Youths across the Nigerian states have taken to the social media to refute President Muhammadu Buhari's statement. While the president might not be right, the president is not entirely wrong either.

Nigeria has the largest youth population in Africa and one of the largest in the world but the youths have failed the nation and continued to do so without realization, and without realization, there is no actualization.

"We have a very young population. More than 60% of the population is below the age of 30. A lot of them haven't been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria has been an oil-producing country, therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, healthcare, education free," said president Muhammadu Buhari during Commonwealth event in London.

In America, Europe, Asia, etc youths are the backbone of the economy, governance and most importantly dictate the path to the future. Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Jeff Bezos, Emmanuel Macron, Sebastian Kurz, Larry Page, Jack Ma, etc disrupted their industries by charting a new course for national and global growth. But in Nigeria, youths have been successfully undermined and relegated to the bottom by the old, one percent, who strategically picked few youths and empowered them to fight tooth and nail to defend their positions.

It is illogical to blame economic rout on the old, one percent, when the youths have always been part of leadership. The youths were part of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accused of rigging elections, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation fingered in over twenty billion dollars fraud, over seventeen billion naira was allegedly siphoned by Abdulrasheed Maina through Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), even Reno Omokri was Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan, while Fani Kayode was the Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo, later appointed the Minister of Culture and Tourism, before becoming the Minister of Aviation in 2007. Femi Adesina is the present special adviser on media and publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The question is why are they not speaking when it matters? Simple, you don't talk while eating.

It is a shame that the best response Nigerian youths have for the president were pictures of university graduates selling charcoal, painting, riding Keke Napep and Uber, that is working hard. The youths need to start working smart. Travis Kalanick was 32 when he co-founded Uber with a 30-year-old Garrett Camp. If there is anything the pictures depicted, it is the fact that Nigerian youths have now accepted their position, and proudly so!

In Rwanda, the youths took charge by voting 43 years old Paul Kagame in 2000 after one of the goriest genocides in the history. But eighteen years later, Rwanda emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in Africa with the economy growing at eight percent rate between 2001 and 2014 and predicted to grow at six percent in 2018 by the International Monetary Fund despite global economic uncertainty that plunged Nigeria into her first economic recession in twenty-five years. The nation has since reduced the percentage of people living below poverty line and substantially cut down its gender inequality with about 63.8 percent women in parliament.

Liberian youths have started their own change by voting in George Weah, when will Nigerian youths realize they are the change and not APC or PDP?

There is no era better equipped than the current Nigerian generation, with internet penetration higher than the global average, Nigerian youths are more informed than ever. Still, they are the most oppressed by any administration, the current administration allocated seven percent (N605.8 billion) of 2018 budget to education, about N435.1 billion of that amount is meant for recurrent expenditure while N61.73 billion was appropriated for capital expenditure. Meaning, mere N108.97 billion ($356.2 million) of 8.6 trillion was allocated to the sector in 2018 in a nation of almost 198 million people. While nations like Rwanda allocated 17 percent, and in South Africa, Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba declared education of South Africa's youth as one of the top three national priorities in 2018, a total of 792 billion rands ($66 billion) in aggregate will be spent on basic education over the medium term. A nation of approximately 56 million people, yet no youth is screaming injustice in Nigeria. Maybe that is even why our graduates are proud riders!

Youth unemployment and underemployment rose from 47 percent to 52.65 percent in 2017, in a nation where youth constitute the largest workforce. 52.65 percent of them are either, jobless, unhappy, Boko Haram members, Kidnappers, Baddo members or even militants. Still, no youth is speaking up as celebrities and the few others they were gainfully employed are too scared to lose their jobs or endorsements. Forgetting that lack of economic productivity is the reason they are not selling out stadiums or getting pay rise like the rest of the world.

Low wages, high unemployment rate, and uneven wealth distribution will always result in low consumer spending, it doesn't matter how hardworking you are or the number of pictures that prove so, consumer buying power is low. Konga, Jumia, etc are perfect examples.

Despite the obvious, the youths will once again vote in their usual manner, where tribe, party affiliation, and medium to long-term gain govern decision making. A situation where the future of tomorrow can no longer aspire because dreams are now expensive and only available to the kids of the oppressor, yet the children of the oppressed are the tools used in keeping oppressor's dream alive. Next election, the children of the oppressed will once again be equipped to rig and protect the dream of the oppressor.

Until youths from the North to South, the East to West realized they are victims of a system built to intellectually suppressed and incapacitate them through tribal bigotry they will be seen as lazy and unfit to play a key role in modern world. Let’s upset them, get your PVC!

http://investorsking.com/nigerian-youths-are-not-lazy-but-intellectually-suppressed/ mynd44

So the old men who are intellectually liberated, how have they succeeded in moving the country to greater heights?


