CLARION CALL: SPEECH PRESENTED BY THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAIN, INTELLECTUAL YOUTH LEADERS OF NIGERIA (IYLN) Comr. Jide Wolimoh. AS A WAKE UP CALL FOR THE YOUTHS TO EMBRACE THE FORTHCOMING ABIA CONVENTION
TOPIC: THE NEED FOR YOUTHS ENGAGEMENT IN BUILDING A NEW NIGERIA.
My fellow compatriots, I must confess, I’m motivated by your response even at a short notice. Indeed, this is a sign that Nigeria Youths especially Abians are tired of the way things are being run in this country and the state respectively. With this display, I can say confidently that Nigeria will be better.
Before I proceed further with my points, I would want to seize this opportunity to thank the entire Nigerian Youths for saying no to the way things pertaining to National Development are being handled. By simply saying OUR MUMU DON DO, we have directly started a conversation for a better Nigeria. Less I forget, I will love to thank the entire IYLN(YPC) Abia State Chapter led by our own capacity leader, Comr. Eme Udochukwu Prince( IYLN Abia State Chairman) for developing the zeal to help fine-tune her State and the Nation at large.
Now to the topic: THE NEED FOR YOUTHS ENGAGEMENT IN BUILDING A NEW NIGERIA.
Youth according to Oxford dictionary advanced learner 8th edition is the part of life following childhood; the period of existence proceeding maturity or age.
Going from the second version of this definition, Youthful age is the age of EXISTENCE. It is the time when a person has all the energy, time, motivation, etc to tackle any problem. This age shouldn’t be sold on the platform of mediocrity and frivolities. Once this age is lost, regret becomes paramount. An error not corrected at this age, is mostly not correctable again. Though chance may happen to that person, but the percentage of people who may have this chance is way under average.
For the purpose of this discourse, it is good to streamline our definition of WHO A YOUTH IS, based on Age.
According to a Social Commentator, Joseph Hiykesleo, Nigeria’s definition of Youths are in two broad form; Youthful Youth and Political Youth. Where the Youthful Youth are the real Youth who fall under the age bracket of 18-40, while the Political Youths are those whom although are above the age 40, but still hold position specifically meant for the Youths under the guise that they are Youths. These set of people are why IYLN was initiated to help our Youths realize the error we’ve allowed to thrive in our country for so long.
It will interest you to know that Nigeria was never like this in the 1960’s when Britain handed over power to our leaders. In fact, right from the time of the struggle for independence, Nigerian Youths were at the forefront of the Liberation struggle. The likes of Zik of Africa, Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Micheal Okpara to mention but a few. Even in 1966 January 15th when the one an only revolution was executed, the Youths were at the forefront of that mission until it was aborted by Ironsi. Yet from 1960-1999 if not for Shagari, every other leaders that has ruled Nigeria were not above 45 before ruling. Yes it’s arguable that much changes were not recorded with the
