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| Nigerian Youth Corps Members |
One of the greatest lessons
history has ever taught us is that two of the factors that define the progress
of any society are its youths, its viable educational structure, coupled with
its ability to harnesses the two together for certain developmental targets. Looking
around from the nook to the cranny of the country, as a patriotic Nigerian, it’s
often painful when you see your country being lackadaisical towards what will
thrive its developmental prospects. The consequence of this ‘i-don’t-care’
attitude may be said to be what describes where and what we are –a nation
languishing in the illusion of past glory and clearly bereft of agenda of
modern development.
Agreed or not, the fact is incontrovertible
that when a nation, either by design (of ignorance) or default, configures its education
and its youths at the lesser end in the national scale of preferences, such
nation is digging its grave gradually. And for Nigeria, from the vision-bereft
dimension it manages its teeming legion of youths and its meager management of
education system, it can be concluded that, unknowingly it’s hitching towards
the brink of what seems to be a perennial ill-luck. This is what we don't pray
for. But if care is not taken many Nigeria’s best brains will leave en mass,
searching for flora and fauna and in pursuit of their personal survival and
academic goals oversea, where they can easily explore their world better. Worst
for Nigeria they will go ahead to forget home -a colossal loss for a nation of
great brains.
Youths and education, as being
often preached are the bedrock of national development. And for any nation that
has set the dreams of greater objectives for itself it must start building its Jerusalem
by exploring the plethora of unlocked opportunities in its youths. This by providing
a conducive ground of academic excellence for them and ensure their future is
totally secured. This is what America did and still doing; this is what most of
the European giants do. Singapore, close to two decades was in the same murky
pool of ill-luck- a third world nation like Nigeria in dire need of positive
fundamental changes in their both economic and political streamline. Today
Singapore remains one of the respected Asian Tigers.
Interestingly, we may want to
know what makes them attain such a positive turning point and significant
landmark in a quick time, the answer is clear: serious political restructuring,
development-oriented economic policies; and significantly they set a basic
standard of academic target for their youths, instilling in them well-monitored
core values of leadership and giving them senses of belonging. Why this Canterbury
tale, someone may ask. It’s because of the brutal aftermath of the failed coup
in Turkey which is still generating ripples of controversy and global concern
in regards to the excessive power abuse of power-drunk Turkish President Tayyib
Edorgan, which unfortunately Nigeria is also a victim of.
For those close to the media, one
of the reports garnering concerns and calling for fast drastic action from
Nigerian government is that of the Nigerian youths schooling in Turkey, who are
now being treated like slaves at the Turkish Airport. According to one of the
victims, Aminah, a 400L student who was arrested and forcefully deported back
home like illegal immigrant, the aftermath of the coup has made Turkey a hell
ground for Nigerian students in Turkish universities.
Lest we forget, immediately after
the coup about 40 Nigerian students were evacuated from their various
universities to another without prior notice. When our government didn't take a
serious look into the matter, the Turkish government capitalized on this
inaction, and the next that would happen is this embarrassing development -a
slap on our country’s face. These are the future of Nigeria facing one of the
crimes against inhumanity in someone else's land. As usual as what Nigeria is
known for, no productive step has been taken. Hysterical enough our ‘aggrieved’
lawmakers are still on whether to summon Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria or take
the next line of action, while our brothers and sisters are in Turkey suffering
like they never have a fatherland. Maybe by now they would have been asking why
they are Nigerians.
Arrogantly, Turkey is yet to
tender an official reason of conviction for its action. And I am very sure if
it were students of another country –even Turkey –facing this challenge,
Nigeria would not hesitate to issue an official statement of remorse due to
inter-country mutual respect and diplomacy. We’re all aware of the recent Synagogue
saga in Lagos which claimed a quite number of South-Africans; we are all aware
of how S/Africa spat saliva into the sky making braggadocious threat against
Nigeria. This is a nation in Africa, arguably a ‘small brother’ to Nigeria
seeking for justification of its citizens’ death. Tragically enough during the
recent xenophobia in S/Africa which claimed the precious lives of our brothers,
Nigeria’s response was not fit of the self-conferred title ‘Giant of Africa’ –it
lacked diplomatic class! We all know how Nigeria reacted: vainglorious threat
against DSTV, MTN and other South-African companies in country. The rest is now
history.
Now back to the Nigerian Turkey
students, the thought that sets in is: if Nigeria was a country that put
education first, why would any Nigerian wake up in search of sound academic
ground offshore? If Nigeria was a country placing paramount value on its youths,
why would they not have the feeling that their future is secured in their land;
why would they wake up calling their land a cesspit? If as vibrant as 70 per
cent of Nigerian students are, our universities have not lost the bearing of
moral excellence and academic values; our polytechnics and college of education
have not become dens of cultists, or incessant strikes have not deluged all our
first generation higher institutions of learning, these helpless patriotic
Nigerians in Turkey wouldn't have fallen victims of embarrassing circumstances.
This is unfortunate, and maybe a
call for Nigeria to do the needful. We hope FG will quickly intervene and
ensure the safe arrival of these students, and necessary actions will be put in
play to ensure that the future of Nigerian youths is guaranteed. If image of seriousness
can be created out of this ridiculous scenario, why would the Niger-Delta
militants or the poverty-ridden Northern youths lured to terrorism, not drop
their weapons and embrace the flag of new Nigeria? This country can only be better
if core rebranding starts from the government. The change begins with them.
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