Nigerian Youth and Social Concern

The recent turn of events in Nigeria has largely exposed the composition, interest and uniqueness of the Nigerian youths. While some of these activities spurred the exhibition of incredible instant creativity, others have revealed the high disinterest of the Nigerian Youth populace in germane issues that are critical to their now and future. On the account of the supposed hilarious disposition and responses of the Lagos NSCDC Boss while on an interview on Channels Television, the Nigerian social media space has for over two weeks witnessed the buzz of #MyOgaAtTheTop, needless to highlight the chains of reactions being witnessed in the real world, where Video games, T-Shirt, Home Movie, Wrist Watch, all out on the credit of #MyOgaAtTheTop. These stream of spontaneous creative reaction from the youths is quite impressive, at least for sparking a huge sense of humour and relaxation in the ever heated Nigeria polity. While the social media space was agog with this trend, there came the news of the presidential pardon granted to some Nigerians who according to the recommendations of the National Council of State deserve the pardon-a development which has continued to amaze every right thinking Nigerian and its lovers in the diaspora. However, the focus of this engagement is not to analyze the presidential pardon but to situate the Nigerian youth in all these unfolding. In high expectation, I looked out for a swift shift from the hilarious and unproductive trend of #MyOgaAtTheTop to productive engagement of the government especially by the youths on the presidential support on corruption, the rising rate of insecurity in the country, massive unemployment in the face of government job creation claims, dwindling economic fortune, amongst other crucial issues to the existence and survival of the Nigerian Youth. But disappointedly, the Nigerian Youths saw no reason in engaging the powers that be. It is unfortunate, that the Nigerian Youth has found a comfortable corner in the feel good society such that he cannot think and act through on critical socioeconomic affairs that directly or indirectly affect him both now and in the future. He prefers to run his mouth on Facebook, Twitter, 2go, BBM...on frivolous and unproductive matters, rather than understand state policies, programmes and actions and engage the process even through the social media platform for nationalistic gains.  As a socially conscious Nigerian youth, I have come to realise how much I have paid and perhaps still paying for the mindless looting of public treasury by ex and serving public officials, high-level of corruption which has resulted in socioeconomic disaster, infrastructural deficit culminating in unnecessary lose of lives and properties, lack of basic social amenities, denial of a good today and the hope of a hopeless tomorrow. This is the unfortunate reality of our Nigerian society. I often wonder, why for so long the Nigerian Youth has not come to realise that the smallest of decisions made in Aso Rock or his immediate community will have a large impact on his pattern of existence and even those generations to come, that we, the almost 70% of the nation's population are always the worse hit of any unfavorable policy, yet we refuse to speak up when necessary, that the stolen public funds are meant to better his lives and those of his children, that the misappropriated money will impede our national development. That world over social transformations are driven by the youth, yet we are left out in planning and policies. That we hold the solution to this country's numerous challenges. Realisation brings about clarity of thought and direction. Until the Nigerian Youth realises that he bears the solution to the many challenges confronting this country, I am afraid, we will continually revolve in this circle of misdemeanor. A revolution of mind is key in changing our nation. You cannot change the world, until you change yourself. Values are a missing ingredient in this dispensation. We need young people of virtues and values, morality and competence, vision and excellence. Dear Nigeria Youth! We cannot attain any national success, except we get off the feel good society and face the reality that our great nation, Nigeria, is sinking off to an unredeemable point in the hands of the men of today perhaps yesterday, who are presenting us with a future packed with hopelessness, emptiness, shame and disgrace. YOU and I have a significant role to play. Be interested in social issues, because they affect all and sundry. Engage policies, programmes and actions. Join productive movements and discussions online and offline. Appreciate, promote and possess values and virtues. Be a patriotic citizen with the hope that our collective progressive efforts will produce a new, greater and better NIGERIA.

- ELEGBEDE TAYO JET      
  Twitter- @tayojet1

PODCAST: Freedom of Information Act In Nigeria

"The Real Story of Nigeria"

                                                NIGERIA! NIGERIA! NIGERIA!

If you are concerned and passionate about Nigeria, her present predicament and the looming gloomy future, then you must make out time to see this documentary "The Real Story of Nigeria" by Jide Olanrewaju.

