Take The Bull by Its Horn

Unarguably Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world, if not one of the richest in human capital and natural resources. The huge population of over 180 million people is credited to youth bulge in the country. Young people (aged 18 – 35 years) account for more than 60 percent of Nigeria’s population. While over 1.8 million people enter the job market annually, a recent survey by Jobberman indicate that 47 percent of University graduates in Africa’s largest economy are unemployed, as graduate turnout outspace graduate employment rate over the years.

The political space from time have seen the engagement of young people pivoting impacting social change. For instance, Nigeria’s pre-independence era saw young and vibrant Nigerians as key actors for the independence call including the likes of Dr. Herbert Macualey, Ernest Ikoli, Chief H.O Davies, J.C Vaughan, Oba Samuel Akinsanya, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. In fact, Anthony Enahoro at age 30 moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence in 1953.
 

Forward to the emergence of democracy in 1999. The 18 years of practicing democratic governance in Nigeria is unequivocally a testimony of youth in passive political electioneering. All along these years, there has been repeated cases of alienation and lack of platforms for youth, to be a voice at key decision-making instance, particularly, on issues directly affecting the youth constituency.

On the part of young people, we spent time on talkathon than to act-the-talk -such flimsy attitude we borrowed from our leadership. Nevertheless, the youth have come to realize the need to advance from wailing and act instead. This decisiveness birthed the consciousness to take on a coded intellectual war, hence, the emergence of the #NotTooYoungToRun Campaign championing the #NotTooYoungToRun and/or Age Reduction Bill. The Bill seek to reduce the constitutional age requirement to run for elective offices in Nigeria as well as mainstream independent candidacy into Nigeria’s electoral laws. The Bill with gazette number HB. 544 seek to alter sections 65, 106, 131, 177 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), to reduce the age qualification for the Office of the President from 40 years to 30 years; Governor 35 to 30; Senate 35 to 30; House of Representatives 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly 30 to 25. 

It is widely accepted that “leadership is a call to responsibility”. Having youth become actively involved in core decision-making and ensuring accountable implementation is a direct cure to the ticking time-bomb of youth unemployment and restiveness in Nigeria.

 One would attest with me that jobs in the 21^st century are not a functionality of industrial revolutions. We have witnessed the Indian investment in Information and communication technology boost job creation. China also have invested appreciably in sports to boost youth employment while tourism and Agriculture are hubs for expansive entrepreneurial development. These area viable sectors but with poor investment in Nigeria.

Presently, Nigeria policies do not promote access and lack manpower in the 21st century job sectors. This deficiency could be attributed to the fact that ideologies of most politicians and policy makers are yet to conceptualize opportunities embedded in the 21st century jobs largely because they are not directly wearing the shoes and would therefore, not know where it pinches. Therefore, young people in Nigeria now and urgently requires youth representation at all key decision-making platforms, who understands the needs and dynamism of the 21st century Nigerian.

 To an advantage, the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill now capped as “Age Reduction Bill” will;

• Promote inclusion: for democracy to thrive, a level playing field must be allowed for all citizens. Thus, the Bill will guarantee equal opportunity and active participation of youth (who are over 60 percent of Nigeria’s population) in political process. Thereby promoting franchise in Nigeria’s democratic system.
• Enhance democratic development, by harnessing the resourcefulness of young people for improve governance and development at local, state and national levels
• Deepen intergenerational dialogue: this is not to push out the adult but to promote knowledge transfer and build youth-adult partnership.
• Reduce political violence and instability; this is true in the sense that opening up the political space for youth to contest will increase patriotism quotient, instill national pride in youth and reduce incidences of youth involvement in violence and other vices.
• Enhance competitive politics; with this Bill passed, the dynamism, energy, innovation and resilience of youth will add up to competitive and issue-based politics in Nigeria, as well as
• Ensure right to political participation.

 Act Now:

Passing a Bill to law requires various stringent legislative processes.

The Bill has successfully scaled through the different legislative processes and currently transmitted by the National to all State House of Assemblies in Nigeria.

