THE YOUTH AND REALITIES OF OUR TIME

Nigeria, sitting in the African continent that is home to a cluster of 1.2billion people with
diverse cultures. A land where dreams are almost a status quo.
In school, you learn about how things stand. Existing conditions about how you must finish one
level to the next until you attain professionalism. To be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, pilot or
alike, is a norm. The Education and government systems midwifed by colonial masters decades
before now experience change by slow, limited degrees overtime. It appears that Africans have
become sovereign, independent of the colonial masters, but the reality remains, an unceasing
dependency on the structures laid down by the former. Desperately waiting, times without
number for a new finding in science, technology , or engineering by the masters for
implementation. Basically a copy and paste way of doings things.
Every time an African child is born, a star with endless prospects rises. Regrettably a majority of
youths mind set is engineered in a way that all of hope is either on the Government or Political
top brass positions, other than innovation. Just as the other portion long for a better life in the
west, for a visa out of this Continent.
In this far west of the planet, home for the Caucasian is a system of “things” that work. An array
of principles guiding people according to which somethings are done; Principles set in an
organized scheme or method where each and every person follows diligently without question.
The African man in Europe obeys these laws and adapts their mind-sets easily without doubt.
One must wonder how people with diverse genetic formation converged in diplomatic
agreements and gave birth to principles that are constantly reformed to cater to current affairs.

A person’s personality originates from their genetic formula and their personality formed from
life itself. Ranging from trainings received from home and ultimately schooling which shapes
the mind from interactions with peers, and teachers. Climatically an Individual sees the world
from a perspective of experiences in life. However, Despite all mind configurations, a typical
graduate invariably looks up to government as a pedestal for comfort and support. This burden
of apprehension from the youths is a bewilderment. And at this stage, I am compelled to draw
your attention to a concrete truth. Nigerian Universities! Typical in its way, antiquated in all
respects are in every dimension responsible for this boxed up mind-set of the Nigerian Youths.
The need for the tertiary system to catch up with the fast paced evolving world cannot be over headlined.

The young are taught to stick to an inexorable program of studies that has fallen
short, excluding current emerging issues and trends. Hence why a prolonged myopic
dependency on government. Institutions have suddenly forgotten their responsibility of
bedrocking innovation. The duty to identify, support and nurture talent rests mightily upon
learning institutions. Unknowingly, their ability to project exceptional findings will place them
on the spotlights, drawing the minds of Governments and of International bodies.

In the southern San Francisco Bay Area of California, a home to many start-up and global
technology companies like Apple, Facebook and Google which are the most prominent. The
likes of Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg sprung up from here. It is therefore worthy of note,
there is absolutely not a single defect in the ability of a Nigerian Youth to think outside this
inflexible box and initiate findings that can eventually add gains to Nigeria’s GDP.
250million people sit within the borders of Nigeria. Nigeria, blessed with amazing resources,
Crude oil, Agriculture, Weather, Manpower amongst many. A typical psyche of a Nigerian youth
that constantly blames the government for all misfortunes in life can hardly think beyond
securing a juicy government job. But we must be reminded of Government roles which includes
but are not limited to
●Providing a stable institutional framework, ●Promoting effective and workable competition,
●Correction for externalities, ●Ensure for economic stability and growth,
●Provide for public goods and ●Adjusting for undesired market results.
However, many may still not agree with these glaring facts. As they repeatedly postulate that
government has an absolute authority of their basic needs just like in the US and Europe,
basically like a social welfare system.
But the painful truth remains, The Government cannot take care of everyone. It is impractical.
Now let us look closer.
Nigeria’s GDP has a nominal figure of $446.543 billion (nominal, 2019 est.) . On the contrary the
entire west African GDP lies on a figure below $2trillion. In extreme contrast the state of
California alone has a GDP of over 2.751 trillion dollars with a population of 40million residents
and a net worth totals over $6 trillion or about $160,000 per resident. The state holds 17
percent of national net worth, while making up only 12 percent of the U.S. population. Its
sources of income ranges from Agriculture, technology, mining, construction , trade ,and
services.
Louis Vuitton, Yves Sant Lauren, Nina ricci of France are entrepreneurs that have contributed to
the GDP of their countries on the other extreme end of things.

Now the puzzle remains! What is the youth doing? In my article “Embrace for Impact” I
highlighted the up rise in modern businesses and possible ways the Government can assist
SMEs.

This generation has undoubtedly profited from access to technology. But there is more
potential than already exhibited. As the younger ones continuously spring up, they are learning
with keen curiosity, this time around not only from parents or schools but from the platforms of
Technology, from the Social Media influencers. It appears , in some years to come, everything
around the African Child will take a brand new dimension, if and only if they learn the right
things from all experiences at a tender age.

Author,
Farida Ali Adamu is the Chairman A Billion Doors Initiative