A CASE STUDY OF YOUTHS & WOMEN DEVELOPMENT IN OUR ECONOMY
By Haroun Opotu Yussuff, JP,MNIM,CPA
Being a Paper presented at the Training on Skill Acquisition for Youths and Women on Fisheries & Poultry Production in Okene, Adavi and Ozuja, Kogi State At EMCCO Training Centre, Okengwe, Okene LGA, Kogi State on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, Sponsored by Hon. Yusuf Ahmed Tijani (Damisa) under the auspices of DONTONEX DYNAMICS CONCEPT LIMITED in collaboration with the Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
THROUGH NATURAL RESOURCES
A CASE STUDY OF YOUTHS & WOMEN DEVELOPMENT IN OUR ECONOMY
By Haroun Opotu Yussuff, JP,MNIM,CPA
Being a Paper presented at the Training on Skill Acquisition for Youths and Women on Fisheries & Poultry Production in Okene, Adavi and Ozuja, Kogi State At EMCCO Training Centre, Okengwe, Okene LGA, Kogi State on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, Sponsored by Hon. Yusuf Ahmed Tijani (Damisa) under the auspices of DONTONEX DYNAMICS CONCEPT LIMITED in collaboration with the Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan.
PROLOGUE
The major causes of crime waves, particularly in Nigeria and Africa in general, include unemployment, urbanisation poverty, offensive display of wealth, ineffectiveness, proliferation of illegal arms and weapons, corruption of security and law enforcement agencies, broken homes, group influence, greed, use of hard drugs, get-rich-quick syndrome, lack of parental counselling, urbanisation of the true nature of man, cinema/television and video films, indiscipline, lack of spiritual education and ignorance of the purpose of life amongst others.
These causes have affected the lives and times of our sprouted youths in Nigeria, among which are social, economic and political. Based on the limited time allotted to this presentation, I shall take a critical look at the potential employment opportunities, through the naturally endowed resources, if harnessed, which can transform the youths and women. Bearing in mind the several fora organised to address the seemingly insurmountable poverty, diseases, religious bigotry, the use of political thugs during and after elections because of massive unemployment and other moral decadence without redress, efforts shall be made here to unravel areas that some of these vices can be curtailed to the barest minimum without recourse to agony. Thererfore, the time for redress is NOW. I doff my cap to the organisers of this programme because it is apt as it will go a long way to avoiding unnecessary lamentation.
However, in the unlikely event that anyone of us in this hall or elsewhere believes that by way of innuendo, one is hurt by any portion of my Paper presentation, I claim the privilege of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) that or which guarantees Freedom of Speech based on investigative and bare facts. I, therefore, offer no incompetence in this presentation.
THE CRTUX OF THE TOPIC
It is imperative to peep a bit into our immediate past only because it will be impossible to comprehend how the current came into being consequent upon the obvious future. We must appreciate the fact that the only path to progress, via the latent natural resources for human development, is the transformation of human lives that can bring about a desired struggle to displace (or is it reshape?) the existing system of oppression, suppression and subjugation.
Come to think of it, both the colonial and post-colonial systems of administration bear relative responsibilities of deprived progress of what is now called Nigeria but the onus remains that those who took over manipulated the system the more considering the technological emergence. Besides, they have/had benefited immensely from the exploitation and underdevelopment of their people by becoming “willing tools” to those who have alienated them from the commonwealth of the society. Instead of these “willing tools” to understand the system and work towards its dethronement, they compromised because of their conceived idea that “it would soon come to our turn.” They have jettisoned what Walter Rodney called “a radical break” from the ethnic hegemony vis-à-vis albatross that has become a serious and obvious challenge to the inept leadership of the prevailing order in Nigeria.
