YOUTHS AND SUSTAINING DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA: ISSUES, CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD – A PAPER DELIVERED BY MRS HANNAH ONYINOYI ODIYO, FCIA, THE HEAD OF CIVIL SERVICE KOGI STATE AT THE 2022 YOUTH AND DEMOCRACY SUMMIT, ILORIN KWARA STATE, ORGANIZED BY THE WEST AFRICA ( ECOWAS) YOUTH COUNCIL ON 29TH, 22.
PROTOCOL…
INTRODUCTION
Youth age range is not specific or strictly defined. It depends on circumstances e.g a Pope at age 57 is said to be young considering the fact that popes are often of age 80 and above.
Sustaining Democracy means one that is long lasting .
ISSUES/ CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA:
– The youths are generally despised and under rated.
– They are said to be Leaders of tomorrow.
– The old folks want to hold unto power until death or until they have outlived their usefulness.
Democratic system in Nigeria is characterized by hiccups of greed, nepotism, corruption, slowpace of development, empty promises, electoral malpractices, lack of enduring plan for the youths, etc.
QUALITIES OF THE YOUTH
– However, the youth are young, energetic, vibrant, intelligent, brilliant, enthusiastic, promising and advanced in technology. They are change agents and drivers of societal transformation. As such, they are eager to catch up with the developed world in terms of technology and infrastructural development of their nation.
– They are yearning for the industrial development of the Nation so that they can be gainfully absorbed/ employed to reduce importation, improve our forex and save our Naira.
– They want to forsake thuggery and win elections by intelligent planning and deployment of technology because thuggery has become old fashioned.
The Kogi Youth Story:
In Kogi State, it is not just a case of Youth inclusiveness in governance but the youth running the Government. There are programs and projects for the youth. For instance, there are 15 Senior Special Assistants, 9 of them engaged in Women & Youth development programs, 3 in Youth empowerment programs.
An Agency is in place for the youth i.e the Youth Development Commission, all manned by the Youth ( the Chairman is here).
Many States at a time were clamouring for Community Policing. His Excellency in his wisdom trained 3,500 Youths as Vigilante personnel known as Kogi Vigilante Service and today, they are an asset to the State in handling insecurity challenges. No wonder the security success story of Kogi State. Earlier in the GYB Administration, the State was notable for kidnap cases. But the Governor himself would take the lead to go after the hoodlums, the kidnappers, in their hideouts and also bring down the mansions built with blood money. Today, Kogi State tops the list of safest States in Nigeria.
In Kogi State, 150 tractors were procured for Youth in Agriculture, processing plants for rice and cassava put in place to absorb the youth. We need performing leaders of this nature because they will do much more at national level.
A Youth is the Technical Assistant in the Yahaya Bello – led Administration. He developed the COVID 19 APP for the State. Today you are aware that the pandemic is zero in Kogi State. His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello was bold to say the truth about the COVID – 19 saga and today he has been proved right.
WAY FORWARD!!!
The Civil Service at all levels in Nigeria usually employ the Youth. At age 60, the service bids them good bye so that they can go and rest. I think this makes sense because they have expended most of the qualities they possess e.g
The strength begins to fail
The health begins to fail
The memory begins to fail
Most of the time they cannot put in their best any more.
However, it is this category of older generation that the political class prefer. They clinch to positions and even want to continue till death. Nigeria, West Africa and Africa at large need to wake up.
You cannot continue to do a thing the same way all the time and expect a different result. The result will remain the same and in this case it is failure here and there. Some times, our leaders mean well in some of their programs, projects and investments. But they lack the strength and agility to follow through and monitor, hence diversion of funds with projects & programs unimplemented.
Nigeria is the most populous Country in Africa with the largest population of youths in the world. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former President of Nigeria believes that identifying and addressing issues that would enhance the lives of the youth would improve overall National development. He stated that, Youth constitute Nigeria’s only hope for a greater future. So I believe that:
The future belongs to the Youth,
The Youths are the future of Democracy
IT IS YOUTH O’ CLOCK.
Nigeria, the big brother of West Africa and Africa should set the pace by giving the youth a chance. This is how to sustain Democracy.
A youth that fulfils the leadership qualities enumerated above is emerging. Let us rally round him and support him come 2023.
And who is that one ?????
GYB.
Thank you all.