NNORTHERN NIGERIAN YOUTHS:Our Asset Or Liability?- Mubaraq Ibrahim Mustapha

Northern Nigerian Youths: Our Asset or Liability? By

(MubaraQ Ibrahim Mustapha)

It is worrisome and very unfortunate that our beloved society that should be producing greater number of productive and serious-minded people is continuesly turning into a kind of society that produces troublesome and irresponsible youths who become nuisance to the lives of the entire people of the society. I wonder why this is so much common in the north, and deteriorating by every second as it remains unchecked and uncontrolled. It seems there is collapse of social institutions.

One everyday hears of youths who fight themselves fiercely and madly - by extension, they kill themselves or cause serious injury - mostly under the influence of deadly drug abuse which they made themselves addicted to. Most times, these youths start their fight from parties over stupid girlfriends or some flimsy reasons. On most occasions, during this outrageous acts which I vehemently condemn with all sincerity, the innocent becomes the victim. At times, girls are also found in this detestable drug abuse; it is believed they are more affected these days.

It is generally or viewed by majority as resulting from unemployment and chronic illiteracy. Of course, this is one reason out of many; an idle mind is a devil's workshop. Passing through numerous streets, one finds youths sitting as if they are watchmen - neither going to school nor going to any business but devilishly planning crook and dubious means to get money; this, no doubt, results in theft, robbery e.t.c. It is well known that satanically influenced politicians easily buy the hearts of such youths and order them to trigger mayhem, unrest, chaos and killings.

Again, I shall irrefutably be right to say, our parents are soft, reckless and uncaring. By extension, our family institution is to a large extent very dormant. This immensely contribute to unruliness of children. It bothers me how a lot of parents show immeasurable love and affection to their offsprings disregarding drawing a line of discipline and control as mechanism to shape and bring them onto the path of righteousness. It is really sad!

Moreover, our security personnel are as lifeless as not existing. They don't perform their duty critically, seriously and in accordance with the dictates of their profession. I therefore urge them, particularly the N.D.L.E.A and Police Force to be very active as they bring social control from different angles. I must also externalise the content of my heart concerning the Vigilante (yan banga), they can do so very much in tackling these problems; our society should give them maximum support and cooperation.

Our institutions are like organs of the body as says by the Structural-Functionalism; they work together to perform every task. So, all these institutions: family, religious, political, educational e.t.c. should rise to the occasion; allowing any of the institutions in doldrums will negatively affect the entire institutions. Individuals too, especially the elderly should put hands on deck. Government should make education affordable to the financial ability of the masses and create employment for teeming youths who are going berserk at the state of this heightening unemployment.

Finally, it shall be my immense pleasure if this article reaches my targeted audience and even others who can offer helping hands to sanitize our already cramped society. Let's say no to drug abuse, thuggery, hooliganism, illiteracy, unemployment, indiscipline and laxity of our parents, government and security personnel in discharging their most needed duties. Our youths are said to be our asset, but if left untrained and uncared for, must surely be our liability.

("MubaraQ Ibrahim Mustapha.
Department of English and Literary Studies, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria").
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