Be properly guided op.

who is more lazy between the youth and Yusuf Buhari, the lazy president son who does nothing than racing bike

Cutehector:
So the old men who are intellectually liberated, how have they succeeded in moving the country to greater heights?


Be properly guided op.

Did the old fall from heaven? Were they not products of the same system? If care is not taken, it will be a cyclical thing and I am sure you didn't read the post. Nigerian youth!

gafaromoolabisi:
who is more lazy between the youth and Yusuf Buhari, the lazy president son who does nothing than racing bike

The youth needs to start reading between the lines and work smart.

The youths are busy chasing shadows while their dreams are being ended abruptly in broad day light.

Amoto94:
The youths are busy chasing shadows while their dreams are being ended abruptly in broad day light.

Still, they can see it. Sad!

Well said. Provoking piece.
What's the meaning of "Graduates are proud riders!?"

The truth of the matter is we know the president is right but choosing a foreign press to damage the image of Nigerians is a No-no.
That said, it's a daring call for the youths to stop playing ludo and chess and upgrade to the game of thrones (pun intended). We need to start showing our resilience not only in business and social media but especially where it matters most, in governance and politics.

It has to start immediately from elections. In fact it would be a complete disgrace if an old relic becomes president again.
Hope Donald Duke and Fashola know a lot of the youths in this country are counting on them.

pressplay411:
Well said. Provoking piece.
What's the meaning of "Graduates are proud riders!?"

A lot of youths/graduates started posting pictures of them in Napep, Uber etc in response to Buhari's comment to show how hardworking they are but as we all know national building goes beyond hardworking. If hardworking is all there is to economic productivity and growth, our forefathers would have built eutopia, trust me they are the definition of hard work.

I have read the controversial speech by Mr. President and the heated reactions from us. However, one thing I know is that Nigerian youths are physically hardworking but intellectually lazy. Unfortuantely, the later is what makes one successful and grows the economy.

In Nigeria we have the most intelligent youths in the world. Is Buhari blind to see how Nigerian youth prosper when they are outside Nigeria creating history in technology. and even in exercise.
The truth is that President Buhari has nothing to offer. What has his children achieved and what has he himself achieved since his life. Absolutely nothing so for me am not surprised at his speech.
Empty drums makes the largest noise

Truth234:


A lot of youths/graduates started posting pictures of them in Napep, Uber etc in response to Buhari's comment to show how hardworking they are but as we all know national building goes beyond hardworking. If hardworking is all there is to economic productivity and growth, our forefathers would have built eutopia, trust me they are the definition of hard work.

True. Like we have a lot of glorified bricklayers but not architects and engineers.
The system destroyed the youths dreams and ambitions leaving majority with little option than survival.
We have work to do. We have to start voicing out not only with memes and tweets but in actions. We need to get to the Senates with placards protesting.

glasshouse:
In Nigeria we have the most intelligent youths in the world. Is Buhari blind to see how Nigerian youth prosper when they are outside Nigeria creating history in technology. and even in exercise.
The truth is that President Buhari has nothing to offer. What has his children achieved and what has he himself achieved since his life. Absolutely nothing so for me am not surprised at his speech.
Empty drums makes the largest noise

Exactly. Nigerians in the disapora are proof that all the Nigerian youth needs is an enabling system.

TruthisGOD:
I have read the controversial speech by Mr. President and the heated reactions from us. However, one thing I know is that Nigerian youths are physically hardworking but intellectually lazy. Unfortuantely, the later is what makes one successful and grows the economy.

Exactly my point, the youths have been strategically incapacitated and forced to believe with menial jobs they can build an economy. The truth is one multinational corporation will create far more jobs than all the shops in computer village or alaba put together.

pressplay411:


True. Like we have a lot of glorified bricklayers but not architects and engineers.
The system destroyed the youths dreams and ambitions leaving majority with little option than survival.
We have work to do. We have to start voicing out not only with memes and tweets but in actions. We need to get to the Senates with placards protesting.

God bless you, the work is not on social media, but real disruption of the old primitive system used in suppressing us.

glasshouse:
In Nigeria we have the most intelligent youths in the world. Is Buhari blind to see how Nigerian youth prosper when they are outside Nigeria creating history in technology. and even in exercise.
The truth is that President Buhari has nothing to offer. What has his children achieved and what has he himself achieved since his life. Absolutely nothing so for me am not surprised at his speech.
Empty drums makes the largest noise

The problem is we don't know where to channel our anger, they've successful broke most of us. The problem is not Buhari but the youth that voted him in power will still fight to keep him there.

Those youths abroad and not raised by a broken system but some of the best in the world, when Anthony Joshua was been uncontrollable didn't the British channel his energy into boxing? He is now one step closer to becoming the only undisputed 5 belts champion, generating millions for the British tourism ministry. Oga Seun this suppose dey ft page o.