My take here, therefore, is that with our rich socio-cultural, politico-economic and natural values, we need to rediscover and move toward a radically transformed vision for our mission and for our capacities to change the lives and dejected conditions of our people. We must claim our full responsibility to engage in the collective awesome struggle for a New Nigeria in order to effect the potential empowerment of our youths and women, thus the entire populace. This was why some of us, in this type of awesome struggle since early 80s took transformational steps, with great and serious vigour in youth activism, to open up and graduate our thoughts from ‘Youth Activism’ on one hand, to ‘Progressive Activism’ on the other.
a) Here lies our quest for Human Capital Empowerment/Development for the young and old; males and females.
b) Here lies our belief that if humanity must advance, we must invent and make discoveries in thoughts because of our people’s great expectations.
c) Here lies the urge to wake from slumber, seek response from ourselves and to turn over a new leaf to work out new concepts to set out a new breed.
EDUCATION
If education is seen as being crucial in any type of society for the preservation of the lives of its members, it is suffice to add that it also helps in the maintenance of the social structure and promotes social change. Though the informal education has been distorted by the colonial legacy, the modern one or vogue must be upheld because of the technological progress. So, the current situation calls for effective integration and juxtaposition of both formal and informal education as well as those of traditional and modern one. To achieve this, the traditional home must be adequately catered for with a view to funding it appropriately because the greater portion of informal education is being acquired by the young from the example and behaviour of elders in the society. It grows out of the environment as the learning process is directly related to the pattern of work in the society. This, in turn, will give the desired fulcrum to the modern one where well equipped schools (primary to tertiary), scholarships and bursary awards are given to youths/students, irrespective of gender, by the governments, public spirited individuals/philanthropists, NGOs, CBOs and other international organisations to beef up the required development of human capital. Besides, well paid teachers, required tools and physical infrastructures become the panaceas for youths and women empowerment.
Today in Nigeria, this sphere of employment opportunities comes to focus because of the rise in its population that smacks of the desired strength for accelerated growth and development. With the early introduction of western education by the colonial masters and its attendant spread across board, the rich owes it a duty to champion this course if and only if alienation in our society must be stemmed as the only property parents and government can bequeath to their children predicated on ICT compliance. Our future in this country can be secured if we all become knowledgeable in various disciplines. With the advent of information technology, every discipline has advanced. Therefore, our children should not be out of school for any reason, nor should we make them drivers, messengers in offices, cleaners or petrol attendants at fuel stations. The level of education and exposure in life makes the whole difference. Male or female, young or old should be educated to any possible level because educating the next generation, instead of thinking constantly of the next elections, is the best investment to securing their future. They become independent hence, reduce the burden of parents and extended family saga. This will stem the tide of retrogression in the current age of technology that is accompanied by positive multiplier results consequent upon the enthronement of virtuous circle of greatness.
Free and compulsory education must be provided for our teeming youths in government schools as those who have acquired skills should be supported financially to start their own businesses at community level. For example, donating ten goats (two male and eight females) can sustain a community for life. As the goats reproduced, others in the community can be given to raise theirs. The milk of the goats can be processed for sale. Besides, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to mobilize a malnourished, ignorant or illiterate citizenry because so long as a society does not encourage all-round, functional and sound education for empowerment, so long shall that society continue to be stagnant or static in a most dynamic era of history such as we have now.
AGRICULTURE
There is no doubt that agriculture remains the main stay of any society. It is a means of livelihood hence, every society that clamours for accelerated growth and development must key into it premised on its depth, harnessing and effective utilization. While some societies are blessed with arable land, some are not. However, Nigeria falls into the category of the former whose arable land is diverse with attendant mineral resources.
Though the majority of the people of Nigeria are farmers but less encouragement is given to them. This is a potential sector for youths and women empowerment for growth and development. It is sad to note that the majority of our farmers are no big time ones. They are not even buoyant enough to embark on large scale farming hence, lack adequate capital to attract equipments such as tractors, harvesters, riggers, pesticides, fertilisers, ploughs, spraying machines, silos and other agricultural related implements to cultivate their crops. The era of cocoa, groundnut, cotton, rubber, palm oil etc are almost gone. Why? Why? Why? May I ask?
It, therefore, behoves on the government alongside the well-to-do in Nigeria, to look inward to assist the farmers to acquire the much needed modern techniques in farming irrespective of the size of the land. This sector can generate employment opportunities for the sprouting youths and income strategies for their sustenance. Some of the advanced economies have not enough land but their indulgence in modern techniques has transformed their available arable land to be exporters of farm produce and products. This sector has served as corollaries to their industrialisation.
