Students’ contribution vital to nation
building
building
DOROTHY
AMAKE examines the roles students and youth play to help Nigeria achieve her
growth and development aspiration and reports that their roles are important to
national development.
AMAKE examines the roles students and youth play to help Nigeria achieve her
growth and development aspiration and reports that their roles are important to
national development.
Finance not a limitation
It is
important for Nigerian youths who believe that they don’t have the financial
capability to wrest political power from older compatriots to listen to what an
American beauty consultant, and cosmetician, Mary Kay Ash said.
important for Nigerian youths who believe that they don’t have the financial
capability to wrest political power from older compatriots to listen to what an
American beauty consultant, and cosmetician, Mary Kay Ash said.
“Don’t limit yourself. Many people
limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind
lets you. What you believe, remember you can achieve,” she said.
limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind
lets you. What you believe, remember you can achieve,” she said.
Agents of change
As youths,
we are agents of change and the change we desire in others must start from us.
We must use all of our talent to serve our country and fatherland the best we
can. We must also help government at all levels in the implementation of its policies.
We must resist all forms of exploitation by individuals and groups, for in this,
they take away our voice and rights; they take us away from the big picture.
we are agents of change and the change we desire in others must start from us.
We must use all of our talent to serve our country and fatherland the best we
can. We must also help government at all levels in the implementation of its policies.
We must resist all forms of exploitation by individuals and groups, for in this,
they take away our voice and rights; they take us away from the big picture.
Without a doubt, youths are the
foundation of positive and negative pictures of any society. Their energies,
inventiveness, character and orientation define the pace of development and
security of a nation. Through their creative talents and labour power, a nation
makes giant strides in economic development and socio-political attainments. Any
nation that denies its youth the necessary and enabling environment to enthusiastically
participate in nation-building merely does so at its own peril. Nation-building is a dynamic process that
calls for the participation of all segments of the society, including the often-overlooked
and undermined youth population and youth resourcefulness that will provide an
invaluable speed for the growth and development of any society.
foundation of positive and negative pictures of any society. Their energies,
inventiveness, character and orientation define the pace of development and
security of a nation. Through their creative talents and labour power, a nation
makes giant strides in economic development and socio-political attainments. Any
nation that denies its youth the necessary and enabling environment to enthusiastically
participate in nation-building merely does so at its own peril. Nation-building is a dynamic process that
calls for the participation of all segments of the society, including the often-overlooked
and undermined youth population and youth resourcefulness that will provide an
invaluable speed for the growth and development of any society.
As youths
are brought into and connected with national issues and programmes, they can
participate actively and contribute to decision making at multiple levels. As
youths are engaged in more sustained positive relationships with adults,
national progress is assured. Apart from
realising that they are valuable assets of their nations, such collaborations and
participation may lead to skill enhancement, empowerment and confidence-building
traits, which will help prepare them for active interest and involvement in
nation-building.
are brought into and connected with national issues and programmes, they can
participate actively and contribute to decision making at multiple levels. As
youths are engaged in more sustained positive relationships with adults,
national progress is assured. Apart from
realising that they are valuable assets of their nations, such collaborations and
participation may lead to skill enhancement, empowerment and confidence-building
traits, which will help prepare them for active interest and involvement in
nation-building.
Youth inclusion
It is
important to note that young people play a crucial role in the prospect for
development and should therefore, be included in all national development plans
and programmes. But reality shows that attention to youth has not been
sufficient and more needs to be done considering the practical implications of
shifting perceptions of the youth and the role they can play in the society.
important to note that young people play a crucial role in the prospect for
development and should therefore, be included in all national development plans
and programmes. But reality shows that attention to youth has not been
sufficient and more needs to be done considering the practical implications of
shifting perceptions of the youth and the role they can play in the society.
