The former Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Cooperation (NBC), Dr. Nasir Danladi Bako
has urged Nigerian youths to utilize
By Chimezie Godfrey
The former Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Cooperation (NBC), Dr. Nasir Danladi Bako
has urged Nigerian youths to utilize their energies and deploy them to national development.
Bako in a paper presented at the symposium organized by the Faculty of Arts Alumni of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria on the 16th of July, 2024 decried the destructive influence of westernization on the Nigerian youths, which has brought dangerous traits such as lesbianism, homosexuality, suicide bombings, among others.
He noted that the work force of any country or nation is populated by the youth who are not only doctors, engineers, craftsmen and labourers both also Grammy-award winning musicians, movie actors, ICT experts, social media influencers and media entrepreneurs which now run into millions of youths.
He therefore advised the youths to deploy their talents and energies towards national development.
He said,”Nigerian youths must utilize their energies and deploy them to the National development of this great country. After all, they will all grow old one day and all those that destroyed the society will eventually live their lives in a destroyed country.
“Those who build this country will enjoy their old age in a developed, likeable, enjoyable and prosperous country in their old age.”
Lamenting on the challenge of insecurity in the country, he stated that the Nigerian state is literally under siege from bandits in the North-West, Boko Haram in the North-East, kidnapping in the North-Central and South-West while separatist and regionalist have overwhelmed the South-East.
In his paper titled : Role of the Youth in National development: Economy, Security and Stability, Bako noted that the criminality of the youths in the country can be traced to so many factors ranging from poor education, bad societal values, craze for wealth, the open glorification and canonization of identified criminals and men of noted misbehavior
He said,”Sadly, about 80% of these criminals are between the ages of 18 and 40 years which essentially makes them youths.
“The criminality of the youths in the country can be traced to so many factors ranging from poor education, bad societal values, craze for wealth, the open glorification and canonization of identified criminals and men of noted misbehavior.
“Here the use of communication of social change also populate by youths cannot be exonerated from the malaise. As an African proverb puts it “it is iron that you use to cut iron” therefore the youth are the answer and solution to these humongous challenges in society.
“It is not by accident that the Government of Nigeria has started the recruitment of 10,000 new police men in addition to acquisition of ammunition for them. Of course recruits are normally between ages 18 – 25.
“These are youths. It is estimated that about 100,000 more youths will be recruited into the police, military and para-military forces in the next ten years.
Licenses will also be issued to entrepreneurs and educationists for more tertiary institutions and technical colleges hoping that school enrolment and university education will be more easily accessed by the youths.
“Clearly, they are also steps at the National Orientation Agency to recreate a new lifestyle of values and proper moral upbringing for our youths now popularly referred to as Gen Z.
“The process of cultural and social change can be tricky sometimes especially in the challenge of indoctrination as witnessed by the recruitment of young men into Boko haram criminality and the acts of suicide bombing recently in Borno state of Nigeria where young girls participated in mass murder.
“Likewise, youths became the instruments of activism positively as witnessed in the last few weeks in Kenya where they compelled government to retract the finance bill sent to the Kenyan Parliament.”
Bako urged traditional rulers and other major stakeholders to come to rescue to re-orientate the youths.
“Finally, major stakeholders in society as traditional rulers cannot fold their arms while embark on brigandage and societal dislodgement therefore the supervision and engagement of house hold heads and family leaders as well as extended families must wake up and utilize traditional, cultural platforms such as town hall meetings and age grade opportunities to re-orientate the youths as a matter of urgency.
“There must be intentional advocacy for improved value lifestyles within the academic curriculum of our primary and secondary schools so as to develop a renewed identity and culture.
“Westernization came with their concepts of civilization comprising of such traits as nuclear family and individual rights masking such debasing sub-cultures as homosexuality and transgender values. It has become common place to see crossdressers and lesbians openly use their social media platforms to ply their trade and misdirect our youths.
“The Nigerian youths has brought pride and glory to the country through music of Burna boy, Wizkid and Davido; through sports & athletics of Tobi Amusan, the Super Eagles, Super Falcons and our wrestlers.
“We cannot a few bad eggs to tarnish the image of the country and become greater threats to our security,” he said.
