YOUTH PARTICIPATION: A Way Forward for Nigeria’s Development

byAKINRINDE, Ibukunoluwa Jeremiah

AGENDA• FOF’s Drive• Vision & Strategy of RUN• Introduction• Explanation of Key Terms• Why Youths?• Our Worries• The Way Forward• Conclusion

FOF’S DRIVEToday, there are far too many mouths to feed, increasing rates of crime and

degenerating value for life than any other statistics in history will show. Our society no doubt lies in deep moral decay that demands urgent and collaborative

efforts from concerned people who are willing to make a change. As we move from discussing the effect of rural-urban migration, to the widening gap between

the rich and the poor in the society, to the colossal damage caused by the growing negligence of our value system, the need to support and sustain quality education, care and inspire hope, cannot be overemphasized. The problems that

stare us on the face today are beyond mere words. Action is a must if any meaningful impact can be made.

VISION & STRATEGY OF RUN• We have a vision for a better nation; a Nigeria of frank and candid academicians, dependable

and honest artisans, God fearing and faithful pastors, decent and law-abiding citizens, trustworthy and upright youths, caring and compassionate doctors, honourable and truthful politicians, open and sincere business community, courageous and reliable public servants.

• We have a vision for a country where judges are just and impartial, soldiers, policemen and women are compassionate and considerate, traditional rulers embody distinction, dignity and decorum, bankers are honest and honourable.

• We have a vision for a future generation of creative, innovative, inventive entrepreneurs. We want to mould a generation of kind, thoughtful and gentle adolescents, who are motivated to build and sustain a better Nigeria where peace, justice fairness and Godliness reign. We are looking forward with optimism and intense anticipation for a Nigeria we can all defend, protect and the proud of.

• On graduation from RUN, you will become a rock in which gems are embedded. These gems are the precious and prized characteristics of decency, honesty, humility, integrity, probity, tender caring nature, uprightness, virtue and just plain goodness .

INTRODUCTION• Recent statistics from the Ministry of Youth Development shows that 28.14million Nigerian

youths, representing 42% of the youth population, are unemployed. The statistics also indicates that 80% of the unemployed youth have only secondary school certificates and below. Some graduates have taken-up jobs that demean their worth.A number have fallen into crimes and social vices. Others have embarked on visionless emigration in search for ‘greener pastures’.

• This appears irreconcilable with the fact that Nigeria has several growth reserves, which when spurred, could catapult the growth rate to 10% or more for a sustained period as China has experienced in the last two decades. For example, a substantial part of Nigeria’s productive resources remain idle – waiting to be mobilized. Only 40% of the arable land is under cultivation, with 60% lying fallow. Much of the natural resources – oil, gas, bitumen, limestone, iron ore, columbite, gold, coal, gypsum, etc. – remain untapped.

• Nigeria has the 6th largest deposit of natural gas in the world, and in the next few years, income from gas will surpass earnings from oil. Also, Nigeria possesses a reserve of resourceful population which provides the potential of a sound bridge of the future. Our large and expanding youthful population could provide the continuing growth dynamite as oppose to the ageing Western population.

EXPLANATION OF KEY TERMSMeaning of Youth• The time of life when someone is young : the time when a young person has not yet

become an adult (Merriam-Webster).• The early period of existence, growth, or development (Merriam-Webster).• Youth is also defined as "the appearance, freshness, vigor, spirit, etc., characteristic of

one who is young" (Dictionary.com).• Youth is the stage of constructing the self-concept. The self-concept of youth is

influenced by several variables such as peers, lifestyle, gender, and culture.[9] It is the time of a person's life in which they make choices which will affect their future (Wing, John, Jr., 2012).

• The UN, for statistical consistency across regions, defines ‘youth’, as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years, without prejudice to other definitions by Member States. (UNESCO).

• Other synonyms: adolescent, juvenile, youngster; schoolboy; etc

EXPLANATION OF KEY TERMS (Cont.d)

Meaning of Participation• Participation in social science (i.e., management, economics and politics) refers to different

mechanisms for the public to express opinions - and ideally exert influence - regarding political, economic, management or other social decisions. Participatory decision-making can take place along any realm of human social activity, including economic (i.e. participatory economics), political (i.e. participatory democracy or parpolity), management (i.e. participatory management), cultural (i.e. polyculturalism) or familial (i.e. feminism). (Wikipedia)

• From the administrative viewpoint, participation can build public support for activities. It can educate the public about an agency's activities. It can also facilitate useful information exchange regarding local conditions. Furthermore, participation is often legally mandated. (Glass, J.J., 1979).

• From the citizen viewpoint, participation enables individuals and groups to influence agency decisions in a representational manner. (Eva-Maria Verfürth, 2013).

