This day is special in all ramifications because it brings to mind a special Group of people in our human society – the youths. They are within the age range of 16 to 24 years and above, transcending from adolescence to adulthood. They are the most curious, energetic, vibrant, social, active, and productive set of people in human society.
Any state or nation that wants to prosper must carry its youths along in all decision-making processes. They are to be involved in all processes that lead to the emergence of leaders who will lead the people in any segment of our human society, and they should be made partakers themselves. If they are neglected in any of these aforementioned areas, it can bring about dissatisfaction, breeding unrest, protests, civil disturbances, and the likes.
The youths, because of their young nature, are dynamic, charismatic, and energetic, and as such, they are highly explorative, adventurous, and risk-bearing in all aspects of life. They are goal-getters and result-oriented sets of personalities. Their ever-growing nature makes them uniquely unique and producers of great results. They are skillful, innovative, and highly inspirational, hence result-orientedness becomes part and parcel of them.
In as much as they are good, if there is a missing gap in matters that concern them, they manifest diverse social vices such as drug addiction, gangsterism, hooliganism, fighting, quarreling, rape, immorality, stealing, and armed robbery, smoking, cybercrime, human abduction, incest, examination malpractices, and misconduct, and all forms of evil pleasures.
Any state or nation that wants its citizens to enjoy the positive influence of the youths must, of necessity, take care of them very well. Such a state or nation must provide the youths with moral education, skills acquisition, employment, leadership, remuneration even when not yet employed, scholarships, and better secular education. Most importantly, the provision of basic social amenities like electricity, potable water supply, housing, and quality training institutions will prevent brain drain and rural-urban drift.
Giving the youths attention means giving society rest, peace, and prosperity. The leadership of any state or nation that enthrones corruption, nepotism, tribalism, favoritism, selfishness, and egocentrism, diversion of public funds for personal use, will not experience peace and progress. Invariably, such leadership suffers all forms of unnecessary defenses for her misdeeds, misdemeanors, misbehaviors, misappropriation, and maladministration.
Hence, I personally advocate for good governance through youth inclusiveness for a peaceful, progressive, and prosperous society.
AMB. (DR.) NUHU SOLOMON ANYEGWU
* ECOWAS Youth Council Ambassador
* CommonWealth Society of Nigeria Ambassador
* United Nations Global (World) Peace Ambassador
Wrote from Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria, West Africa on 2024 International Youth Day Celebrations.