will create 370,000 jobs in 2012.” These are some of the promises of the president that he has not find time to fulfill.
To Mr. Ayo Thomas, the implementation of the YOUWIN and other programmes are just cosmetic approach to youth empowerment issues and not enough to impact the life of Nigerian youth. It cannot, therefore, be seen as meaningful effort towards reducing increasing rate of unemployment and underemployment. It has therefore become very imperative to develop synergy among all the critical government and private sector institutions with a view to developing the right approach towards creating a new national consensus and attention on the plights of the youths.
Also, Mr Linus Oota stated that the administration has not taken any major steps to address the challenges facing the youths. This is one administration that had watched helplessly youths and students were decimated; the rate of youth unemployment increase. From all indications, those selected for the YOUWIN programme were relatives and friends of those in government.
To say that not much has been done on youth development is to say the least, considering the fact that, the administration started in office by spilling the blood of Nigeria youths. It is well known that, the election that brought this administration to office claimed the life of more youth than any administration since the inception of democracy in Nigeria.
On the way forward, Mr Ayo suggested that the government must be more responsive to their responsibilities of creating the enabling environment and incentives for individuals, civil societies organisations and youth groups themselves to collaborate and develop the right approach that would create enabling environment for the youths to thrive.
Putting it more succinctly, the way forward lies in institutionalising youth concerns and creating the national awareness for all the critical stakeholders to take responsibilities for their actions and design appropriate responses to them in their various catchment areas; federal, states, local government and other stakeholders. In addition, government should evolve policies that would guarantee, design workable, result based, and implementable programmes in addition to enacting enabling laws that would foster harmonious partnership among the critical stakeholder institutions as nothing short of this could guarantee sustainability of all government and public sector efforts towards youth empowerment.
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