• Other synonyms: involvement, involution, engagement, taking part, contribution, partnership, involvement, assistance, sharing in, joining in, partaking, etc.

EXPLANATION OF KEY TERMS (Cont.d)Meaning of Youth Participation• Youth participation is the active engagement of young people throughout their

communities. (Wikipedia).• Youth participation is the involving of youth in responsible, challenging action that

meets genuine needs, with opportunities for planning and/or decision-making affecting others in an activity whose impact or consequence is extended to others— i.e., outside or beyond the youth participants themselves. (National Commission on Resources for Youth).

Meaning of Development• The systematic use of scientific and technical knowledge to meet specific objectives or

requirements (BusinessDictionary.com).• An extension of the theoretical or practical aspects of a concept, design, discovery, or

invention (BusinessDictionary.com).• The process of economic and social transformation that is based on complex cultural

and environmental factors and their interactions (BusinessDictionary.com).

WHY YOUTHS?• Because half of the 7 billion is under 25 years old.• Youths being the largest segment of the nation’s population structure should be seen as an

essential asset – a crucial pool of talent, ideas, and energy – that plays a critical role in addressing the challenges related to national instability.

• Young people are crucial actors in advancing the work of our mother land as they are the principal stakeholders of societies that are increasingly free from stereotypes, discrimination and extremism.

• It is important to recognize young people’s contribution to promoting respect and understanding and fostering dialogue among people of different backgrounds.

• Youth constitute the true basis of the sustainability and impact for any nation that really wants to position itself for landmark developmental stride.

OUR WORRIES

Year Commercial Banks Loans to Small Scale Enterprises (N’m)

Commercial Banks Total Credit (N’m)

Commercial Banks Loans to Small Scale Enterprises at percentage of Total Credit

1992 20,400.0 41,810.0 48.8

1993 15,469.9 48,056.0 32.2

1994 20552.5 92,624.0 22.2

1995 32,374.5 141,146.0 22.9

1996 42,302.1 169,242.0 25.0

1997 40,844.3 240,782.0 17.0

1998 42,260.7 272,895.5 15.5

1999 46,824.0 353,081.1 15.3

2000 44,542.3 508,302.2 8.7

2001 52,428.4 796,164.8 6.6

2002 82,368.4 954,628.8 8.6

2003 90,176.5 1,210,033.1 7.5

2004 54,981.2 1,519,242.7 3.6

2005 50,672.6 1,899,346.4 2.7

2006 25713.7 2,524,297.9 1.02

2007 41,100.4 4,813,488.8 0.85

2008 13,512.2 7,806,751.4 0.17

2009 63,300.7 35,167,203.7 0.17

2010 60,424.7 37,433,800.6 0.16

Ratio of loans to small scale enterprises to commercial banks’ total credit (1992-2010)

The amount of percentage of total loan to small scale

enterprises as a proportion of total

credit reduced drastically over the

years.

Source: CBN Statistical Bulletin – Computed from Deposit Money Bank’s Returns

OUR WORRIES (Cont.d)

Country Population below $1 a day (%) World RankBotswana 30.3 67Ghana 28.6 78Nigeria 70 6Tanzania 36 52South Africa 50 24

Poverty in selected African countries for the year 2012

Source: www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?v=69

Source: www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?v=69

The poorest of these category & 6th in the world.

Country Human Development Index (HDI) World RankBotswana 0.634 119Ghana 0.558 135Nigeria 0.471 153Tanzania 0.476 152South Africa 0.629 121

Human Development Index in selected African countries for the year 2012

The least developed of these category & the 153rd in the world.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index

OUR WORRIES (Cont.d)

IndexCrime Index: 77.80Safety Index: 22.20

26.7

48.3

UrbanRural

Source: http://www.numbeo.com/crime/country_result.jsp?country=Nigeria

Crime Index & Safety Index

OUR WORRIES (Cont.d)

Item 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011Population 140.4 145.0 150.0 154.3 159.2 164.3Economically Active 78.9 81.4 84.1 86.7 89.5 92.4Labour Force 57.5 59.3 61.2 63.1 65.1 67.2Employed 50.3 51.7 52.0 50.7 51.2 51.1Unemployed 7.1 7.5 9.1 12.4 13.9 16.1Newly Unemployed 0.1 0.46 1.6 3.3 1.5 2.1

Nigerian Labour Market Indicators, 2006-2011 (Million)

Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS): 2011 Annual Socio-Economic Report, Abuja.