In Nigeria, the greatest challenge
confronting the youth today is unemployment which has become a great challenge
to national security. Despite alleged successes of various youth empowerment
programmes across the country, over 54 per cent of Nigerian youth remain
unemployed. The unemployment record in the country clearly portrays an increase
in idle hands across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
confronting the youth today is unemployment which has become a great challenge
to national security. Despite alleged successes of various youth empowerment
programmes across the country, over 54 per cent of Nigerian youth remain
unemployed. The unemployment record in the country clearly portrays an increase
in idle hands across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
It is often said that an idle mind is
the devil’s workshop, so an unemployed youth is a danger to the society.
the devil’s workshop, so an unemployed youth is a danger to the society.
Activities of groups such as
Boko-Haram, Niger Delta militants, Biafra agitators and recently, the Baddo group,
have serious implications for national security in the country. Sadly, some of
these rebellious groups have students at the forefront of their nefarious
activities.
Boko-Haram, Niger Delta militants, Biafra agitators and recently, the Baddo group,
have serious implications for national security in the country. Sadly, some of
these rebellious groups have students at the forefront of their nefarious
activities.
The first
step in creating a new Nigeria is to create or revive scholarly spirit in
students to have optimistic mind that believes Nigeria can actually get better
and attains the height we all yearn for.
step in creating a new Nigeria is to create or revive scholarly spirit in
students to have optimistic mind that believes Nigeria can actually get better
and attains the height we all yearn for.
Just like the popular saying that “Rome
was not built in a day”, the process of recreation is definitely not a day’s
job. Every student needs to understand this fact.
was not built in a day”, the process of recreation is definitely not a day’s
job. Every student needs to understand this fact.
The revival process won’t come as a
miracle, but with passion and patriotism for country.
miracle, but with passion and patriotism for country.
Remember
that clothes must be cut to pieces and sewn to bring forth a beautiful dress.
that clothes must be cut to pieces and sewn to bring forth a beautiful dress.
Faith renewal necessary
As students,
we need to renew our faith in Nigeria, the dilapidated can be rebuilt, the
wastelands can still be productive, water can come out of the desert and a good
thing can actually come from Nazareth.
we need to renew our faith in Nigeria, the dilapidated can be rebuilt, the
wastelands can still be productive, water can come out of the desert and a good
thing can actually come from Nazareth.
Nigerian students need to understand
the essence of self-empowerment and sufficiency. Of the crises facing Nigeria
today, unemployment stands prominent.
the essence of self-empowerment and sufficiency. Of the crises facing Nigeria
today, unemployment stands prominent.
The
available jobs are not enough; therefore it is a battle among the smartest to
get a job. To solve this situation, it is important that students strive for
excellence to become employable or employers of labour themselves. Rather than
relying on getting a job after school, they should take initiatives and work on
building successful businesses which will in turn create jobs for others.
available jobs are not enough; therefore it is a battle among the smartest to
get a job. To solve this situation, it is important that students strive for
excellence to become employable or employers of labour themselves. Rather than
relying on getting a job after school, they should take initiatives and work on
building successful businesses which will in turn create jobs for others.
Innovativeness
and vision is very essential, and requires that they think out of the box,
planning extensively ahead, rather than live only for the present.
and vision is very essential, and requires that they think out of the box,
planning extensively ahead, rather than live only for the present.
Dialogue better than confrontation
To build
that nation, students must shun all vices capable of undermining national
security such as cultism, political thuggery, hooliganism and other forms of unruly
and violent behaviour. Nigerian students must
adopt dialogue rather than violence when it comes to solving problems. It is
said “violence begets violence”. Therefore, students should shun violent
demonstrations because they do more harm than good in a country.
that nation, students must shun all vices capable of undermining national
security such as cultism, political thuggery, hooliganism and other forms of unruly
and violent behaviour. Nigerian students must
adopt dialogue rather than violence when it comes to solving problems. It is
said “violence begets violence”. Therefore, students should shun violent
demonstrations because they do more harm than good in a country.
If Nigeria is ever going to get
better, students must live as responsible and law-abiding citizens by joining voluntary
organisations and helping in community service and development. They must be
ready in helping to enforce law, order and cleanliness.
better, students must live as responsible and law-abiding citizens by joining voluntary
organisations and helping in community service and development. They must be
ready in helping to enforce law, order and cleanliness.
Nigeria
is on its way to becoming a greater nation with the current corruption fight of
the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari.
is on its way to becoming a greater nation with the current corruption fight of
the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari.
Building a corruption-free country,
one with integrity, is a responsibility of every student. The bad reputation corruption had imposed on
our dear country, is a result of desperate individuals who want to acquire wealth
overnight.
one with integrity, is a responsibility of every student. The bad reputation corruption had imposed on
our dear country, is a result of desperate individuals who want to acquire wealth
overnight.
Students must shun fraud, bribery and
all forms of examination malpractices and understand that success and wealth
never come easy, but as a result of hardwork,
preparation, patience, perseverance and prayer. It may be tough to succeed, but
it is definitely not impossible as Nigeria is blessed with enough resources to
aid those who want to succeed.
all forms of examination malpractices and understand that success and wealth
never come easy, but as a result of hardwork,
preparation, patience, perseverance and prayer. It may be tough to succeed, but
it is definitely not impossible as Nigeria is blessed with enough resources to
aid those who want to succeed.
Youths are the building blocks of
every nation. The stronger the youth of a country, the more developed that
country is.
every nation. The stronger the youth of a country, the more developed that
country is.
Social denials
For a country
like Nigeria with about 70 per cent youth population, we are where we are
because the future of the youth has been mortgaged. We have been denied the
benefits of good education; our minds have been chronically infested with low moral
values. When the political class is riddled
with notorious, corrupt individuals, which the justice system helplessly fails
to punish, then the nation stagnates,
like Nigeria with about 70 per cent youth population, we are where we are
because the future of the youth has been mortgaged. We have been denied the
benefits of good education; our minds have been chronically infested with low moral
values. When the political class is riddled
with notorious, corrupt individuals, which the justice system helplessly fails
to punish, then the nation stagnates,
Government’s
plans and readiness to revive youth productiveness is but a mere lip-service. Politicians
only engage us during elections and turn us into electoral thugs instead of
building enough schools and creating adequate employment opportunities for us.
plans and readiness to revive youth productiveness is but a mere lip-service. Politicians
only engage us during elections and turn us into electoral thugs instead of
building enough schools and creating adequate employment opportunities for us.
Students’ ideological bankrupcy
We are the architect of our own misfortune
because we embraced corrupt politicians’ ideologies. We are ideologically bankrupt
and in a state of delirium. We choose violence instead of peace and mutual
coexistence. We choose the comfort of the moment instead of striving for self-sacrifice
that will guarantee the freedom of this country. We choose the wealth of the highways
instead of classrooms. We choose gun, knife and axe instead of pen, paper and
hardwork. We avail ourselves all kinds of dirty jobs during elections.
because we embraced corrupt politicians’ ideologies. We are ideologically bankrupt
and in a state of delirium. We choose violence instead of peace and mutual
coexistence. We choose the comfort of the moment instead of striving for self-sacrifice
that will guarantee the freedom of this country. We choose the wealth of the highways
instead of classrooms. We choose gun, knife and axe instead of pen, paper and
hardwork. We avail ourselves all kinds of dirty jobs during elections.
The quality of tomorrow’s leaders lies
in the character of today’s followers.
in the character of today’s followers.
An Indian
statesman, Mahatma Ghandhi said, “A man is but the product of his thoughts,
what he thinks he becomes.”
statesman, Mahatma Ghandhi said, “A man is but the product of his thoughts,
what he thinks he becomes.”
Dorothy Amake is Mass Communication
student at Kogi State University, Anyigba, and an IT student with Blueprint
newspapers.
student at Kogi State University, Anyigba, and an IT student with Blueprint
newspapers.