Dr. Ibilola Amao

How educated, enlightened and empowered are the teeming youths in Nigeria ? How engaged and fulfilled are they in their various locational zones? What are the statistics of the employed against the unemployed? How concerned are the various tiers of government about the masses? What are the leadership in the churches, mosques etc. preoccupied with? How integrated are the lives of our youths with that of their parents and leaders (traditional, educational and governmental)?

And where are we heading? How balanced are our youths? How much security can the leadership of Nigeria offer or guarantee Nigerians and our visitors with the current level of dissatisfaction amongst the Nigerian youth? How close are we to a total break down of law and order? sustainable is the current type of governance structure that Nigeria has?

Who are the amnesty beneficiaries and what qualification is required to become a beneficiary of this government largesse? What constitutes a security vote? Who are the recipients? How is this paid and in what manner are these funds disbursed and to who?

What system exists to identify and track down those who order, procure, expedite and utilise arms, ammunition and bombs in Nigeria? What is the current volume and “in-country stock” of weapons of mass destruction?

We have a total out of sync perspective of how the type of politics that has been deployed in the past 10 years has bastardised the psyche of the average Nigerian youth.

Our youths have been so dehumanised mentally, psychologically, morally and spiritually that they have become pawns on the chess board of any type of leader (good or bad) and canon fodder for those who have a score to settle with the status quo.

And a bomb blast went off in the United Nations Building, Abuja . How does this relate with Nigerian Content?

Nigerian Content is primarily about adding value in the use of natural, human and material resources. It involves domiciliation of activities and projects and the attraction of FDI towards the growth and development of Nigeria and Nigerians.

Nigeria must have a good security record and be considered a safe location to invest in if we must bring down insurance costs and attract investment from other countries.

For a country that is struggling with its recurrent expenditure of 73.4% being used to service leadership we really must begin to get our act together and tidy up the poor image we have which is on a downward spiral.

How did things get this bad I wonder? We are victims of the poor leadership culture that is predominant in Africa . The: me, myself and I syndrome. Our warped values of honour, respect and disregard for human life especially where and when money is concerned, seems to have boomeranged on us.

This is a wake up call to all and sundry. We need patriotic Nigerians who are educated, enlightened and empowered to do the right thing because the big picture is beyond the individual, family, community, tribe or religion. Nigeria surely must be bigger than these little pockets of uncoordinated powers.

Youth Empowerment and Restoration is the way that Nigeria needs to and must go. The adult centered status quo can no longer stand. The President and Vice President, Governors, Senators, House of Reps, Minister and Commissioner must focus on the youth (future leaders of tomorrow).

Selfish and opinionated activities that have been run by an inward looking, self focussed government has failed Nigeria and Nigerians. Everyone must be encouraged to take on the responsibility of teaching and preaching the love of God and service to humanity.