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12

EMP GRDP UEMP

The Nigerian Economic Paradox

The Nigerian economy is an ironical reality of economic theory-• Rising Real GDP Growth Rate• Rising Unemployment Rate• Falling Employment Rate

OUR WORRIES (Cont.d)

(1)Decreasing

Employment

(2)Increasing

Unemployment

(4)Insufficient & depleted

foreign exchange reserve to import essential capital

goods

(3)Lack of investible funds

to explore business opportunities

Need for an individual embrace of the SME option

Need for a national embrace of the SME option

Source: Akinrinde, I.J. (2014)

The graph in the previous slide portrays a serious unemployment gap that can’t be met by the traditional increase in employment level. This explains why we are perpetually wallowing in poverty and a circular flow of penury.

The Circular Flow of Penury

OUR WORRIES (Cont.d)

Year Poverty Incidence (%) (Head Count)

Estimated Population (Million)

Population in Poverty (Million)

Non-Poor Moderately Poor

Extremely Poor

1980 27.2 65.0 17.1 72.8 21.0 6.2

1985 46.3 75.0 34.7 53.7 34.2 12.1

1992 42.7 91.5 39.2 57.3 28.9 13.9

1996 65.6 102.3 67.1 34.4 36.3 29.3

2004 54.4 126.3 68.7 43.3 32.4 22.0

2010 69.0 163.0 112.47 31.0 30.3 38.7

Poverty in Nigeria, 1980-2010

Source: National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Nigeria’s Poverty Profile, 2010.

OUR WORRIES (Cont.d)

Zone Food Poverty Absolute Poverty

Relative Poverty Under $1 Per Day

North Central 38.6 59.5 67.5 59.7North East 51.5 69.0 76.3 69.1North West 51.8 70.0 77.7 70.4South East 41.0 58.7 67.0 59.2South South 35.5 55.9 63.8 56.1South West 25.4 49.8 59.1 50.1

Geo-Political Structure of Poverty in Nigeria, 2010

Source: National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Nigeria’s Poverty Profile, 2010.

OUR WORRIES (Cont.d)

Sector Food Poor Absolute Poverty Relative Poverty Dollar Per DayUrban 26.7 52.0 61.8 52.4Rural 48.3 66.1 73.2 66.3

Urban/Rural Incidence of Poverty by Different Poverty Measures Including Food Poor (2010).

Source: National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Abuja.

Food Poor Absolute Poverty

Relative Poverty Dollar Per Day0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

UrbanRural

THE WAY FORWARDThe Positive Youth Development (PYD) TheoryThe theory of PYD suggests that “if young people have mutually beneficial relations with the people and institutions of their social world, they will be on the way to a hopeful future marked by positive contributions to self, family, community, and civil society” (Lerner, R.M. et.al, 2005). To that end, PYD refers to intentional efforts of other youth, adults, communities, government agencies, and schools to provide opportunities for youth to enhance their interests, skills, and abilities. “The positive youth development approach aims at understanding, educating and engaging children in productive activities rather than at correcting, curing or treating them for maladaptive tendencies or so-called disabilities” (Damon, 2004). PYD is both a vision, an ideology and a new vocabulary for engaging with youth development (Lerner, R.M. et.al, 2005). Its tenets can be organized into the 5 C’s which are:

• competence• confidence• connection• character• caring

When these 5 C’s are present, the 6th C of “contribution” is realized. (McKay et.al, 2011).

THE WAY FORWARDA Call for National Vanguards

• The nation now is bewildered with lack of sustainable and effective SME-initiatives, wrong policy frameworks, hostile environment, backwardness in technology, over-dependence on imported products, lack of motivation of workers, poor technology, over bureaucratization, government instability, unemployment, insecurity, inadequate infrastructural facilities, a poor attitude to work, and poor leadership style amongst other factors.

• Today we find more youth who chooses to spend their days taking hard drugs and playing video games; instead of bettering themselves or going to work. They have no vision and if they do have dreams they do not have the drive to make any attempt at achieving them. Things have to change, with our schools, with the older generation being good role models, with the older generation being mentors, and with the youth who are right now doing nothing.

THE WAY FORWARDA Call for National Vanguards (Cont.d)

We need immediate panache to address this malaise; which include but not limited to:• Establishment of a Department of Business, Innovation & Skill to address the concerns

of youths Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).• Volunteerism, patriotism, philanthropy & nation-building.• Establishment of youth advocacy council as a unit of the ministry of youth development• Need for value re-orientation.

CONCLUSION• From the presentation so far, we can therefore decipher that youth participation refers

more particularly to a highly organized, intelligent groups of men and women who will plan ways of using public funds efficiently and effectively for the good of the citizenry.

• This group of men pioneer experiments, and blaze trails in new fields of endeavour. They are the brains of civilization. We all know that steam ships and railroads do not spring up from the earth and function automatically. They come in response to the call of civilization, through the labour, ingenuity and organizing ability of men who have imagination, faith, enthusiasm, decision, persistence!

THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING