A sage once opined that the problem with the Nigerian youth is that “they eat too much, sleep too much and drink too much”. This unkind yet truthful appellation describes well how the youth have transformed from being the focused and serious type back in the 40s, 50s and 60s to the one who cannot help but remain lazy, weak, idle and redundant. The youth today are nothing but a ‘wasted generation’, if one is permitted to use such words, for we are too myopic, uninterested in the happenings around us and quick to fall prey to individuals whose petty cash drives us insane. To say we are the i-pad, Wi-Fi, Facebook, Twitter, You-Tube, pinging and BBM generation is stating the obvious. We are too garrulous, unsavoury in attitude and cannot stand for what is right much that in a rather distasteful manner, a government spokesperson once tagged us “the twittering, collective children of anger, distracted crowd of Facebook addicts and the BBM-pinging soap opera gossips of Nigeria”.
The question on the mind of this writer is what exactly is wrong with the average Nigerian youth? Have we ever wondered how the likes of Yakubu Gowon, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, Obafemi Awolowo, Mark Zuckerberg to mention a few, became the great men of history we know them to be today? In the midst of our wonderment, we must not foregt that all these individuals where either in their 20s or early 30s, yet had achieved what the new generation of Nigerian youth would have toiled for hundred years to achieve. For heaven’s sakes, the founder of Facebook, a platform we all have become addicted to even more than its founder, is just 29 this year, yet worth billions of dollars! Ojukwu of blessed memory was just 34 years when the leadership of the Eastern region gave him the mandate to lead a vast majority of battle ready Igbos. More examples abound, but the question once again: where are the Nigerian youth today? Have we continued to drink, eat and sleep, as described by Awolowo, that we forget we have a role to play today and tomorrow? Where is the innovative skill an average youth is known for? Why have we become so redundant, lacking the temerity to challenge norms? Is there no Moses among us to take us to the Promised Land? Is it that the youth is not susceptible to change or we are the ones who have failed to use change to our advantage? There are so many questions which need swift answers yet in a changing world like ours, one may not find a tangible one to hold on to.
This writer is of the opinion that the Nigerian youth is prone to change and can remain innovative but of course faces series of challenges which most likely points to leadership, motivation and mentorship problems. However, despite these obvious challenges among many others, the youth should be able to carry on and create a niche for themselves. The Nigerian state has a pool of resources which the youth must tap into. It is usually in a bad situation, the one we find ourselves today in the country, that our innovative and entrepreneurial spirit should be ignited. We must rise to the occasion and take our rightful place in a fast evolving world. The youth must discover what he or she has within and build on it for prosperity sake. The era of looking at the youth with pitiable eyes must stop. If it is claimed that we are the pinging generation, let it reflect in us with creativity. We cannot keep on pinging, Facebooking or tweeting our lives away without any profitable thing outcome from such youthful craze and exuberance. We must have a set goal and target and ensure that our generation takes a positive step towards making a positive impact in our deeds and actions.
In the midst of complains and worries the youth of today typifies comes Tejumola Jacob Oyelakin popularly called Teju Babyface. This writer has followed this highly talented young man right from the time Music Africa, a musical video programme began to transform the way musical videos were aired on Television. With his Governor Babyface aired in a little less than 2-3 minutes, nobody would believe such creative ingenuity would one day transmit into something bigger, unique and outstanding as far as talk shows are concerned in Nigeria. Despite starting as a stand-up comedian, Teju refused to stay idle like most youth would because he understood there would come a time when stand-up comedy may not up the ante anymore. He once noted how he got tired of waiting for his phone to ring to get jobs from clients who were not forthcoming and “thought it was time to be proactive and find other means of income that isn’t dependent on people”. Having sat down to critically think of what was lagging in the entertainment industry, Teju came up with an idea fused with other ideas to create something unique, something different and daring. It was a brand he believed was going to sell if properly nurtured and at exactly 8:00pm on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 on Silverbird Television, the Teju Babyface Show was launched.
Nobody would have thought a show of that nature would come to signify instant success. It was a massive hit which Teju himself may not have envisaged. In a long time, a show of this nature has not witnessed the sort of innovative infusions, comic relief, entertainment, laughter and acceptance Teju has turned the programme into. With a wide range of guests who are grilled comically with personal and wide ranging questions which most shows would dare not ask, the Show has reached a level were even harsh critiques have given Teju and his crew a big thumbs up. From Silverbird, the Show now airs on LTV, TVC and few other budding T.V stations across the country. The Show is in its Season 5 and without an iota of doubt; it has become a show every household would not wish to miss for anything. Teju has come to typify the few creative and critically thinking youth in contemporary Nigeria who knows their onions. Creativity is the idea behind such a Show which began on a paltry budget and ‘begging spree’ for furniture and other studio items but today have big brand names as partners.
There is certainly no doubt that the Nigerian socio-political space is frustrating and the future looks bleak. There simply are no Nigerian Dreams to spur one on. The climate is filled with corruption, nepotism, selfishness and leaders who do not give a damn about the youth of today how much more the morrow. It is in this unfavourable climate that the youth must stand up, pursue and develop that inherent talent within. There is no such thing as the future for today’s Nigerian youth for they ought to have seen the writings on the wall. If the youth wish to shake the world, then they must begin by giving themselves a firm place to stand upon today. The youth must not fail; it is never the chosen path and therefore, the youth must take giant steps in ensuring that they hold forth the sword of success. Such must be the youth creed and motto. If the youth do not take heed, then they should not complain when light seem not to appear at the end of the tunnel. Teju Babyface and other youth success stories are the reason there could be a light, a silver lining and a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel. The youth should seek it and all other things shall follow.
Raheem Oluwafunminiyi, a social commentator wrote via creativitysells@gmail.com
