There is a radical change in the approach to building a sustainable future and a better world. Countries are tapping into the vast potentials of their teeming youth population. It seems that the world has only recently come to a full realization that young people are indispensable to a nation’s development. There have been calls worldwide to #PutYoungPeopleFirst. Some African countries, Nigeria in particular, have chosen to turn a blind eye to developments such as this. It has been said over and over again that the nation seems to be regressing. Looking back at the First and Second Republic, young people held strategic positions in the governing and decision making processes. Sadly, we find the same set of leaders in leadership positions after several decades.

Some argue that the average Nigerian youth is not poised to take on leadership roles in the nation. I choose to term this set of people ignorant. They have failed to see the growing number of youths wresting themselves from the status quo to bring forth a better nation. In a fast changing world, the older generation lacks the zest to keep up with new developments. Indeed, it has lost touch with the realities of the present day.That said, this is not a call to some kind of radical ‘revolution’ but to remind ourselves of our roles. Of course, we understand the interactive chain of time—past, present and future.

During UNFPA Nigeria Country Director, Dr Diene Kieta’s recent visit to the Lagos Liaison Office, she made a profound statement that should resonate with us all. She warned against the ill in falling to the temptation to refer to the ‘Present’ as the best thing that ever happened in comparison to the Past. This, she said, is a great disservice to the Past. It only reflects that we are quick to forget that without it, the Present will not be and that the Present which we now praise will be Past only in a matter of time.

Thus, at whatever point we find ourselves, we should be concerned with ensuring that we are rightly focused on playing our roles to achieve a common goal of a brighter future. A Yoruba adage says, Omodé gbón, àgbà gbón, lafi dá Ilé Ifè. When loosely translated this means: The wise inputs of the young and old are pivotal to the success of any nation. Dear older generation, let me remind you that you were once the future, we are now the future, even still, the future is yet to come. Dear young people, arm yourselves for a takeover. Arm yourselves, not with sticks or guns but with knowledge that seeks to transform and actions to back it up. We are the future, we are the NOW.

http://www.dbi360.org/1905-2/