By Mimi Chiadikobi
The South-East Coordinator, Coalition of Nigerian Youth on Security and Safety Affairs, Ambassador Chibuzor Ekwenye, has attributed youths decay to neglect, frustration and poverty in the society.
Ekwenye, who stated this in an address on the occasion of International Youths Day in Awka, Anambra State, defined youth as early period of existence, growth and development.
According to him, youth have been destroyed by themselves, government and society but there is still hope for redemption in future.
He said that It is very unfortunate and painful also that the society currently has been taken over by crime and criminality of a monstrous proportion.
He lamented the degree of killings, kidnapping and money rituals going on in the southeast and the country at large as very worrisome.
Ekwenye generally blame the problem on the leadership of the country at every level, adding that the value of moral instructions and sports/recreation was also dead in our various institutions of learning in the country.
He said that teachers both at the private and public primary and secondary schools in Nigeria, do not devote time anymore to instilling morals and discipline in their pupils.
Ekwenye said that the poor attitude of teachers can be related to the psaltery wages/salary they receive for their services.
" I want to seriously suggest as well as plead passionately with the authorities at every level of government to revisit the salaries paid to our teachers.
"The government should also be very serious in monitoring the developments and activities in schools, mainly the primary and secondary schools," he said.
He suggested that Craftsmanship and Entrepreneurship vocations should be re-introduceed to the curriculum of primary and secondary schools.
He said that the large decay and lousiness in the society can be heavily attributed to the lack of basic skills in any vocations amongst the Youths after their school days.
He noted that It is very unfortunate that almost 70 percent of the students that graduated from secondary schools do no't get admitted to the university immediately.
Hr said that some youths do dropout of school because of funds, while some didn't get the requisite grade for admission.
Ekwenye said that the days and years they stay at home is very important in their lives and the society at large as such plans needs to care for the youths.
He said that given attention could either be used to incubate criminal tendencies or use it to develop the "skills" they acquired from their various secondary schools.
" I want to suggest that the government at every level should provide a proactive incubation/vocational centers at various states and Local governments. These centers should be made to be very effective and attractive.
"Out of school children should be made to enroll there to maximize their potentials, learn new crafts/vocations and develope.
"I also suggest that the participants in these centers be given some weekly or monthly stipends also to encourage them.
Ekwenye said that the various governments should also set out an effective monitoring mechanism to ensure that this program/project is not bastardized.
He appealed to State Government at all levels should as a matter of necessity, begin to think about establishment of industries in the various states and Local governments in the country. Our Youths are not lazy. Our Youths wants to be positively engaged and challenged too.
He belives that competition among every state should be on how many industries they were able to institute in their various states. Industrial revolution should of a matter of urgent necessity, begin in the southeast and Nigeria at large.
He urged that the job of various town unions and traditional institutions should be revisited and well defined.
The local securities and Vigilante groups should be looked into and fortified.
"I believe strongly that if the various local securities/vigilante groups in our towns are encouraged it will yield positive results.
He advocated for that teachers be retrained and mobilised adequately, the current insecurity situations will be drastically reduced if not neutralised.
The various established security architectures in the southeast and Nigeria at large should be more encouraged and fortified for better output.
He lamented that the rate of insecurity now does not mean well for the nation, and is seriously affecting/impeding development at every level.
Also, Periodic engagements, meetings and fellowship between the various established youth bodies, the civil society groups and the government at every level should be encouraged.
"The government has to create avenues to interact with the Youths, feel their pulse and give them a sense of belonging in the society and in governance.
I believe strongly that if the above aphorism and suggestions is given attention, we will rediscover our Youths and regain our nation.End