The wasted generation I wrote about last week was bound to produce the present wasting generation since every creature produces after its own kind. It would definitely have been an abnormality for our corrupt political class to give us a decent country with a youth population brimming with positive energy and excellent morals.

This quotation from Myles Monroe is apt for this write – up: “Just as the young lion’s genuine growl reveals his inherent strength, you can release the inherent leadership strength within you when you come to understand your true self. Just as the young lion watched the beast walking away and knew that he had to make a decision about his future, you have a choice to make about you own future”

The above point clearly corroborates my argument that it is the lot of our youth to brace up to the challenge of transforming our country by resolving our country’s leadership conundrum because they have no other country to call their own. There’re no easy options. Those who think it is better to travel out and seek greener pastures abroad miss the point. It’s ok to migrate but you’d still return to your country to meet the problems you left behind. The relatives you left behind in a dysfunctional environment would still suffer like the rest of us. That’s not the best.

If you fight and run away, you’d still live to fight another day. Seeking sanctuary in Europe, America, or Asia is a temporary solution, which may give you financial comfort but does nothing to develop Nigeria. And we know that there’s no place like home; home, sweet home. As bad as Nigeria may seem to be, it is still our country. No matter how great America may be, it is not your country, even if you are able to live there and eat the good of the land.

America people developed the U S A; we must also develop our own country. That’s my message for our youths. Where to start the great transformation of our country is to change our attitude, our beliefs, value system, work ethic, philosophy and vision. Everyone must step forward and be counted as a change agent. I’m not referring to the A P C change mantra; rather a deeper and more profound, sweeping change of our identity as a nation of drug traffickers, ritualists, marvelous scammers, criminals, terrorists, and irredeemably corrupt people.

It is the youths that can change this ugly narrative. There’s an urgent need for a dramatic moral rearmament we ought to make with a fierce determination as if our survival depends on it. This great moral revolution is a personal thing; it is an individual resolve that cuts across ethnic and religious divide. Indian pacifist leader, Mahatma Gandhi proved that you can carry out a massive revolution without spilling blood. We must, therefore, shun violence in this new quest to change and transform our nation.

We are rich enough to feed Africa. Our millions of hectares of arable land and good vegetation attest to that. Nigerians are very strong and dynamic, with an amazing recovery capacity from crises that easily consume other nations.  Our legendary strength has enabled our soldiers to triumph when called to help in foreign wars; with little preparation and poor facilities, our athletes have won laurels in the field of sports by beating better trained, better equipped opponents from greater sporting nations. Dick Tiger and Hogan Bassey were acclaimed boxing champions who brought frame and respect to this nation. Nigerian born heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has joined this pantheon of Nigerian heroes. 

So, how do we resolve our leadership crisis at all levels of society? Everyone must take responsibility. We must each develop the power to be the best in our individual field. China is leading the world in the production of about 200 products. Young Chinese entrepreneurs achieved that feat. America is the world leader in the most advanced technology and is also the No. 1 economy. Young Americans achieved this feat. Japan is said to have the world’s largest population of geniuses.

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Nigerians are no pushover. We were the first Africa nation to win the FIFA/ KODAK U – 17 football world Tournament in China in 1985, and the football event of the 1976 Olympics in America. Who achieved these feats? Nigerian youths. We beat the football world powers to win the gold on both occasions.

The Youth Sports Federation, YSFON founded by the late Dokun Abidoye and Tony Eke, not government, sponsored the boys that won the U – 17 soccer tournaments in China.

Government officials only showed up when the footballers reached the finals and ran amok with the trophy in Nigerian colours in front of awe–struck Chinese fans.

Young people, arise! Don’t look up to government for jobs, money, help, or whatever it takes to succeed. You have what it takes to make it. In fact, you can teach government officials how to run things, because they are deficient in the area of administration. That’s why we have this failure of leadership.

Folks, you can become the best you want to be if only you believe in yourself. Don’t be hindered by stumbling blocks, use them as stepping stones.

Weekend Spice: The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitude of mind. –  William James

Ok, folks, let’s do it again next Friday. Stay powerfully motivated.