I beg to submit that farm centres must be created by both Local and State Governments in this direction for the desired empowerment of our people across board. Besides, the formation and encouragement of agricultural cooperative societies shall equally complement the efforts of the individuals and governments. Our “big shots” should be implored to key into agricultural development alongside the involvement of financial institutions in Nigeria vis-à-vis roles of both an enhanced involvement of Banks of Industry and Agriculture.
Now that we have more befitting tertiary institutions in the State, analysis of soil can be embarked upon with a view to knowing its suitability in the land for agricultural occupation. The rolled out Local Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (LEEDS), State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (SEEDS) and National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) policies of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo should be made reference points in achieving this agricultural advancement for empowerment.
Meanwhile, cassava bread and chips, processed-garri, benniseed cakes, plantain chips, maize/corn flakes and locust-beans cubes can be turned to confectioneries as end products for more income apart from being sold too in their raw states having found suitable markets for their sales. Tomato puree and vegetables are also sources of income and empowerment strategies for the people. These can also pave way for self- employment for the youths and women, particularly the young graduates.
Possible Break-Through in Agriculture, if Harnessed and Exploited for the desired Income and Empowerment of the Youths and women in Nigeria.
Poultry Production: Production of broilers for chicken breeds, cockerels, feeds, derivatives from animal feeds in large scale.
Fishery: Raising and harvesting of fish and other aquatic resources for human consumption, fish oil etc.
Maize: This can be cultivated with the following yields namely; corn flakes, corn flour, animal feeds, baby food, starch and derivatives, pharmaceuticals and confectionery. Others are alcohol, adhesives, industrial chemicals, corn oil and particle board manufacturing.
Cassava: Starch (textile finishing), livestock feeds, alcohol, adhesives, garri and confectionery.
Yam/Cocoyam: Starch and its derivatives, baby foods, composite flour and chips.
Citrus, Mango, Pineapple, Pawpaw, Orange & Guava: Medicinal extracts, edible fresh and juice, concentrates, jellies flavouring, nectar, syrup, jam, essential oil, marmalade, aromatics and wine.
Cashew: Juice and roaster nuts.
Banana/Plantain: Food, confectionery and chips.
TOURISM
This sphere of influence needs much to be desired because of its latent returns to advance not only our cultural heritage but that of ardent opportunity to increase the revenue of the society to prop up the needed potential empowerment of the people. Nigeria has the potential to become the finest area of tourist attraction because of its colonial history as a host of many artefacts such as European cemeteries, ancient school and churches, lowering of slave sod symbol and the establishment of Royal Niger Company, name it. So, if the Nigeria’s cultural treasures are added to them, it can boast of tremendous empowerment of and for the people.
A case in point is Dubia in United Arab Emirate that is bereft of natural resources has become the cynosure of tourism of the world because of good leadership and re-creative activities. The “Eyo” in Lagos, “Olodumare” in Osun State, Kano/Sokoto/Zaria Durbars, “Egungun” of Oyo in Oyo State, “Oloolu” in Ibadan and Arugungu Fishing festivals, New yam and Ofala festivals in Ibo land, Eche-ane and Ekuechi in Ebiraland, Ovie-sese of Ogori-magongo, all in Kogi State, to mention just a few, can all contribute to the growth and development of the Nation’s economy.
The Nigeria’s various water-falls or Dams have become places that need to be rehabilitated as tourist attraction resorts based on their serene environment. This brings us to focus on the two major rivers in Nigeria that are naturally situated in Kogi State. They are the Rivers Niger and Benue with their confluence status that has a potential tourist attraction. Successive governments have turned their backs on their efficacies to serve as another avenue of revenue generation apart from their abilities in creating job opportunities for the sprouting youths. The Minister of Water Resources should hasten efforts to rehabilitate all abandoned water projects in the country in order to make them tourist attractions apart from the primary aim of provision of drinkable water and irrigation system.
