In most developing countries like Nigeria, government at all levels have not embraced the youth as a central factor in its development efforts. Successive governments since return to democratic government in 1999 apart from mere ceremonial recognition of the youth as “Leaders of tomorrow”, have not articulated concrete policies for youth mobilization and engagement as a necessary tool for good
governance and development in new normal world.
In Nigeria after two decades of democratic experience, the system of government has not yielded much desired good governance. This is because democracy in Nigeria is practised in such a way that responsible, competent and the productive youth
population are not engaged in democratic governance in the country. In Nigeria and other African countries, there is lack of trust of youth in governing institutions and political leadership, despite the fact that modern youth are well endowed with needed modern technological knowhow and skills to make a difference.
The history of Nigeria shows how much the youth have featured prominently in political leadership and good governance. But in recent time, the story is not exactly the same .
For instance, Shehu Shagari became a federal legislator at the age of 30 and a minister at the age of 35,
Chief Richard Akinjide became Minister of Education at the age of 32,
Maitama Sule became oil minister at the age of 29,
Audu Ogbe was a Minister at the age of 35,
Unfortunately, he still served recently as a minister, it is noteworthy that those aforementioned Nigerians performed excellently well in their youthful age as political leaders and their records are there till date.
In contrast, however, today’s reality is a polity where Nigerian youths are used as election consultants, vote buying agents, social media battalions, political party town criers and political thugs.
Many have attributed this trend to conspiracy of the elite class who cannot stand the idea of vacating the scene for the young generation, thereby creating a system that makes it impossible for the young people to emerge and succeed in politics and governance.
Why I believe President-Elect Tinubu administration will harness the Human and Natural resources of Nigeria for Collective Growth and Sustainable Development wiithout marginalisation or Nepotism?
Having served as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 and senator for Lagos West during the brief Third Republic, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu studied accounting in the Chicago State University in the USA and was employed by Mobil Nigeria after his returned to Nigeria in 1990s before venturing into Politics. His wealth of experiences, achievements, knowledge, vision, practical and people oriented leadership style is a pointer that Nigeria is about to be elevated to the top among the committee of developed Nations.
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