Adelabu Isaiah is an Academic with over five years experience in teaching, research and development.
He holds a Bachelors (Hons) degree in Industrial Chemistry and a Masters degree in Chemistry from the Federal University of Technology, Akure and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia respectively.
I will start with one of my favorite quotes by Christopher McDougall:
Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up, it knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the lion or a gazelle-when the sun comes up, you’d better be running
Christopher McDougall
The truth is that the “NIGERIA PROJECT” is bigger than all of US.
Yet it demands our collective contributions to achieve the ultimate goal which is “Nation Building”. We are part of a bigger picture to put this in perspective. Therefore, is a little part of the picture is missing, the picture becomes less attractive.
This is Nigeria looking at you.
You can see how much she needs you.
Who is a Youth? Or what does that word “YOUTH” mirrors.
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
The time of life when one is young especially: the period between childhood and maturity
The early period of existence, growth, or development
The quality or state of being youthful: YOUTHFULNESS
This is the phase of life with so much energy and power. It is important to note that Youths are the greatest assets of a Nation.
If we as youths hold so much power, we have to understand how to use it for the right reasons. This is where the idea of Reorientation comes in.
What indeed is REORIENTATION.
The action of changing the focus or direction of something OR A changed set of attitudes and beliefs.
Do we have the right orientation to build this Nation?
Take few seconds to evaluate yourself. Just make a sincere evaluation and know where you stand.
I agree that we have different challenges as youths in Nigeria.
These include but not limited to:
- Unemployment/underemployment
- Falling standard of Education
- Poverty in different shades
- Corruption
- Westernization and exodus of cultural values.
- Social media
We therefore demand that our Government do the following:
- Youth empowerment
- Youth participation in politics
- Conscious effort to reduce poverty and fight corruption and so on….
To achieve this, we have significant roles to play.
If the answer to the question above is Yes………..great.
If it is NO…..then you need to achieve this we have to drop all sentiments or bias.
This may be in form of:
1) TRIBAL BIAS
Prof Patrick Lumumba once said:
If a thief is from my tribe, he is a lesser thief” will only ruin our national fabric.
We don’t have to trade national development to tribal sentiments. It is your responsibility to keep others in check to do the right thing irrespective of what relationship you have with them.
2) RELIGIOUS BIAS.
Faith is ours; judgement is God’s. Never discriminate other based on their religious orientations. Never should a Christian scorn a Muslim or traditional worshiper and vice versa.
3) CULTURAL BIAS
Culture should unify us not divide us. Beauty lies in diversity. The greatness of America is in her diversity.
4) FINANCIAL BIAS
No one is so right enough to buy LIFE. You should have a healthy relationship with others irrespective of their financial class. That is the beauty of LOVE.
5) POLITICAL BIAS
THIS TO ME IS VERY IMPORTANT. Politics is NEVER a dirty affair, only the PLAYERS are DIRTY. Most youth believe that Politics is not their call. We may say that older generations failed US based what used to be compared to what we have now. Same will be said of US if we don’t get involved in POLITICS which is a very direct way of contributing to Nation building.
We shouldn’t leave politics to the WEAK amongst US. LEADERSHIP is a gift that we all have, nurturing it is the problem.
We need to see beyond ourselves and make direct effort to have a better Nigeria. If we throw out a poll now, a lot of US will complain about the state of our Nation. While this valid, I believe that we can still make our little contribution.
NEVER BE SILENT ON ISSUES OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
As a Nigerian, you are NIGERIA’S principal VOICE, ACTIVIST AND GUARDIAN. Silence is the ultimate betrayal. Seek to join Organizations that seek for Nation building.
Talk to your colleagues about having positive dispositions towards the NIGERIA PROJECT. If you don’t, no one will.
The President is a Nigeria as much as you are. In whatever capacity you find yourself. Be concerned about Nigeria rather than yourself. If there must be trials and tribulations, let it come during my time so that my children may enjoy peace.
We must embrace this attitude if we want to have a sustainable Nation.
YOUTHS ARE THE PRINCIPALS OF NATION BUILDING.
LET US DIRECT OUR ENERGY TOWARDS JUST FIGHTS.
LET US BUILD A BETTER NIGERIA.
TOGETHER WE CAN DO IT.
LIKE THE POPULAR SAYING……”THIS IS A COLLECTIVE RESCUE MISSION“
I will leave you with this………………..
DO YOUR PART FOR A ……………………..
THANK YOU AND GOB BLESS YOU ALL.
Session moderated by:
Oluwatomisin Olowoyo, Principal, CSA Academy