Other aspects of our cultural heritage are the Ebira-weave (cloth) and Hair-weave (do) crafts. Have we been patronising them as expected? Have we been encouraging our women to advance them? Are these cultural gifts available and not “stolen” by other countries? Going by the history of Tiv in Benue State, the people used to call the Ebiras “Itachi”, meaning “people of the cloth”. But today, the Tiv can boast of the Black and White stripped weave (cloth) believed to have been copied from the Ebiras in Kogi State. The weave (cloth) and hair-weave (do) have become attractive and lucrative businesses in tourism with effective generation of employment opportunity for the people. But today, our youths have not been attracted to such a business by government and the society as a development strategy for livelihood because of white elephant projects in the cities. However, we must beckon on our elders, leaders and public spirited individuals and philanthropists to bring these crafts back to life as they will go a long way to empowering not only the youth, but attract tremendous national and foreign tourists consequent upon increase in revenue generation. When have our people participated in national and international Trade Fairs, may I ask? Look at the “Ofi” cloth of the Iseyin in Oyo State, “Kente” cloth of Ghana, Adire-making of Egbaland in Abeokuta, tie-and-dye cloth in Kano, all are competing favourably at national and international Trade Fairs. Whither Ebira-weave (cloth)?
Also, if the Ogun State government could establish an ultra-modern market for Adire-making in Kuto, why can’t the five Local Governments in KCSD collectively do same for Ebira-weave (Cloth), not to talk of the Kogi State Government? So, it is my candid opinion that unless the Ebira people rise to the task of reviving their cultural crafts heritage, no outsider will do it for them. The formation and encouragement of Cooperative Societies shall go a long way to advance this course for marriages, birthdays, anniversaries and souvenirs. Instead of unnecessary clannish sentimental cleavages, it will not be out of place for clans to engage, competitively, in this sphere. Our leaders are enmeshed on idle talks and become so serious on unserious issues even as they also become too unserious on serious thoughts. Period!
INSECURITY
Every society must strive to regulate the behaviour and activities of its members to ensure the protection of life and property, thus ensure the general security of its citizens, hence the Latin maxim “Ubi societies Ibi jus” (where there is society, there must be law). This is why the police and other law enforcement agencies are established to control crime and guarantee the society of life and property. This is clearly stated in Section 4 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which provides inter-alia that “the security and well being of the people shall be the primary purpose of the government.” The current insecurity scenario in Nigeria is pathetic and needs urgent government proactive strategies to nip it in the bud if accelerated development is required.
Like the former President J.F.Kennedy of USA said “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” Let’s face it, the youths and women are hungry and have become vulnerable because of the circumstances created by greedy elders and leaders who have become ‘dealers’. This is why they defied all civility to wreak havoc on unsuspected victims. They are deprived of good reasoning by the elders and leaders who are benefiting from their backwardness, thus reluctant to transform the society for posterity. They have become hungry for political positions as well as compromising their virtues and dignity by sacrificing the future of our youths for their current selfish interest. So, to avoid this, there must be a change of heart after all, if these elders and leaders provide good and patriotic governance for potential empowerment of their siblings or offspring, the society will be safe for them. I, therefore, state that the youth restiveness can not be faulted as such because if the “devil” is given a fair hearing, both the elders and leaders will be obviously found guilty of not leading positively too.
Youth Centres
These are open accesses or universal services for all young people as distinct from targeted programme/service for a few young ones. Recently, the Federal Government planned to establish three youth centres in each of the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria aimed at occupying the youths. The strategy here is to empower the youth consequent upon the reduction of youth restiveness in the society. If done, they will provide ICT as well as skill acquisition trainings to the youths. Such centres are expected to be run by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development as efforts will equally be made to encourage other stake holders in making use of them. This sphere needs to be exploited by not only the federal government, but also the state and local governments too. It is a potent investment drive for the much needed potential empowerment of the younger ones. So, different agencies, organisations, private sectors, youth related NGOs and CBOs must be given the desired incentives and encouragement to partake actively in this facet. This is feasible and if established, can serve as skill acquisition for the youths where fashion designing, catering, hairdressing, soap and pomade making, amongst others, will be actualised.