Truth234:


Exactly my point, the youths have been strategically incapacitated and forced to believe with menial jobs they can build an economy. The truth is one multinational corporation will create far more jobs than all the shops in computer village or alaba put together.

Very true. My interactions with the youths in the area of bright business idea has shown me that our youth can't think out of the box even the well educated ones. Most of them thought that they can only practice what the read in the university by only working in the industry but that is a very wrong assertion. Marcel and Dowel shlumberger did it without working in an industry. It is now the best oil servicing company you can think of. One might argue that US goverment provided the needed infrastructure for them to thrive and I'll advise you to read their history to understand better.

TruthisGOD:
Very true. My interactions with the youths in the area of bright business idea has shown me that our youth can't think out of the box even the well educated ones. Most of them thought that they can only practice what the read in the university by only working in the industry but that is a very wrong assertion. Marcel and Dowel shlumberger did it without working in an industry. It is now the best oil servicing company you can think of. One might argue that US goverment provided the needed infrastructure for them to thrive and I'll advise you to read their history to understand better.

Even the infrastructures were built by the youths, the American youths are building a new set of infrastructure now. Google Palantir co-founded by Peter Thiel, the same guy that gave us Paypal, and the first Facebook investor.

Amazon pushing the limit with cloud computing, IBM data analytics, Facebook, Apple, Google, etc pushing Artificial Intelligence. Until, we understand how big of a task we have as African youths, we won't breakout.

Truth234:


Even the infrastructures were built by the youths, the American youths are building a new set of infrastructure now. Google Palantir co-founded by Peter Thiel, the same guy that gave us Paypal, and the first Facebook investor.

Amazon pushing the limit with cloud computing, IBM data analytics, Facebook, Apple, Google, etc pushing Artificial Intelligence. Until, we understand how big of a task we have as African youths, we won't breakout.

Until the emphasis shifts from "youth" to ideas and institutional frameworks, the breakout you want will never occur. How old were Gowon, Murtala, Abacha and Babangida when they first became involved in power politics in 1966? How old was James Ibori when he began his thieving? How old was Yahaya Bello when he started to run his state into the ground? How old are all of the "Yahoo Boys" we see being celebrated on the front page of this very website for having "hammered" (i.e. stolen the savings of some old or less intelligent people in foreign countries)?

To be honest, I'm fed up with the whole nonsensical obsession with "youth", as I all see in it is Nigerians hopping on yet another bandwagon they hope will deliver them to the promised land without requiring from them any painful changes or uncomfortable introspection. The tribalism, corruption, selfishness and ignorance that have led Nigeria down the drain are every bit as prevalent in the younger generations as the old, so what is to be achieved by simply handing over power to said "youths" other than giving a new set of parasites the chance to feed off oil rents?

Simply shouting "YOUTH" over and over simply isn't enough. Macron, Trudeau and Obama brought more to the table than just their ages, they had real ideas, well-formulated and carefully explained, detailed programs for what they intended to do with power once they got it, and not just the usual "pie in the sky" puffery that passes for a "manifesto" in this joke of a country. If we devoted even 10% of the energy currently going into agitating for "youth" into discussing political and economic ideas, Nigeria would be massively better off for it, but most Nigerians are as intellectually lazy as they are unschooled, and prefer to waste time on "young vs old", "northerner vs southerner" or "Hausa vs Igbo vs Yoruba" crap that will never improve their lives.

omohayek:

Until the emphasis shifts from "youth" to ideas and institutional frameworks, the breakout you want will never occur. How old were Gowon, Murtala, Abacha and Babangida when they first became involved in power politics in 1966? How old was James Ibori when he began his thieving? How old was Yahaya Bello when he started to run his state into the ground? How old are all of the "Yahoo Boys" we see being celebrated on the front page of this very website for having "hammered" (i.e. stolen the savings of some old or less intelligent people in foreign countries)?

To be honest, I'm fed up with the whole nonsensical obsession with "youth", as I all see in it is Nigerians hopping on yet another bandwagon they hope will deliver them to the promised land without requiring from them any painful changes or uncomfortable introspection. The tribalism, corruption, selfishness and ignorance that have led Nigeria down the drain are every bit as prevalent in the younger generations as the old, so what is to be achieved by simply handing over power to said "youths" other than giving a new set of parasites the chance to feed off oil rents?

Simply shouting "YOUTH" over and over simply isn't enough. Macron, Trudeau and Obama brought more to the table than just their ages, they had real ideas, well-formulated and carefully explained, detailed programs for what they intended to do with power once they got it, and not just the usual "pie in the sky" puffery that passes for a "manifesto" in this joke of a country. If we devoted even 10% of the energy currently going into agitating for "youth" into discussing political and economic ideas, Nigeria would be massively better off for it, but most Nigerians are as intellectually lazy as they are unschooled, and prefer to waste time on "young vs old", "northerner vs southerner" or "Hausa vs Igbo vs Yoruba" crap that will never improve their lives.

