By Helen Ovbiagele

My piece the other week attracted much attention, but sadly, more from older citizens than the young who were being called upon to get sound education and unite to come improve their state of origin.

A colleague believed it was because many of them don’t take newspapers, let alone read them.

“Madam, don’t be discouraged about the many young people not sending in their views on an important matter concerning their State,” she said. “Many of them probably didn’t see the article because they don’t read newspapers. They watch the news on television, and that’s enough for them.

“If it had been a talk you had given on the issue on television or the radio, and listeners were told to respond by telephone/text messages, I’m sure you would have been inundated with more calls than you would have been able to cope with. All over Nigeria, not just Edo State, the percentage of citizens reading newspapers must be small.”

“That’s sad. Our young people are missing out if they don’t read the newspapers, as you can’t get all you need to know to develop yourself and your environment, from watching or listening to the news only, even though watching/listening to the news is more interesting. You have to combine it with reading.

Besides, you can always store/file away newspaper item for future use and reference, whereas, it isn’t always that easy to record what you’ve watched or listened to. Avid reading helped to shape the minds of some of the great leaders of this nation, like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and the others. They knew its importance and that led them to establish print media houses.”

“True, but you’ll have to create an awareness of the benefits of reading in our young people first, and also make newspapers available to them, before you can expect them to grow up into reading adults.”

Well, I hope parents, schools and Education ministries across the country will take note of this and encourage young people to read newspapers to improve themselves.

Some of our readers who wrote in were quite sad that an important ancient city like Benin City, has not developed much over the years. Here again, I hope those who are able to do something about this will make an effort to bring development to Edo State as a whole.

“Helen, you’re right when you said the various heads of government there should not be blamed for the decayed state of the State, because it’s the people themselves who should draw attention to what they want.. I’m not an indigene, being one of your neighbours across the fence in Ondo State, but I was born and bred in your State and my family house is still there after several decades.

I wouldn’t say my own home state is great in terms of development either, but Benin City has been exposed to civilization a long time, and by now it should be a leading city in the country. It’s so rich in culture. It’s a pity that your people haven’t seen the need to upgrade it. – Tunde, Akure. ”

“Madam, don’t waste your time about the attitude of our people concerning our State. They are too taken up with their own personal struggle for power, to care about such a ‘minor’ thing. They just don’t care. They don’t think of the future. They don’t worry about our young people. They just want attention for themselves. That’s all. Only God can come to the rescue of that State. Well done, anyway. At least you shared your view. It’s left to the rulers there to do something. – Noyo, Ibadan.

“Madam, I hate to contradict you, but if you want to expand an airport in Nigeria, would you go expand that of Benin City? I understand your concern for the place, but airports are business ventures so they’re established with a view to getting profits. I’m not saying this simply because I’m not of your State, but rather, I’m telling the truth.

There’s nothing in Benin City that will attract that sort of development. You can’t compare it with Asaba which is a gateway to Igboland, the land of business. However, the place can become viable if you people decide to market what you have. You’re rich in culture, so, put impressive tourism in place, build holiday resorts, have good roads, stable electricity, good security, etc., and your airport would be developed to cope with traffic from both within and outside Nigeria. – Thanks, Ibeh, Onitsha.”

“Mrs Ovbiagele, your leaders prefer being in Abuja to pursue their own personal interests than fight to bring development to your State. When they get their priorities right as leaders, your State will grow in an amazing way. Mind you, they’re not alone in this attitude. All the States in the federation have such leaders; only, some help their States more than others. Your piece was well thought-out, though. But will it achieve the desired results? – Paul, Lagos.”

“Madam, I don’t think that young people in Nigeria are in a position to think of how to move the nation or their home States forward in any way, because most of them are stressed out, looking for employment. Many are ready to take up any honest job in order to survive and help their families, but the jobs are not just there.

You’re right, ma, to suggest that they should get sound education and go develop their State, but many of them cannot afford the sort of education you have in mind. The one available to them cannot get them good positions in the society.

It’s the older people, who are leaders everywhere, who should address the situation and ensure that the young people, whatever their social level, are well-groomed to lead the nation in future. From what I’ve observed, these people want to hand over the affairs of the nation to their own children. Where do the rest of us stand? Thank you, ma. Effiong, Calabar.”

We thank all those who wrote in, and we regret we couldn’t publish every view sent in.