Nigerian Youths Are Talented
The state of youthfulness is a state of the mind but generally the youthful age bracket is from age 18 to 35 years. These members of the human family who fall within the above age bracket are classified as the heartbeat of global economic activities. A check around most highly performing economies with the possible exception of Japan shows that the young populations are the key drivers of the economy. For instance, in the United States of America, one of the biggest companies that is worth several billions known as FACEBOOK is owned by a very young entrepreneur. In Nigeria, most of the most successful persons made their marks at very young age. Nigeria has also produced one of the youngest presidents of a sovereign state when the then 33-year old Yakubu Gowon was railroaded into the position of military head of state after a military coup. Aliko Dangote who is the richest black man in the World became prosperous and wealthy as a very young man. Much of the World’s inventions and very successful businesses were set up by very young people within the youthful age bracket.
However, the octogenarian president of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari was quoted in the media to have stated that 60 per cent of Nigerian young people are not only uneducated but do not want to do any form of work.
This statement from President Buhari whose entire children are also within the youthful age bracket did a lot of damage to the youths of Nigeria. Indeed, this statement is in sharp contradiction with the letter President Muhammadu Buhari wrote last year to the two most successful musical performers from Nigeria known as Davido and WizKid. Questions should be asked about the intention or reason for the substantially false outburst about the Nigerian youth.
President Buhari had congratulated renowned hip-hop artistes, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, a.k.a WizKid, and David Adedeji Adeleke, a.k.a Davido, on their awards at the Music of Black Origin (MOBO). In a statement by his media adviser, Femi Adesina, President Buhari joined the teeming fans of the two Nigerian artistes in Nigeria and all over the world to celebrate the highly deserved and meritorious recognition. WizKid won “International Best Artist’’ award, while Davido picked the “Best African Act’’.
The president affirmed that both singers have showcased the rich talents in the country, and brought pride to the nation through their many songs and performances. He commended their dedication, hard work and charity works.
Few years back Nigeria played host to the owner of Facebook who proceeded to shower encomiums on Nigerian youth. The Facebook founder even shared this testimony with President Buhari. Mark Zuckerberg had stated that he was blown away by the talent and level of energy of the Nigerian youth that he saw at the Co-creation Hub in Yaba, Lagos.
MR. President, can you see that you are absolutely wrong to pass that false verdict on the vibrant youth whose votes you will ask for in about six month’s time? If you demarket the youth as lazy, does that not also rub off on you? Do you know that last year two Nigerian children made excellent entry results to all the Ivy League universities in the USA? Do you know that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a young Nigeria who has become a phenomenal author and one of the best story tellers in the USA? Mr. President, are you saying that those your beautiful and well educated children are not amongst the youth of Nigeria that you have profiled as lazy and uneducated? Emmanuel Onwubiko, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria