By Abubakar Musa Umar
The United Nations set aside every 12 August for the celebration of Youth Day around the globe. It has been celebrated for the past three decades with a focus on situations and conditions. T
This year’s Youth Day focuses on youth engagement for global action.
It is expected that youth will be engaged in all aspects of life including decision making in governance, politics, education, and security as their day is celebrated every year.
But unfortunately, youth were neither involved nor engaged in all the above mentioned, rather they were made to play a passive role and always at the receiving end.
Bauchi Assembly supports the establishment of Youth parliament.
It is clear and accepted that youth are the future leaders and also the symbol and weapons of achievement and development despite setting aside the Youth Day nothing is seen to be done.
Youth account for more than half of the world population although varies according to continent and or regions. In Nigeria and other African nations, youth account for more than fifty percent.
Despite the population of youth in Nigeria, they remained unemployed in their in Nigeria. There are little or no job opportunities in the government and also the industries were shut down due to lack of committed leadership that will resolve the power sector among others.
Youth were intentionally made illiterate and jobless. They were denied their right to better and sound education with incessant strikes of lecturers in the tertiary institutions. The university lecturers embarked on an indefinite strike ahead of COVID 19 pandemics.
Youth were made political thugs for selfish politicians and political parties.
They were not given a chance to contest for election due to a lack of money and Godfatherism.
They were made Social Media Warlords which is affecting their future.
As Youth Day is celebrated in my country were caught neither prosecuted for corruption but involved in banditry, kidnapping, and other offense. Still, they have roles to play. They have the knowledge, capacity, and capability to do as expected but they were shortchanged by Politicians.
Unfortunately, they were not involved nor engaged in decision making.
They were rejected by old and within the self. They were left unemployed and uneducated intentionally to use them for political benefit.
Elite isolated themselves and their children from the Youth. White-collar jobs and lucrative appointments were reserved for the elites and their family. Youth were left with teaching and working in Military and Paramilitary departments as Junior Cadres were they will get killed.
It’s the right time for the youth to take positive and possible action. It’s time for action. It’s time for youth to use one voice to call for engagement in all aspects of life.
Our time is now or never. Let’s face and act on our challenges.
Abubakar Musa Umar is a Youth activist and Educationist, wrote this piece from Kano.
