When I was a youth all I heard was adult this, adult that. Now that I am an adult, all I hear is that the available opportunities and resources are for the youths. Me think a symbiotic relationship should exist between youths and adults.
Adults have the head room, while youths have the leg room. Today, many young people prefer to start their own businesses, grow their own ideas without considering how to grow the business of those who laboured to grow them #Rethinkyouth.
As a minister in a youth church, I got a higher bill for requesting the services of the youths I mentored! Yet when they begin to slide back, adult mentors are the first to receive a bail out call and you are expected to offer the service free.
I worked with Aunty Nkem Oselloka-Orakwue of the Tales By Moonlight fame to nurture many young people. Today, that organisation that waded through murky waters to offer opportunities and sponsorships locally and globally to young people at the expense of growing our own pockets is as good as dead. Why? The youths are too busy walking their own walk and talking their own talk without looking back.
When she had an accident, many who she laboured to groom, looked the other way with such disdainful temerity. I attend youth conferences as a media observer and most youth groups don't even have a single adult in their team yet adults pay the physical and emotional bills to ferry them to such opportunities.
I walked into a project room at the United Nations where youths based on their presentation would win a cash price of about $3000. As I prayerfully walked round, my eyes set on a young man. I walked up to him to ask about his project ahead of the reviewers arrival. He was confident but he lacked 4 things that could deliver the award to him - he didn't smile, he didn't consider sustainability, he didn't offer appreciation and his poise could very well be taken as pride. I pointed this out to him and boosted his confidence in a way only a divine messenger could have. I immediately went my merry way without looking back.
Perhaps you think I helped because he was Nigerian; no he was not. I just picked an interest; I saw something he may not have seen about himself. Don't our people say what an adult see sitting down, a child may not see even with the aid of a ladder? The knowledge I shared with him delivered the award to him. After the award ceremony he found me out and said to me, "I want you to be my mentor, thank you so much, you made me win!" We took photographs, we exchanged cards... Guess what? Till date I have only received an email from him in response to the one I sent! In my days as a youth, we were nurtured to hold on to our divine helpers.
I remember my baby saying to me, "I will soon be 18..." I didn't mince words when I made it clear that her freedom will be unhindered as long as she could pay her own bills, and fend for herself! She immediately went back to learning mode. Even adults never stop learning at the feet of their mentors - Many thanks to my great parents and the likes of Mama TAL - Mrs. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett.
Many youths fail... Could it be they lack the capacity for sustainability because they refuse to give back to their nurturers #Rethinkyouth. How would a young man or woman who cannot bear to serve as an intern for a year be strong enough to build a formidable organisation?
This may very well be the root of our failed effort at growing great leaders especially in Nigeria. The leaders who stand out are those who took their seats at the feet of worthy mentors and waited there long enough to learn the ropes for the journey ahead. The military have a system that continues to groom until cadets have cut their teeth, even thereafter the cadets now officers continue to pay homage to their mentors.
What does civilians have? Look around you; where are the serious leadership schools or centres. I pray I have the fund some day to float one that will stand the test of time. The Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC) located in Apapa Lagos and other places in Nigeria are great grooming grounds but how well has the War Bay institution affiliated to the Outward Bound organisation been sustained.
Let's #rethinkyouth for a better tomorrow.
As a minister in a youth church, I got a higher bill for requesting the services of the youths I mentored! Yet when they begin to slide back, adult mentors are the first to receive a bail out call and you are expected to offer the service free.
I worked with Aunty Nkem Oselloka-Orakwue of the Tales By Moonlight fame to nurture many young people. Today, that organisation that waded through murky waters to offer opportunities and sponsorships locally and globally to young people at the expense of growing our own pockets is as good as dead. Why? The youths are too busy walking their own walk and talking their own talk without looking back.
When she had an accident, many who she laboured to groom, looked the other way with such disdainful temerity. I attend youth conferences as a media observer and most youth groups don't even have a single adult in their team yet adults pay the physical and emotional bills to ferry them to such opportunities.
I walked into a project room at the United Nations where youths based on their presentation would win a cash price of about $3000. As I prayerfully walked round, my eyes set on a young man. I walked up to him to ask about his project ahead of the reviewers arrival. He was confident but he lacked 4 things that could deliver the award to him - he didn't smile, he didn't consider sustainability, he didn't offer appreciation and his poise could very well be taken as pride. I pointed this out to him and boosted his confidence in a way only a divine messenger could have. I immediately went my merry way without looking back.
Perhaps you think I helped because he was Nigerian; no he was not. I just picked an interest; I saw something he may not have seen about himself. Don't our people say what an adult see sitting down, a child may not see even with the aid of a ladder? The knowledge I shared with him delivered the award to him. After the award ceremony he found me out and said to me, "I want you to be my mentor, thank you so much, you made me win!" We took photographs, we exchanged cards... Guess what? Till date I have only received an email from him in response to the one I sent! In my days as a youth, we were nurtured to hold on to our divine helpers.
I remember my baby saying to me, "I will soon be 18..." I didn't mince words when I made it clear that her freedom will be unhindered as long as she could pay her own bills, and fend for herself! She immediately went back to learning mode. Even adults never stop learning at the feet of their mentors - Many thanks to my great parents and the likes of Mama TAL - Mrs. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett.
Many youths fail... Could it be they lack the capacity for sustainability because they refuse to give back to their nurturers #Rethinkyouth. How would a young man or woman who cannot bear to serve as an intern for a year be strong enough to build a formidable organisation?
This may very well be the root of our failed effort at growing great leaders especially in Nigeria. The leaders who stand out are those who took their seats at the feet of worthy mentors and waited there long enough to learn the ropes for the journey ahead. The military have a system that continues to groom until cadets have cut their teeth, even thereafter the cadets now officers continue to pay homage to their mentors.
What does civilians have? Look around you; where are the serious leadership schools or centres. I pray I have the fund some day to float one that will stand the test of time. The Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC) located in Apapa Lagos and other places in Nigeria are great grooming grounds but how well has the War Bay institution affiliated to the Outward Bound organisation been sustained.
Let's #rethinkyouth for a better tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment