Role of the Youths in the Realisation of MDG

Role of the Youths in the Realisation of MDG’S

Abubakar Magaji Buba

From time immemorial, the position and role of the Nigerian youth in the socio-economic and political development of the country has been that of a prime mover. This is because, the youths constitute the crust of the future generation and are perceived as vital instrument in repositioning the nations economy. Even though the patriotic commitment of nation building is the responsibility of all citizens, the youths who are more energetic and purpose –driven always stand at the center stage. If properly channeled and fully exploited, the innate potentials of the youths can be transformed as a means of development for the country.

As a signatory to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs’), Nigeria posses all the resources it takes to emerge in the global polity as one f the greatest economy by 2015. With a population of over 100 million people and a land mass that forms more than half of sub-Saharan Africa, the country is not only seen as the giant of Africa, but also the largest employer of labour.

In the struggle for liberation and national development, the youths who form the chunk of the country’s population (about 48% of the youths ages between 15-30 constitute the labour force of the country and have rendered valuable contribution to its development. In realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s), a lot can be done by the youths to liberate people from the shackles of poverty and general under-development. As pointed out b y the United Nations Development Project (UNDP), issues of self-reliance and nation building are seen as a process of enlarging peoples choices. These choices ranges from the need to a healthy life, education, access to portable water and to have resources needed to improve one’s standard of living.

The role of the Nigerian youth in the attainment of the MDG’s are varied and diverse. However, the level of commitment and disciple among our youth should be the first consideration if the nation is to forge ahead. The youths need to be sensitizing on the tenets of hard work and dedication as a means of bringing about efficiency and increased productivity in the country. A lot can be done in the aspect of value re-orientation for our youths by enlightening them on the virtue of cutting down on lateness to work, extravagance, corruption, absenteeism and unnecessary excuses that may slow the pace of production. The watchword is to remain resolute and steadfast in the pursuit for national greatness, prosperity and excellence in all endeavours of life. Even as a farmer or cobbler struggling to make ends meet in an ever-competitive environment, a resolve to work committedly to the improvement of your career can help move the nation forward. In realization of the Millennium Development Goals, talents of the youths can be productively harnessed and utilized to form the strong pillars upon which the nation is built. To put in your best towards the upliftment of your career can help move the nation higher and bring it closer to the realization of the MDG’s. However, the task of nation building does not just stop at a resolvement. The youths who are at the prime of their age should be charged to setout realistic goals and strive hard to achieve them within stipulated time. More importantly, the need for continuous improvement and adding value to existing conditions should be emphasized.

Moreso, the mindset of most of our youths towards government and its activities should be changed, and re-directed for greater performances. It is absolutely wrong to criticize government for everything that goes bad in the country. For instance when the pump price of fuel shoot up, it is always the government to blame. But, have you ever though of the economic lost the country normally incur due to the activities of pipeline vandals and militants in the Niger-delta region. In addition, the present rate of unemployment among our youths has been blamed on the inability of government to create employment opportunities. Infact, the high rate of crime and general insecurity been experienced in the country have been attributed to unemployment. The watch word is to work hard and put in your best in your career in order to move the nation closer to the attainment of the MDG’s.

No doubt, the government has its flaws and blemishes in the discharge of its responsibility to Nigerians, but we must appreciate the effort put in place to revamp the economy. As youths, what have we done either collectively or individually to ensure that the burden of nation building is not saddled entirely on the government? Should we continue to rely on government to satisfy even the smallest of our need? I say “no” to that. What we have to do is to be focused in our bid to bring about change in the country, and rely less on government by seeking alternative way to meeting our needs. It should not be a case of what Nigeria can do for us as youths, but what we can do for Nigeria.

The first goal in the MDG’s is the reduction of extreme poverty and hunger. One of the strong concerns among patriotic Nigerians of different shades of opinion is the possibility of reducing at least by half the number of poor people in the country before the stipulated time frame of 2015 considering the many woes of the nation’s economy. They posit that poverty cannot be reduced in Nigeria even in the next generation to come. As an optimist and a careful observer of trends in the country, especially since the inception of democratic rule 9 years ago. I disagree completely indeed extreme poverty can be reduced if only the right strategies are put in place.

