Nigerian youths are lazy: Who is deceiving who?, by Aondover Eric Msughter

“We have a very young population; our population is estimated conservatively to be 180 million. More than 60 percent of the population is below the age of 30. A lot of them have not been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria has been an oil producing country, therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, healthcare and education free.” If I am right, these are the exact words of President Muhammadu Buhari, documented on April 18, 2018 at the Commonwealth Economic Forum held in United Kingdom. I am not Wole Soyinka, neither Chinua Achebe, but what I do know is that in English Language, words can be use denotatively or connotatively. Looking at the statement made by Mr. President, specifically where he said: “Therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, healthcare and education free,” connotatively, a clause “laziness” is the right word to befits the statement.

At almost every Nigerian literary event I have attended, lack of reading culture in Nigeria always dominates the topic of the day. The falling standard of education, increasing culture of materialism, poverty and online distractions are among the reasons why if one wants to hide a secret from Nigerians, one should document it in a book.

Based on some comments I read about Nigerian youths, especially in the literature, they are doing quite well. But because of the manifestation of ignorance and mental laziness in this country, efforts by scholars and researchers in contributing to the body of knowledge seems to be useless.

The World Bank in its economic forecast published in 2015 commended the effort of Nigerian youths despite the challenges ravaging the country, yet Nigerian youths still engage in some economic activities which escalates and permeates the Nation’s economy. Similarly, UNESCO in 2016 urged other African youths to emulate Nigerian youths by engaging in entertainment industry for the economic growth and development of the continent, which fetched Nigeria the accolade of being the second largest film producer in the world.

Based on what is documented by the Independent National Electoral Commission in 2015, 87 per cent of the votes cast were by the youths. Apparently, most of Nigerian leaders are where they are today as a result of the relentless efforts and huge sacrifices by the youths. In 2015, Nigeria recorded a hitch free election since the return of democracy in Nigeria, whereby the youths were notable figures, especially National Youth Service Corps members that were under the sun in order to restore democracy in Nigeria and have its name written in gold. It is only in Nigeria one can see the youths being paid N15,000 per month as take home pay, yet, they still remain faithful to the organisations they are working for. It is only in Nigeria one can see the youths on the street accelerating at the same speed with a car in order to sell pure water.

Nigeria’s condition is so bad, so much so that the youths can do anything within their capacity to survive. A country where organisations cannot account for dozens of curriculum vitae submitted by graduates; a country where the youths can sometimes sneeze and accompany it with a full bucket of water. A country where the more you see things, the less you understand.

I wish Nigerian dailies could allot the whole space to me so that I can articulate what Nigerian youths are passing through because limited space constrained the fact about this country. Yet our leaders are sitting in their offices enjoying air condition and attributing speeches that will drive the existing agony of the youths into the mould.

There is no gainsaying that a country where leaders are only pointing accusing fingers and shifting blames instead of addressing the issues confronting the citizens, there is all indication that things will normally remain astray. It is easy to start wars than to end them, it is easy to blame others than to look inward, it is easy to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share, but we should chose the right part and not just the easy part. There is a golden rule that lies in the heart of everyone. What we do unto others, we have them do unto us. Nigerian leaders must remember this common truth, a day will surly come that Nigerian youths will put an end to this game of recycling the recycled.

. Msughter, of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano, writes from Aondover7@gmail.com.