Youths are a large force for positive transformation. They are agents of change, and without their contributions the society will neither progress nor function very effectively. As a society we need youth force to run our institutions, and we need them now because they are the futureleaders.\”
Those were the words of Edufun Technik CEO Mrs Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu, while speaking this morning on World Youth Day on Odenigbo radio 99.1 FM. No doubt, the position of youths in the society can not be overemphasized. They are very important in many ways, and that\’s why the UnitedNations deemed it fit to set aside August 12 annually to celebrate them.
Among the many roles that youths play in the society are:
• Social workers: as driver\’s of cocial change through public sensitization campaigns on health and environmental safety, sex education for young people, entrepreneurship, mental health issues, political and social inclusion.
• Innovators of business and public services, eg. through brainstorming and and execution of disruptive initiatives into workable solution models for socioeconomic development.
• Leaders in various capacities such as Community Service, Events Organizing, and Grassroots Politics.
However, as many new challenges continue to confront our modern society on daily basis there is great need for youths to improve their capability in making positive impact. They can do that by:
• Learning new skills in entrepreneurship, social development, etc.
• Volunteering to work with Community/Social development organizations, eg. Foundations.
• Active participation in leadership circles like Community Youth Organizations, grassroots politics, relief works, event organizing, and social rallies.
• Apprenticeship in professional and non-professional fields like engineering, carpentry, plumbing, journalism, etc.
Despite their esteemed role in shaping society positively, youths face many challenges in their collective endeavors, and some of those challenges are:
• Lack of motivation to take lead in the society mostly due to frustrations and disappointments causes by corporate corruption and their government\’s insensitive to their plights.
• Lack of basic materials and an enabling environment for them to develop and innovate their ideas into workable solution models.
• Lack of access to Capital to start or manage a small scale business due to their inability to meet the bogus requirements in order to access loans from the bank.
• Lack of access to political leadership positions mostly due to institutionalized corruption whereby leadership positions are secured not based on merits but rather on blood, ethnic, religious or social affiliation.
• Lack of access to education due to poverty, thereby forcing many youths to either drop out of school or not even get admitted in the first place.
Of course, youths are a huge deposit of human resources due to their sharp mind, optimistic spirit, physical strength, liberal thinking, strong health, ambitious and enterprising spirit, strong sense of curiosity, strong appetite for knowledge.
Indeed, youths are the backbone of every prospering society, and that\’s why we are urging governments and private organizations to join hands to promote and support youth participation in the socioeconomic development of their respective countries by engaging them in capacity and nation building through entrepreneurship, politics, and social development.
From Edufun Technik we say happy WorldYouthDay to all the youths in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large. We are proud of you all.
