THE NIGERIAN YOUTH AND THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING.

Stating that the social media has presented the average Nigerian youth with a platform to express their grievances against a myriad of issues regarding the nation and its leaders would be an understatement. From politics,legal issues,social issues,economic,religious and ethnic issues,the Nigerian youth have found a way of expressing their annoyance and grievances.


This advantage of the social media is threatened by the seemingly lack of understanding of the fundamentals of certain issues that trend before joining the conversation. Their lack of understanding and sometimes outright display of ignorance is often exhibited in the way and manner some youths engage in discussions - from the point of view and understanding of their 'SOCIAL MEDIA MENTORS'. Lately,it has become common place to see some politicians in a bid to score cheap points and blackmail opponents bring up irrelevant issues, lacking in merit and devoid of facts to even be discussed by kids let alone 'educated' adults in most cases. Unsurprisingly these desperate elements constantly devise means to befuddle the impressionable minds of their 'voltrons' who consider them 'all knowing'.


These voltrons are either too lazy to read, understand and take a stand of their own or too deficient in education to make critical judgements whenever they read. Some youths on various social media platforms now depend on their 'all knowing mentors' for interpretations of articles, laws etc, and sadly share their views no matter how uninformed or prejudiced the opinions of their 'bosses' are. They are too laid back to read, therefore lacking the initiative to make independent judgements based on facts believing their 'all knowing mentors' have answers to all questions and solutions to all problems. For instance, a large number of the youths on social media never bothered to read through the provisions of Section 29(4b) of the Nigerian constitution,which would have helped them to contribute meaningfully to the debate, but as usual some chose to sentimentalize issues based on religion,ethnicity and the viewpoints of their various social media mentors.


If we blame the present/past leaders for our woes as a nation, I wonder if this generation is any better with this prevalent lack of understanding and diligence to find out facts not just to restate the opinions of the various social media lords.


The breakdown of our educational system may be blamed for this due to a thousand and one shortcomings of the system. Educational re-orientation would go a long way in helping the youths,preventing them from joining conversations without first understanding the fundamental issues either for material,political gains or merely seeking the attention of their social media mentors.


Just like the children of Issachar(2 Chronicles 12:32), the Nigerian youth need to have an understanding of the times to be able to decipher between good and bad,willingly taking decisions that would ultimately be in their interest and that of the nation; not decisions based on the 'sweet talk' of selfish persons who are merely using them due to their lack of discernment and understanding.



The writer is on twitter @enenimubon