ECONOMIC REALITY; A WAY FORWARD FOR YOUTHS - BY ABDULWAHEED OLANIYI

Many youths have always been the victims of one challenge or the other in the society. In Nigeria, they are being shortchanged along their ways to the future which dream they have in mind. In fact, if they are referred to as ‘the future of the country,’ the response to such nomenclature would generate different doubts in their minds. It has been from one problem to the other right from the birth of the country, Nigeria.

The hope, sometime, looks bright but the realities of things in the country often confused many Nigerian youths into believing that their efforts are like pouring water in the basket. Many are graduates but no jobs. Many are intelligent but no right link to exhibit the same. Why?

Many youths in Nigeria today have one or two things to offer the society but the problem lies in how and when to start. Some think that Nigeria is not a good place for them to nurture their dream while some still believe that they can soar in the country far better than others while some have no dream at all either at home or abroad. The first group often waits for that angel who will take them out of the country.

They keep dreaming for a greener pasture outside the shore of the country. But many of them are often dejected at the end of the day because it is the same story they keep telling for years. These dejected ones, among the youths, often turn to internet fraudsters usually called ‘yahoo-yahoo.’ The ‘yahoo-yahoo’ boys keep killing their future by nurturing their youthful age in cybercrimes. But to the second group, their main problem lies in turning their dreams into realities. Many of them wait for the successful ones to help them, forgetting that those who are successful today have passed through the hard stage in life before achieving their goals.

To the third group, they do not have any plans to strive further in life.  Some of them have qualifications in one field or the other while some do not have college or university paper to show the world. Their only hope is that government will, one day, come to their rescue. Will  government come for all in just a single day?

However, there are some exceptional youths, among the second group, who believe in hitting the axe on the hard rock in order to fetch the honey they dream of in life. This group keeps moving forward every day because the society has known them for something worthwhile. In spite of their level of education, economic, or social background, some of them venture into agriculture, some into small scale business et cetera.

A lot of them are thriving today, not waiting for white collar job. Those who do not engage in agriculture or small business, are making use of modern technology to let the world know who they are and they are earning legitimately through social media. The income might not be much but they persevere through the hardship, and often, many of them are the beneficiaries of any opportunities that come their way.

For instance, last year, 2016, some Nigerian young entrepreneurs took another right step in their businesses—career—when the Facebook founder, Mark Elliot Zuckerberg, visited Nigeria to help some youths in their respective careers. The lucky ones were those who had started doing something prior to his arrival. What are you doing before your time comes?

Then in his statement, Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page thus: ‘Last stop of my trip: I’m in Abuja to meet Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice president Yemi Isinbajo.

‘We all met with entrepreneurs as part of Demo Day, an initiative for Nigerian Government to fund entrepreneurs with ideas for improving the country. We heard from engineers who are finding ways to reward people for recycling, designing ways to pick up trash easier, and using shuttles to improve commute in Lagos. This has been an inspiring trip. The energy and entrepreneurship in Nigeria… ‘

Although Nigeria was soaked in economic recession for over a year and the positive change has not come. The fact that Nigeria has been declared ‘out of recession’ this month, implies that there are opportunities for youths to start earning even when many are crying for low or unpaid salary.

The soft land is agriculture. Agriculture is one of the major solutions to this hardship in the country. One of the major things that people cry for in agriculture is food security. It is obvious that food is expensive in the country. Why?

A lot of the food stuffs are exported from the country while the ones produced locally are not enough for local consumption. This is a problem that people as well as the government are looking forward to proffering solution to. Now, the solution lies in the hands of those who can produce food or sell in large quantity.

Therefore, it is advisable for Nigerian youths who are looking for a sustainable source of income to venture into food production. Going into agriculture does not necessarily mean you go to the bush or village to farm. You can engage in agricultural trading, buying from the producer and sell, depending on your capacity. Everyone needs food. Start with the little amount you have and be consistent.

PHOTO CREDIT: youthforchange.org