The Legislators at State levels, young people, all stakeholders interested in the development of young people, curbing crime and restiveness, building a peaceful and cultured society as well promote diversified entrepreneurship and innovations, must rise in one voice to support the passage of the "Age Reduction" clause (Not Too Young To Run) in the current constitution amendment process.

This is historic and a generational legacy that we cannot afford to let it slip down the drain. Let us stand up enmasse and support the passage of the "Age Reduction (#NotTooYoungToRun) Bill. Join the campaign Groups in all the 36 State across Nigeria

Long Live the #NotTooYoungToRun

Long Live Nigerian Youth

Long live all supporters of this Bill

Global Humanitarian Crisis

The number of people affected by humanitarian crises has almost doubled in the past decade. The United Nations and its partners continue to respond to humanitarian needs and emergencies resulting from conflict and/or global challenges such as climate change and environmental degradation.

The UN system is currently responding to four 'L3' emergencies.  They are: in Iraq, where the surge in violence between armed groups and government forces has resulted in an estimated 1.9 million internally displaced people across Iraq and left hundreds of thousands of people in need of assistance; in Syria, where millions of people are in need of humanitarian assistance, where many are trapped in hard to reach areas and more than US$ 5 billion is still needed in 2014 to meet the most urgent needs; in the Central African Republic, where over the past year, the country has experienced a major political crisis which has resulted in a violent conflict that has affected nearly the entire population and has left some 2.5 million people, over half the population, in dire need of assistance; and in South Sudan, where 1.7 million people have been displaced and around 4 million face alarming food insecurity as a result of the fighting that started in December 2013.

Other critical concentration areas include Burundi political crises, Nepal Earthquake, West Africa Ebola outbreak, Somalia and Central American drought.

Nearly 85 percent of the world’s young people live in developing countries, where most humanitarian crises occur. However, the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of these young people are widely unmet. Natural and man-made emergencies can disrupt the family, social, and economic structures that young people depend on, placing them at risk of poverty, violence, and sexual exploitation and abuse. In situations where education and health services are lacking or have been suspended, young people are left without access to SRH information and services and at the same time face higher SRH risks, such as substance abuse, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV infection, unwanted pregnancy, and unsafe abortion.

In response to these crises, new actors have taken a larger part in humanitarian action and various partnership models have arisen, including cash-transfer programmes and remote management of operations by using local organizations and partners to deliver assistance. The rising scale of needs, the persistence of protracted crises and the interplay of new risks have led to a continued global deficit in the capacity of Governments and humanitarian organizations to respond, suggesting a need for a shift in the way in which Member States and the United Nations and its partners prepare for and respond to humanitarian crises towards a more anticipatory approach.

POTENTIAL SOLUTION

Young people are often seriously affected when disasters strikes and can face severe difficulties in coping with unexpected and traumatic interruptions to their lives. But despite this, the world’s youth are also the very people who can teach their communities - and the wider world - how to reduce the risks and impact of disasters. Young people are unmatched by any other demographic group in their ability to bring about meaningful change in social behaviour and attitudes. We must not underestimate their potential to make a real difference in the time of disasters.

Young people must be their unique role and the value they can provide as innovators, inter-cultural ambassadors, peer-to-peer facilitators, community mobilizers, and advocates for vulnerable people.

A call to be committed to working on disaster preparedness, response and recovery, including innovative solutions in areas such as psychosocial support, advocacy for climate change adaptation, food security, and access to safe and clean water.

Youth networks are to play critical roles to raise awareness amongst children and young people about the problems caused by climate change, provided them with necessary training, and mobilized them as  agents of change in building the resilience of the communities to recurring drought and famine.

These are just some examples of what can be achieved when children and young people  become aware of their responsibilities and  potential to take an active part in the global efforts to resolve serious problems faced by humanity.

CONCLUSION

Each humanitarian disaster has its own set of challenges, and must be responded to accordingly. Phenomena such as unplanned urbanization, under-development, poverty and climate change are all factors that can make humanitarian emergencies more complex, frequent and/or severe.

As the international community prepares for post-2015 development and disaster risk reduction frameworks and the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, it will be important to recognize that development cannot be sustainable unless the risk of crises is addressed proactively as a joint priority.