The documentary gracefully takes you through the past, present and future of Nigeria which no history class can expose.

You have to know the past to understand the present and prepare for the future.

Happy Viewing!

Please share with Friends, Families and Foes!

Collaboration: The Way Forward For FoIA

With the establishment of the importance of the Freedom of Information Act(FoIA) in advancing public institution transparency and accountability in Nigeria, the last day of the two-day South-West Regional Sensitization Workshop for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), on the FoIA kick-started with extensive deliberation on the  relationship that should exist between CSOs and public institutions.

A strategic approach of collaborative engagement between public officials, institutions and CSOs was proffered as it was deemed the best approach for the advancement of the country’s nascent democracy. This, experts say will thrive on proactive disclosure of information by public institutions, even before the demands are made by interested citizens.

According to International Human Right Expert, Olusola Akinbode, “CSOs cannot single-handedly achieve the objectives of the Act, except with the collaborative involvement of all relevant stakeholders, ranging from the already defined public institutions, the media, the citizenry et al”.  Olusola, stressed the need to gainfully engage community gate keepers, as they play a non-negotiable role in societal development.

Group Picture of Workshop Participants

Drawing implementation insight from Mexico’s Freedom of Information Law success story, the workshop had a live videoconference with FUNDAR’s Janet Oropeza, who stated that Mexico has one of the most robust and progressive access to information statues internationally, although there exist the question whether legislative strength guarantees widespread compliance of the law. Janet noted that with consistent, strategic and altruistic engagement with state actors, the Freedom of Information Act, will be become effective in Nigeria.

The workshop also mirrored on the Indian example which has a huge number of the citizen population being aware of the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, as against the provisions of the country’s constitution.

An action plan and a general communiqué of expected actions towards the successful implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in the South-West and Nigeria as whole was drafted and adopted by all participants of the workshop.

                              Watch out for the copy of the action plan and communiqué.

                                        Remember…Information is Power! Think FoIA!

Nigeria and the Freedom of Information Act

World over, the quest for an open and transparent government is on the increase. In Nigeria, the story is no less as citizens now express more interest in public programmes, projects, policies and purse.

After years of torturous politicking, the Federal Government of Nigeria signed the Freedom of Information Act in 2011, an act aimed at making public records and information more freely available to citizens, consequently promoting accountability and responsibility in public life.

In line with its mandate of making democracy work, The Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) Project, is organizing a Two-Day South-West Zonal Sensitization Workshop for Civil Society Organisations on the effective implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in Nigeria.

Delivering the keynote address on the first day of the workshop, Justice Dare Aguda (Rtd), noted that “In a democracy every citizen should have access to necessary information although no right can be enjoyed in the society without restriction, not even the fundamental human rights”. Justice Aguda further stated, that since the Nigerian 1999 constitution does not specify how information should flow from public offices to the populace, the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act become helpful and should be leveraged on in order to effectively engage public institutions.

Speaking on the national, continental and global context of the Freedom of Information Act, Maxwell Kadiri, Open Society Justice Initiative, stated that the quest for the free-flow of public information started in Sweden in 1766 but today only ten African countries have an established Freedom Information Act-with Nigeria, Niger and Tunisia been the latest in the 2011. He posited that with the reality of the Nigerian society as a democratic system where sovereignty lies with people, their concern should take the centre-stage in any government while they also should actively participate in the governance process.

Maxwell highlighted that “The Freedom of Information Act is a critical ingredient that distinguishes democracy from dictatorship and defines the authenticity and vibrancy of democracy thus, access to information is at the heart of democracy”. He expressed optimism that in the next two-five years, larger percentage of Nigerians will demand relevant information from public institutions with words such as “I will FoI you”, becoming commonplace.

On his part, Lanre Arogundade, International Press Center, noted that the growing social consciousness amidst Nigerians should be sustained with the usage of the Freedom of Information Act especially in terms of obligations of public institutions whilst eliminating unnecessary speculations thus promoting public and social accountability and responsibility in the country.

PODCAST: MDG-POST2015 AND THE NIGERIAN YOUTH

Hi, Here is a podcast on the Millennium Development Goals, The Post2015 Agenda and the Nigerian Youth...Do listen and share with friends and networks. Your feedback will be appreciated. Cheerio.