I think we are missing the point, Obama, Macron, Trudeau, Sebastian, etc were trained and prepared by the system they eventually managed. It will be wrong to judge Nigerian youths with the same yardstick.

Again, Africa has the largest youth population in the world. Hence, placing Nigeria at the front of global discuss just like it happened in Asia in 80s, countries like China broke away from communism, embraced globalization and empowered the youths by formulating accommodative monetary policy. 30 years later China became the second largest economy in the world.

If you read Bill Gates' 2016 lecture delivered at the University of Pretoria during Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, you will understand while the emphasis on youths population is key in national building. This not about handling power to them but giving them an enabling platform thrive, especially now that they are the ones that can use technology to make most of these things happen.

There is this proverb from my locals. It goes thus," Owo ohar,re egweya osio oni re whro".

Translation: The one that throws insult to the towns women, doesn't exclude his or her mum.


Going by that classic proverb, what the Op done differently to improve the economy and the country at large?

Robisky001:
There is this proverb from my locals. It goes thus," Owo ohar,re egweya osio oni re whro".

Translation: The one that throws insult to the towns women, doesn't exclude his or her mum.


Going by that classic proverb, what the Op done differently to improve the economy and the country at large?

You will be shocked. Putting Nigeria on global stage, abi na beans to be cited in Harvard? Contributing author on one of the biggest financial media in the world. It takes certain depth to craft that piece.

Truth234:


I think we are missing the point, Obama, Macron, Trudeau, Sebastian, etc were trained and prepared by the system they eventually managed. It will be wrong to judge Nigerian youths with the same yardstick.

I am a product of the very same system as all these "Nigerian youths" you're making excuses for, so I don't accept your reasoning in the slightest. Even before the internet was available, we had satellite TV and foreign magazines like The Economist and Newsweek, so there has always been the opportunity to expose oneself to developments elsewhere if one had the interest. Even then most of my peers didn't, and nothing has changed today, even with cheap and ubiquitous internet access. Every single day I see Nairalanders spouting nonsense that is easily refuted by a simple Google search, or asking basic questions that are easily answerable by the same means which they have on their smartphones, but even that much effort is too much for most of them.

Again, Africa has the largest youth population in the world. Hence, placing Nigeria at the front of global discuss just like it happened in Asia in 80s, countries like China broke away from communism, embraced globalization and empowered the youths by formulating accommodative monetary policy. 30 years later China became the second largest economy in the world.

I'm sorry, but the above only goes to show how little you know of, or understand about, China's economic transformation. I suggest you do a Wikipedia search and read, because you've said nothing meaningful here. The phrase "empowered the youths by formulating accommodative monetary policy" is literally meaningless, and in any case monetary policy has had little to do with China's economic growth - as you'd know if you bothered to read any of the numerous research papers on the topic that are freely available via Google Scholar or similar sites.

If you read Bill Gates' 2016 lecture delivered at the University of Pretoria during Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, you will understand while the emphasis on youths population is key in national building. This not about handling power to them but giving them an enabling platform thrive, especially now that they are the ones that can use technology to make most of these things happen.

Again, more half-learning at best, dressed up in flowery but empty language. You don't have the first clue about what it takes to deliver economic growth. Here is an actual book on the subject, written by an actual expert, on the off-chance that you're more serious than the majority of Nigerians who think using big words they don't understand can cover up their lack of hard knowledge.

omohayek:

I am a product of the very same system as all these "Nigerian youths" you're making excuses for, so I don't accept your reasoning in the slightest. Even before the internet was available, we had satellite TV and foreign magazines like The Economist and Newsweek, so there has always been the opportunity to expose oneself to developments elsewhere if one had the interest. Even then most of my peers didn't, and nothing has changed today, even with cheap and ubiquitous internet access. Every single day I see Nairalanders spouting nonsense that is easily refuted by a simple Google search, or asking basic questions that are easily answerable by the same means which they have on their smartphones, but even that much effort is too much for most of them.


I'm sorry, but the above only goes to show how little you know of, or understand about, China's economic transformation. I suggest you do a Wikipedia search and read, because you've said nothing meaningful here. The phrase "empowered the youths by formulating accommodative monetary policy" is literally meaningless, and in any case monetary policy has had little to do with China's economic growth - as you'd know if you bothered to read any of the numerous research papers on the topic that are freely available via Google Scholar or similar sites.


Again, more half-learning at best, dressed up in flowery but empty language. You don't have the first clue about what it takes to deliver economic growth. Here is an actual book on the subject, written by an actual expert, on the off-chance that you're more serious than the majority of Nigerians who think using big words they don't understand can cover up their lack of hard knowledge.

How old are you?