Global challenges, such as climate change, environmental degradation, rapid population growth and unplanned urbanization, are all contributing to people's increasing vulnerability to natural disasters. These trends will alter the landscape of future environmental disasters and humanitarian crises. There is a critical need to help countries and communities to better adapt and quickly recover when such emergencies occur.  2015 marks the launch of post-2015 global agreement on sustainable development, disaster risk reduction and climate change. In 2016, the World Humanitarian Summit will develop the outcomes of these processes, exploring how humanitarian needs can be tackled in a fast-changing world

Future of Energy

It is pertinent to note that the place of #energy in the global system cannot be over-emphasized. Presently, the source of globally energy dependence has contributed massive to environmental degradation and other negative effects including climate change, depletion of ozone layer, oil spillage, and acid rain.

We cannot however, continue to depend fully on energy source that on the other hand, do not support the ecosystem, therefore, the need to develop alternative energy sources which supports the environment with sustainable features. Already we have sources like solar and wind-mill which if utilized would significantly reduce the level of environmental degradation we currently face.

Currently, one major challenge with renewable energy is building its supply capacity to support heavy industrial and manufacturing sectors.

In overcoming the foreseeing challenges that accompany the utilization of renewable energy, we would require technological research to foster innovations where renewable energy could be able to power heavy industries. Furthermore, there is urgent need for political leaders, corporate organizations and CEOs especially from OPEC countries to think #diversification and #reinvestment of oil income in #renewable energy. This is a solution that requires committed rework.

African Youth Renaissance

Present ‪#‎African‬ youths must be alert and open their eyes to the reality on ground. Centuries ago, ‪#‎Portuguese‬, ‪#‎French‬ and ‪#‎Britons‬ gave our ancestors options on cruelty, using high level weapons of war to conquer, oppress and forcefully march Africans across oceans into slavery. In time, they now began to shift ideology and keyed into tricks of decolonization in pretence of leaving Africa.

From all indications, smart Africans would agree with me that much more than a stint of colonization is still seriously eating up Africa's growth and development. We are made to become spectators when it comes to control of our natural resources. Our leaders have been so maneuvered that they lost all catalyst that would promote internal democratization and good governance. We have been tuned to believe that the best only comes from abroad.

Dear African youths, lets look inward to see how blessed a continent we've got both in human capital and natural endowment, creativity, prowess, tenacity, courage and politeness of the African. We must as a generation rise up to the challenge of nation building, work together and fault the negative actions of our fore-bearers and even the present leaderships.

Answers to African challenges do not necessarily depend on the ‪#‎UN‬; we do not necessarily have to depend of foreign aid; what about the ‪#‎AU‬? what about all the income from our exports; what about the funds that these so called experts have syphon from our treasury? They are bribing us with peanuts and tactically draining Africa.

Let's check for instance, in all African countries where extractive companies are operated by multi-national companies (like ‪#‎ExxonMobil‬,‪#‎Shell‬, etc in Nigeria), has there been any Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) duly adhered to? None, not in any African country. Instead, the host communities are in dire hardship and poverty caused by the effect of the activities of these companies.

No hope in the wings of our current leaders for they've been used and reused. They are just playing a script.

However, Africa has a strength in youth demography. Yes! We must rise as a generation without timidity and challenge the status-quo; ask critical questions; raise alarm on persons who embezzle public funds for personal aggrandizement. Young Africans must set a platform that promotes brotherhood without stigmatization or partiality on power, wealth nor academic achievement.

Without mincing words, global focus has been shifted to Africa. Why? Africa is the most sustainable continent in the present global map. The same so-called colonizers are strategizing modernised colonisation -giving aid via huge loan bonds with stiffen MOUs; at the long run, the loans accumulates; fueling internal crisis all the way, ...*games*. Is there one Africa country that is not borrowing?

Why is it that more than at least 30 years of the so-called independence, Africa can't boast of outstanding institutes of technology, science and development. No research institutes, no dependable healthcare facility. Our young doctors, engineers, architects, social scientists, development workers, can only boast of MBAs and Master degrees obtained abroad. Why, why, why?

