The Role of the Nigerian Youths in the Emergence of a New Nigeria -By Salim Yakubu Akko

Despite being Nigeria a country of over sixty years in existence, it has been facing multitudious challenges in the quest for her rapid growth and development. Having seen this multifaceted retrogression in building her metallic growth to be recognized as a developed nation, there’s a radical need for change; and this change should be fabricated by the Nigerian youths.

Having seen that it’s an irrevocable fact that Nigerian youths are what the country hinges upon, the prosperity of the country will not be attained unless the youths are well built, thereby making them chauvinist citizens that would be the exigencies of producing a giant strides in uplifting the country. This could be refuted by the quote that says we can’t always build the future for the youth, but we can build the youths for the future.

However, in this article, I am not delineating the immense significance for building youths, but rather the roles of youths in the emergence of a new Nigeria. Therefore, the roles that youths should play in the emergence of a new Nigeria should not be overbolded. It’s been believed that the emergence of a new Nigeria is indirectly in the hand of its youths. As patriotic Nigerian youths, there are significant roles we should play to behold the whirlwind prosperity of this our lag country in part of growth and development.

Towards the emergence of a new Nigeria, there are some repugnant acts such as corruption, terrorism, armed robbery, kidnapping, and their kinds that should be eschewed committed by the youths to the pinnacle that it might be said that Nigeria would not prosper. Youths should peter such inimic acts that dwindle the prosperity of the country for us to aspire for the emergence of a new Nigeria.

Another vital role that youths should play in the emergence of a new Nigeria is by breaking the coffers of virulent animosity in between the ethnic groups and religions. Nigeria is being harness to titter due to these gnawing afflictions of ethnicity and religion that hoodwinked the Nigerian youths. Youths should see themselves as one; an Igbo man should be seen as a Nigerian in Hausaland, not as Igbo man; a Hausa man should also be seen as a Nigerian in Igboland, not as Hausa man; Muslims should love the adherents of other religions such as Christianity; and Christians should also respect the adherents of other religions. With that, youths would see Nigeria as one. And the oneness will bring a positive change and development in the country.

Participation of youths in skill acquisition programs can be another vigorous role that youths should play in the emergence of a new Nigeria. It can be strictly said that the unwitting scourge that seeks to snuff life out of Nigeria’s development is lack of the participation of youths in the skill acquisition programs; it’s what can be explicitly called as the lenient factor that resorts youths to be involved in committing dubious acts to earn something for living. When youths participate in skill acquisition programs, there’s a high possibility that the yoke of Nigeria’s problems will break within a blink of an eye.

Furthermore, peace, which is undeniably the bedrock of every pillar that holds the fortune of every society in the quest for sustainable development has been tottering to the acme that we are losing the prospect for a better Nigeria. Youths should play vigorously in the emergence of a new Nigeria by participating in the programs of peace-building. This may give room to the possibility of the promising future of Nigeria that bespeaks of peace and unity.

To mould this piece, the emergence a new Nigeria could be captured if a radical consideration to the aforementioned roles that youths should play in the emergence of a new Nigeria is being paid. We will continue to wallow in the midst of this cauldron that hinders the progress and development of this country.

Salim Yakubu Akko writes from Gombe state.