Are Nigerian Youths Ready To Take Up Leadership Roles?

The pathetic situation of the country constantly draws several reactions and opinions from the people among the leaders and the citizenry. While the supposed leaders claim to be doing things right, the latter laments over their irresponsibility and ‘disastrous’ policies that constantly put us in pitiful situations.

More often than not, many believe that the leaders are not getting it right. Opinions that they lack the innovation, virility and supposed ‘wisdom of the old’ to get things back to its normal state and as a result, they keep putting the country in a state of dilemma, flies around.

The resort now is to turn to the youths, the supposed ‘leaders of tomorrow’ who have once been sidelined and seen as incapable of solving the country’s problem and driving a positive change. Now, the recurring question we ask is, “Are these youths equipped to take up the leadership roles and drive the impending change the country is thirsty for?” Let’s figure that out together.

Table of Contents

My Opinion on Transforming “Leaders of Tomorrow” into “Leaders of Today”

The population of Nigerian youths take a larger percentage out of the entire populace. Ranging between ages 18 and 35 are individuals who possess the agility and virility, innovation and radicalism to transform the country’s situation.

However, it is sad to say that the youths who seem to be the only options to fill this vacuum and solve the country’s problems are not ready. They are either unwilling to or nonchalant about it. Only a few are capable, well experienced and eminently qualified to embrace this responsibility. Yet, there lies a doom unfolded in the disastrous activities of the political leaders of the country.

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Is there still hope that the Nigerian youths will rise to transform the country from its state of despondency to accelerated sustainable development? The need to integrate the youth into the mainstream of Nigerian politics is even now more necessary than ever. The present leaders will keep getting older and we cannot continue to keep our country in their hands as they will become incapable of solving complex situations and lack the strength and zeal to drive a positive change.

Some steps have been taken and some policies have been made to include the youths in Nigeria in the political terrain of the country. One of the steps of this inclusion is the #NottooYoungtoRun bill that was passed by the Nigerian House of Senate on July 26, 2017 to “lower the ages of candidates for presidency from 40 to 35, and House of Representatives and House of Assembly, from 30 to 25.”

This has cleared the age barrier factor and created an avenue of more youth to vie for elected offices in political spaces that have been dominated by the older generations in recent times. Now, this leads us to the next question…

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Are the Present-Day Nigerian Youths Ready to Rule?

It’s disheartening to see how only a few youths turned up and were able to take up these leadership positions. Majority of the youths in Nigeria are either apathetic or nonchalant about politics. They are often more interested in chasing their dreams, hustling for survival or seeking for a ‘greener pasture’ outside Nigeria for their own good or even more interested in making money and following trends and not serving the people.

We keep having recycled politicians because the youth have refused to assume or show responsibility. They are not ready to rule! The early years of Nigeria’s political landscape were dominated by young individuals who chose to utilize their youthful exuberance to agitate colonial exploitation and oppression in the 1930s.

The likes of Nnamdi Azikwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Anthony Enahoro were in their 30s and 40s when they radically fought for the freedom of Nigerians. They took up leadership roles with the zeal and enthusiasm that made the country better.

Read also: Youth Unemployment in Nigeria: Exploring Challenges and Solutions

Nowadays, many youths don’t engage in meaningful politics-themed conversations or even try to analyze the country’s situation to drive the necessary change. They focus more on fast-money making venture conversations, trends and all sorts that are insignificant to a country’s development but rather make things even worse.

The present day youths’ mentality sees engaging in politics as a means of livelihood and fast track to financial security rather than as a medium to drive positive change. They’re not interested in rendering selfless service. There’s little show of willingness, while most are either being pushed into it or take it up because of the financial security that comes with it.

Then, there will be no difference between the now older generation and the younger generation. It’s not far to assume that the older generation are scared of handing the country over to the youths. The fear of their incapability, unpreparedness and recurring misdemeanor that parvails the society are mostly among the youths.

As much as there seems to be a lack of preparedness to take up leadership roles in the country or a low rate of political participation among these young people, there are also factors that have served as limitations. The seemingly leaders of tomorrow have no good source of inspiration that will instill the desire to do things right. Most of the political leaders in power have eroded the values the younger generation can emulate.

Read also: Why You Should Participate in Community Services as a Nigerian Youth

Corruption, fraud, extravagant spending and other illegal acts have soiled the system. Then, what else will the youth offer if all they see them do is engage in corrupt activities that put the country in the mud? Their mentality of what politics involved have made them unprepared to take up these leadership positions and do better.

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Conclusion

Majority of the youths lack adequate knowledge of the past and the historical events to fight the present odds and prepare for the coming generation. There’s a need for the Nigerian youths to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and educated on leadership roles.

Programmes like the Next President Reality TV show, Leadership Award presentation, etc, need to be promoted to engage the youths in the process of politics.

Edited by Priscilla Ajayi.

About Author

Adeyemi Ezra: A content writer, copywriter and fictional author. I like to explore writing on lifestyle, entrepreneurship and many more with valuable and highly insightful contents that relates with prospects to educate and motivate.