MINERAL RESOURCES
These resources can be put to multiple usages locally and internationally as they are available in quantum in Nigeria thus:
Clay: Though jettisoned long time ago, it can be revived as found in some localities such as Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State. The end products are: bricks, pottery, sanitary ware, ceramic insulator, refractory and insulating bricks.
Limestone: construction, cement manufacture, ceramics, water treatment, as filter in plastics, fluxes in iron and steel smelting, as source of industrial salt, as decorative ornaments and monumental slabs.
Columbite: Iron and Steel
Iron Ore: Iron and Steel. Thanks to the Almighty God that situated the giant Ajaokuta Steel and National Iron Ore Mining Companies in Kogi State, Nigeria. They can be seriously harnessed for the desired empowerment of our youths and people. This is the basic role our political office holders MUST play in order to revitalise the moribund companies Ajaokuta and Itakpe for the much desired human capital development and industrialisation of the entire country.
Happily enough, the Leadership Newspaper of Tuesday, September 16, 2014, Page 16, No. 2,257, revealed that the Ajaokuta Steel Company commenced the production of rods this weekend having ordered for some tons of billets, a major raw component for the mass production of rods and angle bars. Hear the Managing Director of Reprom Nigeria Limited, Mr Attah Achimugu, who conducted news men round the plant “…with the arrival of billets, the rolling mills which have been abandoned for years would now bounce back to life as it would be used to produce large-scale of rods and angle bars for domestic and export purposes.”
So, this is a welcome development that will go a long way to engage our youths and the quest for industrialisation with positive multiplier effects.
Kudos should be given to the 8th National Assembly for passing a Bill to properly fund the Steel Projects in Ajaokuta and Itakpe even as the Executive Arm has constructed the rail line to link Itakpe and Warri for the conveyance of the raw materials. These are steps in the right direction.
Permit me to state that there are other on-going efforts to unravel and exploit more mineral resources in Nigeria across the 36 States, including Abuja, capable of empowering the corporate people of Nigeria for sustenance.
Conclusion
The easiest way to down-size youth restiveness and peoples unhappiness in general is to exploit every sector to empower them to sustain their livelihood. So, it is our latent individual and collective struggle that can enthrone the much needed quest to diversify our resources and capitalise on the available opportunities to foster the growth and development of our society. Nigeria is blessed with people and will, both in agricultural and mineral resources to be harnessed for the development of our society. In as much as we need peace for a sustainable development, we equally need development too to secure peace and our livelihood, vice-versa. However, the bottom line of all this is purposeful governance predicated on transparency and accountability from our elders and leaders and not dealers. Also, the youths and women must learn from the words of Frantz Fanon who asserted that “each generation must out of relative obscurity, discover its mission to fulfil it or destroy it.” The Nigerian youths and women should shun violence, contention and conflict so as to embrace the virtue of consultation and dialogue based on democratic principles.
REFERENCES
1. DICTA (2006), Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa; Africa’s Leadership Role Modelling and The Youth; Proceedings of a Regional Workshop on African Youth Leadership Development Programme.
2. Walter Rodney, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, Introduction by Vincent Hardling, 2009 Edition, Panaf Publishing, Abuja, Lagos, Pretoria.
3. Saheed Zakaree. S., Economic Backwardness in Ebiraland: Causes, Effect and Way Forward, A Paper Presented at the NAES Annual Ebira Week, Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter, May 19, 2012.
4. Ande, J.O.M (2011), Driving the Cause of Minority Rights and Securing the Future of Nigeria Through Constitutional Amendment, Guest Speaker at the Ebira Youth Congress (EYC), FCE, Okene.
5. Yussuff, Haroun. O., Down-sizing Violence in Ebiraland: The Role of our Leaders. Guest Speaker to Commemorate the National Association of Ebira Students (NAES) WEEK, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, May 19, 2012.
6. Kennedy, J.F., Great Speeches of the Presidents of the United States of America.