I want to provoke the thinking of African youths and potential leaders to think beyond attending ‪#‎Geneva‬ meetings and international conferences; to rethink about the prospects we all hold for our dear continent. Lets re-channel our collective efforts towards ensuring a total revamp of the polity "for if the foundation is faulty, the house is laid waste someday".

We as young African must meet here in Africa, leaving no youth behind and plan step-by-step modalities to twist and squeeze the hand of the thieves especially those in our midst, to retrieve our very inheritance. Else if we keep dancing to the lofty tunes they're playing into our wanting ears, hmm; I fear ruggedness of the modern-colonizer when he strikes.

Long live the youths of Africa!

African Development: The long path!

It's becoming very glaring the extent to which internal conflict and insurgency would barrier the growth of the African continent. In recent years, we have witnessed sharp emergence of #Islamist groups around countries in Africa including #Nigeria, #Kenya, #Sudan, Congo DR. This has occurred in a time when Africans are talking possible ways out of internal conflict which had taken critical toll around the continent, to mold foundational pillars to development

The very fact that these insurgent is perpetrated by Africans themselves raises queries that bugs the mind. Why should it be Africans rising against her very citizens? What political interest would push people to consider insurgency as an alternative to topple powers? 
I thought African people would have keyed into using issue-based and citizen-oriented strategies/advocacy to bring out the needed change. Let is not be that we have been willed into becoming our own enemies.

Fellow African youths, I am seriously bothered by what the future of this great continent would become in the face of dire insecurity and internally generated conflicts, considering the fact that many young Africans have taken initiatives to foster social change and development but can any development strive alongside insurgency?

This is just be one stanza of the whole hymn!

The Future of Energy

It is pertinent to note that the place of energy in the global system cannot be over-emphasized. Presently, the source of globally energy dependence has contributed massive to environmental degradation and other negative effects including climate change, depletion of ozone layer, oil spillage, and acid rain.

We cannot however continue to depend fully on energy sources that do not support the ecosystem. Therefore, the need to develop alternative energy sources which supports the environment with sustainable options. Already we have sources like solar and wind-mill which if utilized would significantly reduce the level of environmental impact we currently face.

Currently, one major challenge with renewable energy is building its supply capacity to support heavy industrial and manufacturing sectors; that is for developed countries. Developing countries still has a very farther miles to trek.

In overcoming the foreseeing challenges that accompany the utilization of renewable energy, we would require technological research to foster innovations where renewable energy could be able to power heavy industries. Furthermore, there is urgent need for political leaders, corporate organizations and CEOs especially from OPEC countries to think diversification and reinvestment of oil income in renewable energy. This is a solution that requires committed rework.

Children...They Count

On Children and sustainable development, I just want to be specific about some challenges surrounding this issue in Nigeria. This is important because Nigeria happens to be a member state to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Currently, Nigeria's demography is bent on its youthful generation, which amounts up to 80 percent of the over 160 million people in the country.

Children specifically are facing a lot challenges ranging from orphanage, violation and deprivation of their rights to parental care/support, education, enabling environment for growth etc. Various insurgences in both Southern and Northern Nigeria has squarely affected the well-being of children. In the whole, this is proven when you drive along the roads of major cities and towns in Nigeria. What you see are children begging road users for help -whether financially or otherwise, to assist them survive. This to me, raises so many questions unanswered questions.

Government with the support of individuals, corporate organization and NGOs have to urgently work out sustainable modalities and strategies to take children off the street, by directly taking charge of those street kids and also going further to inquire about situations that led to their becoming beggars. 

Paying deaf ears to these issues would continuously create chaos and instability in the society. These children are growing and becoming more vulnerable to drug use and abuse, child pregnancy, unsafe abortion, rape, thuggery, armed robbery and all forms of societal violation and illegalities. What future do we expect if these gaps keep widening?

"Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear." -Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa

"Children are our most valuable resource." -Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. president

"I continue to believe that if children are given the necessary tools to succeed, they will succeed beyond their wildest dreams!" -David Vitter, U.S. senator

"It's the greatest poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." -Mother Teresa, Roman Catholic nun