By Francies Ewherido
I missed the presidential inauguration two Fridays ago. On that day and at that time I was with a group of about 150 youths (Catholic Youths Organisation of Nigeria in Aguda, Surulere, Lagos) rubbing minds on how to take advantage of the new dawn. I told them:”Today, we celebrate the reality of a new dawn; today, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, a civilian president is peacefully handing over to another civilian president of a different political party. This means progress, but Nigeria is still plagued by many enormous problems…enough to discourage the uninitiated youths. But to the initiated youths, there lie the opportunities. ‘Where the needs (problems) of the world and your passion cross, there lies your vocation,’ Aristotle said.

“The story is told of two shoe salesmen. The first was sent to work in a region where nobody wore shoes. He sent a message back that the company was wasting time and resources because nobody wore shoes there. The second was sent to the same territory. He sent a message to the head office that they should empty the warehouse and bring all the shoes because there is a large untapped market. What kind of mindset do you have, the first or the second?

“Nigeria offers you the opportunity to unleash your untapped and under-tapped potentials on over 170 million people; only six other countries in the world—China, India, the United States, Indonesia, Brazil and Pakistan, and no other one in Africa—offer this massive opportunity. The incoming president, Muhammadu Buhari, has promised to tackle corruption, unemployment with special focus on the youths and epileptic power supply. He also promised to focus on agriculture, mining and manufacturing to diversify the economy. If he fulfils his promises the opportunities will be enormous; if he does not, opportunities will still be there, because it is really about over 170 million people who have needs to meet. Either way, the issue is are you ready and adequately equipped to take advantage of these opportunities?”

At this stage, the facilitator, Mrs. Bridget Itsueli of the Lagos Resource Centre, took over. She told the youths that there are chants of change all over the place, but the most important change is that which happens within the individual. “This is something Buhari cannot do it for you just as (former) President Goodluck Jonathan could not do it for you.” She told them that what they need to succeed was given to them at birth by God, their co-creator. It was up to the youths to develop their talents and showcase the results of their creation.

She advised them against waiting for Nigeria to do for them what they only can do for themselves. Nigeria, she said, is a failure of the collective failures of individuals. In other words, Nigeria will rise again if everybody cleans up his/her act. She also told them to hone their leadership skills and become trailblazers.

It was interaction time and like many other youth gatherings, they poured out their frustration with the stifling environment and how their efforts to have breakthroughs have been frustrated by the Nigerian environment. At this stage Mrs. Itsueli asked three youths (Omasan Okorodudu, Ifeanyi Ajegbo and Chuka Agali) she came with to share their experiences on coping with the Nigerian environment. They told the audience on how they rely on their innate gifts and focus on that which they need to do, battle through the odds and persevere until things fell in place over time. The summary of their messages was be focused, do your bit and have faith in God who will perfect what you have started. They however acknowledged that we are operating in a suffocating environment, under difficult circumstances.

We cannot run away from the truth that it is the responsibility of the government to provide basic infrastructure and create an enabling environment, areas where successive governments have performed poorly. The average Nigerian faces enormous challenges, but you cannot personise a general problem, neither should you put your life on hold until the right atmosphere, which is largely outside your control and not guaranteed, is created. Be focused and forge on.

Another youth felt his life has been wasted because he is doing a job he does not like and he has gone past the age of being a professional footballer, something he really wanted to be. He has two other passions he could not really convert to sources of livelihood. He felt all his opportunities were gone. He was reminded by speaker after speaker that each minute, each day, offers new opportunities and there will always be new opportunities until we die. Mrs. Itsueli also told them that God gave everybody over 50 talents at birth from which they can utilize and live fulfilled lives. She said many of these talents can be put to use simultaneously and converted to viable sources of income. What they need is capacity building and proper planning.

In summary, the youths were told that they are the most important factor in their quest for success, because majority of what they need to succeed is within, deposited in them at creation, very little is external. Two, they should have the right value orientation and take their Christian values serious. Three, their lives, like that of all Christians, is that of sacrifice and service to humanity, for it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). And giving is not necessarily about money. They can give their time and talents to noble causes. Also, youths should be well focused and have clarity of purpose about what they want to enable them live a purpose-driven life.

The bottom line is if you want to take advantage of the new dawn, focus first on self. Your life is a vehicle, perfect your driving skills and be the driver. Do not cede that responsibility to another person.