The youths they say are the leaders of tomorrow and Nation builders; sadly, it is strange to find the teeming number of vibrant and energetic Nigerian youths roaming round the streets doing nothing. The majority of these youths are within (19-26) age bracket still their prime. These youths many of whom are already, in tertiary institutions graduates can be found playing involved in street open arguments.
The danger of this situation is that these youths easily fall prey to prowling politicians seeking for whom to devour as they resort to the use of the youths in the pursuit of their selfish ambitions. We have seen cases where the youths are baited with little sum of money mobilized in meetings and are used against opponents considered enemies. This is not only dangerous to the growth of the immediate society but the nation at large.
It is now a common sight to find youths usually number not less than 30-45 along major roads playing a game such as snooker and other forms of gambling easily resulting to altercation and most times leading to open fighting.
We observe that most of these youths are very intelligent set of persons who can be utilized to develop the nation. One visitor from Britain who observed the development with shock remarked that in Developed Nations such situations hardly arise as the Nations have needs for the youths.
She traced the problem to that of over-emphasis by the on certificates by the Nigerian society rather than what people can practically offer. For instance, anyone good practically in computer may not need to offer a certificate if he can brilliantly achieve his aims using computer. This situation gives the impression that everyone needs a certificate in order to belong to the society.
It is sad that the youths are the worst hit in this problem of unemployment; everyday people wake up not having what to do or eat and are forced to resort to any means through which they can put food on their own table. All you hear is start something on your own, yet no one understands that you need money to gain this. The Nigerian government never thinks of means through which the youths can be empowered in order to become useful. What exist are people claiming positions on the youths within the local government, state and federal levels. All of these people have no agenda on how the lives of the youths can be bettered in any form.
There are no recreational grounds or facilities to build up the social lives of these youths. Youths now convert open little spaces, houses, roads, streets etc to football and basketball pitches.
need we give the government the understanding that a nation is incomplete without the youths?