As three Nigerian parliamentarians met with young people in a sparks-filled Q&A session during the Abuja conference, one issue quickly rose to the top of the agenda. Reveling in the opportunity to share their opinions on adolescent health and good governance, the young people wanted to clarify their role as future leaders.
They want to be leaders today; they do not want to wait.
The problem with being labeled “future leaders” means the mantle of leadership always remains in the future, said S. Urias Goll, a project officer for Mano River Union Youth Parliament in Liberia. “Young people should participate. Let them be present leaders. Let us not see young people as future leaders.”
The comment drew raucous applause from the adolescents packed into the meeting room. The parliamentarians embraced young people’s desire to affect politics and called on them to become more involved.
The Honorable Saudatu Sani, a member of the Nigerian Parliament, said, “We as a parliament have allocated money [for youth programs]—more than 400 million [Naira] this year; I’m telling you want I did with my hand. It is now for you to find out what are they are doing with that money.” Sani noted that Nigeria’s legislative branch allocates the money, while the ministries spend the money. “As young people, you must take a stand. … The Nigerian budget is on the Internet, go and get it. Then find out what happens to youth programs in Nigeria. Let’s work on the present and the future.”
Government needs to involve young persons in creating programs that affect them, said the Honorable Senator Olorunnibe Mamora. “It is better for youth to come together and articulate their own positions on issues,” he said. “For every bill, we have public meetings. How many people show up? There is a need for outreach to the constituency. There has to be engagement.”
Asked tough questions from young people (and a few elder researchers) in the crowd, the Honorable Senator Daisy Danjuma in turn challenged them to become more politically involved to improve the government’s implementation of programs. “We have some basic problems in our society. Policies are made—fine policies, fine plans—but implementation of policies is the problem in Nigeria,” she said. “The reason is accountability in Nigeria. You can only sustain development by rule of law. If I do something and get away with it, then how do we progress? We have to be accountable. We know what is right, but you youths have to help too.”
In a spirited exchange with a Nigerian journalist, Senator Danjuma decried the corruption in the media, the journalists who are mere “envelope collectors” filing stories that are paid for by sources. “I happen to have worked in television. I know what the media is supposed to do—educate and enlighten the public. The media should expose what’s wrong in the society. Your role is most critical to society. What you do in the media is the only thing can change society. Please report right and expose those who do not do jobs well.”
Some in the audience hooted and shouted, “They will lock you up!”
They want to be leaders today; they do not want to wait.
The problem with being labeled “future leaders” means the mantle of leadership always remains in the future, said S. Urias Goll, a project officer for Mano River Union Youth Parliament in Liberia. “Young people should participate. Let them be present leaders. Let us not see young people as future leaders.”
The comment drew raucous applause from the adolescents packed into the meeting room. The parliamentarians embraced young people’s desire to affect politics and called on them to become more involved.
The Honorable Saudatu Sani, a member of the Nigerian Parliament, said, “We as a parliament have allocated money [for youth programs]—more than 400 million [Naira] this year; I’m telling you want I did with my hand. It is now for you to find out what are they are doing with that money.” Sani noted that Nigeria’s legislative branch allocates the money, while the ministries spend the money. “As young people, you must take a stand. … The Nigerian budget is on the Internet, go and get it. Then find out what happens to youth programs in Nigeria. Let’s work on the present and the future.”
Government needs to involve young persons in creating programs that affect them, said the Honorable Senator Olorunnibe Mamora. “It is better for youth to come together and articulate their own positions on issues,” he said. “For every bill, we have public meetings. How many people show up? There is a need for outreach to the constituency. There has to be engagement.”
Asked tough questions from young people (and a few elder researchers) in the crowd, the Honorable Senator Daisy Danjuma in turn challenged them to become more politically involved to improve the government’s implementation of programs. “We have some basic problems in our society. Policies are made—fine policies, fine plans—but implementation of policies is the problem in Nigeria,” she said. “The reason is accountability in Nigeria. You can only sustain development by rule of law. If I do something and get away with it, then how do we progress? We have to be accountable. We know what is right, but you youths have to help too.”
In a spirited exchange with a Nigerian journalist, Senator Danjuma decried the corruption in the media, the journalists who are mere “envelope collectors” filing stories that are paid for by sources. “I happen to have worked in television. I know what the media is supposed to do—educate and enlighten the public. The media should expose what’s wrong in the society. Your role is most critical to society. What you do in the media is the only thing can change society. Please report right and expose those who do not do jobs well.”
Some in the audience hooted and shouted, “They will lock you up!”
"You have to pay a price if you want things to work,” Senator Danjuma responded.
Senator Mamora encouraged youth and all Nigerians to become better informed. “A friend once said that one of the easiest ways to hide something from Nigerians is to put it in book form,” he said. “We have a very poor reading culture. That is why it is very easy to be misled. You can always get the right information if you have that habit of reading.”
In closing, youth leader Tope Folaranmi acknowledged the communications gap between policy makers and youth and sought to emphasize what they agreed on. “We agree the future is now. We have to have confidence to believe one another to move forward. We concluded there is a desperate need for mentorship. I want to challenge young people as President Kennedy did. Young people, don’t ask what Nigeria can do for you. Ask what you can do for this nation.”
Senator Mamora encouraged youth and all Nigerians to become better informed. “A friend once said that one of the easiest ways to hide something from Nigerians is to put it in book form,” he said. “We have a very poor reading culture. That is why it is very easy to be misled. You can always get the right information if you have that habit of reading.”
In closing, youth leader Tope Folaranmi acknowledged the communications gap between policy makers and youth and sought to emphasize what they agreed on. “We agree the future is now. We have to have confidence to believe one another to move forward. We concluded there is a desperate need for mentorship. I want to challenge young people as President Kennedy did. Young people, don’t ask what Nigeria can do for you. Ask what you can do for this nation.”
Brian W. Simpson, editor of Johns Hopkins Public Health magazine
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