The youths can be enlightened on the need for skill acquisition, farming and learning of various trade as a means of becoming self reliant, instead of wallowing away in the labour market for non-existing white collar jobs. When the youths are empowered and equip with the necessary information needed to fight the multi-pronged nature of poverty, other cardinal Millennium Development Goals such as improving on maternal health, reducing infant mortality among others will be greatly reduced too. Empowerment can come in the form of granting credit facilities to youths who are willing to start-up their own businesses, organizing skill acquisition workshops, encouraging the youths to embrace farming practices and mainstreaming them in the decision making process of the country.

Investigations have revealed that more than 40% of HIV/AIDS cases in Nigeria occur in the youths who are perceived as being most sexually active and prone to exhibiting risky sexual behaviour due to youthful exuberance. As typical of most Nigerian youths, engaging in pre-marital sex is seen as a normal practice nowadays. The situation has led to a decay in our traditional moral system. Youths now perceive the indulgence in sex as a right and not a privilege that is suppose to be the exclusive reserve of married people. Be that as it may, the youths can still contribute positively to the reduction of HIV/AIDS scourge in Nigeria. As advocated by the National Agency for the control of AIDS (NACA), the A-B-C rule of HIV/AIDS prevention should be adopted by the Nigerian youths. The first rule is to abstain completely from sex, while avoiding all form of risky sexual behaviour that may expose one to contracting AIDs. In other words, Zip-up. The second golden rule is to remain faithful to ones partner. As argued by some people.

It maybe difficult to abstain totally from sex, citing the popular pidgin saying that “man body no be wood”. In such instance, the best advice to youths who feel they cannot abstain from sex or stick to one sexual partner is to simply condomise. The use of condom can prevent youths from contracting the deadly AIDS virus and other sexually transmitted infection. But more importantly, spreading the message of HIV/AIDs prevention and control to other people should be the focus of the Nigerian youth. They can champion the course for a HIV/AIDs free Nigeria by embarking on massive sensitization workshop campaign, street/market rally, organizing seminars and workshops on prevention and control of the disease etc.

The negative activities of man on his environment have led to depletion in the flora and fauna potentials of the country. Of the 92,000 hectares of forestland hitherto present in the country some decades ago, only half still remain for further exploitation due to deforestation. Cases of Malaria, Typhoid, Cholera, Diarrhea and other diseases related with habitating in an unhealthy environment have been on the increase. The upsurge industrialization in petroleum exploration in Nigeria has led to oil spillage, gas flaring, and destruction of the biosphere in most parts of the Niger-Delta region and emission of Green house gas which ultimately result in global warming. The list of woes is endless. As a way of reversing this ugly trend, the youths need to develop a good environmental consciousness by devising proper system of waste disposal, conservation of unique habitats, engage in tree planting campaign, etc. They can also embark on community development services by clearing up blocked drainages and gutters as a means of reducing the spread of Malaria and other diseases, while ensuring environmental sustainability (Goal 6 and 7)

Attainment of the Millennium Development Goals cannot be assured in Nigerian when women are relegated to the background. Studies have indicated that it takes the joint effort of both sexes to bring about change in society. Are you among the people who still talk women down and consider them weaker vessels who are only good in the kitchen and bedroom? Well women have proved beyond all reasonable doubt that they can also contribute their own quota towards the development of the country. Even though the country have not fared well in meeting the 30% women representation as defined in the Beijing declaration, the youths can still stir a new course in ensuring gender balance and empowerment of women. The first challenge is to change our perception and mind set towards women and consider them as partners in progress. As against wide held argument by conservatives and people who misunderstood the doctrines of the scripture, women also have equal opportunities as their male counterparts. As future leaders, the youths should not be cajoled into accepting the old traditional norms, which look down on women as “liability”. They should be willing to work as a team with the women folks at all times.

Indeed the role of the Nigerian in the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals cannot be over emphasized. They can be useful in transforming some of the ills thwarting against development in the country by redirecting their effort to purposeful ventures.