Essay Topic: For many young people in Nigeria, there is an argument that “the future is uncertain.” Why do you think they feel this way? What factors guarantee that someone’s future is certain? What can be done to restore hope for the future in Nigeria?
This essay response was written in a supervised examination hall with a time limit of 90 minutes
The composition of an individual, especially the young ones, is learned to be highly based on their environment, culture, community, and society at large. This gives credibility to the mixed feelings of many youths in Nigeria. The present situation of the state has questioned the possibility of the youth’s success in their future endeavours.
There are numerous, if not uncountable, reasons for a youth to doubt his success in this country. A few important ones are: The poor leadership and the system of government. According to the statistics of the national development of the country, it is evident that the standard of living of over seventy percent of the country’s population is poor. Not only that, it is no longer news that the country is poorly represented internally and externally by the so-called elected leaders.
Furthermore, the rate of corruption in the country has been steadily increasing for the past decade. In fact, it is more like a norm in every nook and cranny of the governmental system. Also, the issue of nepotism, favouritism, and even classism is present in the country. It is very uncommon to get employed based on merit in a country where nepotism, favouritism, and even godfatherism are realities of the system.
In the same view, the lack of youth empowerment has caused the youth to be overly reliant on the government. The lack of support or empowerment of the younger generation to become self-reliant or employed has caused them to be overdependent on government employment. Also, the lack of investment in small and medium-scale businesses mostly owned by youths has blurred the economic vision of the nation. All of these and more have established an uncertain feeling of an average youth in the country.
Despite the aforementioned points, which explain the doubt of a common man about the future in Nigeria. There is hope for him. In fact they are numerous factors that can guarantee a successful and well-lived life with meaning for the youths of the country. There are lots to mention, but few of them will be explained in the following paragraphs.
Education is a non-negotiable instrument to utilize in order to secure a certain future. Either in its formal or informal form. Education is known to be the acquisition of knowledge and its proper application in our daily lives.
There are still some positively oriented youths who have taken the certainty of their future as a personal responsibility. They have gained this mindset and orientation, which has subsequently yielded evident results of a good life, lived with intentionality and purpose. Education is a non-negotiable instrument to utilize in order to secure a certain future. Either in its formal or informal form. Education is known to be the acquisition of knowledge and its proper application in our daily lives.
Education is not only the key, but also the process. It provides the guidelines for a successful life. Hence, we must always strive to learn and improve ourselves. Education instills that mindset and orientation that fuels the passion and intentionality of a responsible youth on the path of greatness.
The government should, in all possible ways, improve the system of government and leadership, eliminate corruption, nepotism, favouritism, and all forms of practices that have silently become the cankerworm of the country.
In order to restore hope for the future in this blessed country filled with milk and honey, Nigeria, the plan is this. The partnership of good leaders, a good system of government, and responsible youth, with the intention of having a prosperous life not only for themselves but for the country at large.
The government should, in all possible ways, improve the system of government and leadership, eliminate corruption, nepotism, favouritism, and all forms of practices that have silently become the cankerworm of the country. They should also set up enlightenment or re-orientation programmes for the youth, invest grossly in the human resources, and utilize the individuals in productive ways that would benefit all.
The youth should also not be discouraged by the present situation of the country and utilize all efforts and resources available for the betterment of not only themselves but the country at large. Just as the popular adage “A tree in a better position will give better convenience to the bird.”
A.G. Project 