The challenges facing the youth in Nigeria and youth all over the world are uncountable.
Youth today are the greatest gem of any Nation and upon which the development of a country is dependent on.
According to UN, youth is a period of transition from dependence childhood to independence adulthood. For UN, anyone between the ages of 15 to 24 is a youth.
The African Youth charter age bracket for a youth is 25 to 35 years.
The difficulties of young persons are not hidden, they are glaring. A lot of young persons parade the street aimlessly and most in fear - in fear of what life is going to throw (has already thrown) at them. What if I don't make it in life? This is the question many if not all youth ask themselves.
Can these challenges facing the youth be mitigated or be brought to barest minimum?
They can but it is only when there is a great enlightenment and understanding of these challenges can solutions be proffered.
Let's look at these challenges facing the youths both in Nigeria, Africa and in the world.
Challenges facing the youths all over the world
How unemployment has worsen the problems of the youth
One of the greatest fear of a youth especially a Nigeria Youth is lack of jobs. Most youth have asked and some adolescents are asking too.
What is the importance of spending large amount of money schooling when you are not sure of a job after graduation?
Unemployment has increased the number of idle young persons thereby increasing the level of social menace and moral degradation of the youth. Because an idle mind is a devil's workshop. Consequently, many youths are engaged in criminal activities to survive. Most get frustrated and end up committing suicide. It's quite painful. Do you know they are young men and women upon whose the whole expenses of their family fall on? Yet they are jobless, hungry and angry.
Lack of mentoring/coaching for the young people
Too many young persons are not guilded properly. Show me a youth that is well mentored and I will show you a successful youth. Some young persons don't mingle with forward thinking individual nor have models who they are looking up to. For some, it is meaningless, but it does matters.
Iron they say, sharpens iron, if youth are coached properly by professionals (successful men and women) in their chosen areas of interest there wouldn't be repetition of the same mistake.
But the question is are the youth ready to be mentored or coached? If your answer is yes, find a coach or a mentor now.
Lack of adequate education for the youth
Is this really a challenge of the Youths, since most of those that went to school seems to be useless? I can hear someone asking this question. Well, if you don't know, know this now.
There is no other way upon which man can liberate himself economically, socially, politically and otherwise except through quality education.
I always tell my students that the major aim of education is not to get a job but to polish and prepare you for the future. I believe with quality education, a young person could harness his full potentials.
A question that stirs up now is how can a youth get quality education?
Good question, in my own view, a youth can get quality education through these two ways
Scholarship opportunities are not readily available
This is simply the government or affluence citizens subsidizing or providing funding for children from poor homes.
Most youth are not seriousness with their lives
This is for those who can afford to fund their education. Many youths went to school, spent so much money in school but they don't know their right from their left. Most youth are halfbaked as such can't defend their certificate. Lack of seriousness while in school might never position a youth well.
Do you know many youth binge on social media?
Social media is very wonderful, it's one of the best innovation ever. But, are we putting it to good use?
The answer is no. Instead of using it for marketing, dissemination of information and reuniting with old friends. Most youth use it for frivolous things like showing off.
The youth are always glued to their phones, just to get the latest updates on social media. Do you binge on social media? If yes, cut back on the amount of time you spent on these platforms except you're doing something meaningful.
Beigeing on social media had made so many youths give up on themselves, some went as far as committing suicides because they felt that their mates are making it more than them without knowing that most of their friends are just snapping photos to impress their Facebook or Instagram friends.
Shortcuts
The youth want it sharp sharp - to make money without wasting time. Some young people don't want to stress themselves in knowing the 'process' rather they want the 'finished products'.
In addition, some youth don't want to bend down and learn a skill that will be of use in the future. Do you know shortsightedness is a disease? Not having foresight.
The anthem of most youths is gratifying themselves now and gratifying themselves tomorrow. Instead of sacrificing now for tomorrow gratification. This has lead some many youth into soiling their hands and killing their consciences.
If you are a youth and you take shortcut a lot, please pause and ponder.
Lack of self awareness
Do you know yourself? Socrate once said, "man know thyself."
If there is no self awareness there wouldn't be self discovery and self development.
It is only when a youth knows the stuff he is made of can he be able to set certain goals for himself and be able attain them.
Peer influence
Who is your association? What kind of environment do you live in? The effects of nurture and nature on moral values of everyone can never be overemphasized. However, in my own perspective, the environment is the greatest molder and remolder of character, values and moral.
Engr Elvis Nwankwo once said that, he grew up in slum but as an adolescent once he returned from school he left his locality to GRA (government residential areas) everyday.
A place that is known to be inhabited by enlightened and rich people. Hence, his life was touched tremendously because the way reasoned became different from the way all his mates living at that slum reasoned.
Who is your friend, adviser, confidants and cheerleader? If they are not adding to your life positively they will definitely drain all the little value you have gotten till none is left.
Define your association and stick to right association.
Happy International Youth Day!
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Nice one
ReplyDeleteThank you.
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