From ‘Lazy’ to Leading: Redefining the African Youth Narrative”
Many Nigerian youths felt offended by the words spoken (You are lazy) by the President. The aim is to motivate them to buckle up, apply for jobs, take leadership roles, and thrive. Many would ask if the word “Lazy Youth” serves as a motivator, but I would say no; rather, the word is more of an insult, stirring up anger among the youth. As much as it did not motivate the youth, it exposed the reality that remains: platforms promoting youth engagement in governance, finance, engineering, education, and all sectors are limited, inaccessible, or unavailable.
Youth question the country's structure and economy, and it is not inclusive for them to exercise their skills and passion for development. Graduates do not see the possibility of getting a job or starting up a business that can earn them at least $50 monthly. While it became the norm that being employed by either the state or federal government is the best way of survival that guarantees job security and opportunities, youth, however, are rarely employed in the public service. They only have the option of being employed in the public sector through high-authority referrals or job purchasing. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports that the youth unemployment rate (15-35 years) was 18.4% in Q1 2024. This indicates a persistent problem with joblessness among young Nigerians, further reflected in the low participation of youth in governance or decision-making.
A volunteer exercising environmental cleaning for a social cause.
As seen in Nigeria, this is most likely the case and reality in most African countries. Despite the advocacy campaigns and initiatives developed by the African Union and several international and national organizations, Youth engagement in decision-making processes, governance, peace, and security is still limited. Marginalized youths are not aware of the opportunities or platforms to voice and build their future, as they are not sensitized to the importance of such campaigns. Many of the marginalized youth are easily manipulated or radicalized into violence and thuggery, thereby diminishing their hope and future. Would they be blamed? Not at all; they live in communities where their only focus is to fend for daily bread and survival; therefore, such a campaign is less important to them. Hitherto, more awareness is required to bring marginalized youth into the campaign while addressing factors that could hinder youth engagement, such as passion (willingness), poverty, and illiteracy.
On the other hand, to reduce the unemployment rate, an awareness campaign on volunteering that goes beyond “what do I get in return for doing this?” should be raised. I have had several encounters with many youth who are not willing to volunteer, either because of expenses or because they do not see a reason. Youth are not aware of the benefits, connections, and network volunteerism provides; it is important to encourage it within society, as this drives youth to engage in social causes without monetary remuneration. The act of volunteerism makes passionate youth engage in social initiatives and enhances their knowledge, with the ultimate goal of contributing to their personal growth and societal and economic development. From the picture above, the young lady decided to volunteer on a Sustainable Development Goals 3 & 6 project for an organization. This act, her dedication, and several volunteering engagements got her a paid position. While this blog post supports acts of service (volunteerism), it also advocates for equal and standard payment of wages when due. Thus, as little as this is, volunteering cultivates and fosters the spirit of meaningful engagement among youth.
With optimism, I believe that meaningful youth engagement is a game changer to reduce violence, thuggery, insecurity, and rape while promoting peace and security and sustainable and human development. Measures such as capacity-building training, fellowship opportunities with like-minded youth to drive innovative solutions, youth-based conferences and seminars, and volunteer opportunities should be encouraged at all levels for youth. These measures, in turn, change their mindset, build hope within them, provide a network, and breed new, innovative ideas and actions that will further impact lives and societies. As the impact of meaningful youth engagement can not be underestimated, it is therefore important to have a balanced structure from the government and the youth in order to achieve sustainability.
