Should we talk about the wide-spread 'lazy youths' narrative? Young people thrive daily. Students spend the bulk of their time reading. Working-class youths spend theirs working. Even the so-tagged cyber swindlers spend their time making money. Now, do we call that lazy?
An average Nigerian youth is currently on the lookout for betterment. Nobody wants to remain dependent on a long-lost uncle or one Mummy Canada. Yet, the older generation would rather choose not to see the struggles that young adults face in the future-forward process. From their couches, with protruding bellies, they analyse how youths are wasting away their lives; comparing 2022 to 1982. "When I was your age," they would say, "I was jumping rivers and climbing palm trees. Look at you, spending your whole life on your phone."
They fail to realise that times have changed and the accolades they got from climbing palm trees should also be accorded to youths who devote their time into technological skills like graphics design, content creation, web development, UI/UX, among others. Yes daddy, I bagged five certificates online this year. I did that! Let them know making use of your electronic gadgets is not waste of your life (except of course you are truly wasting away your time surfing the internet).
This 'lazy youth' idea has so engulfed the older generation that it has penetrated the political atmosphere of the country. Nigeria is gradually turning to a gerontocratic nation. Well, why not? "Youths are lazy. Youths are senseless. Youths are immature." Wait, who are the leaders of tomorrow again? Yeah, I thought so too.
Dear Nigerian Youth, give yourself the accolade you deserve. Because why not? You are smart. You are strong. You can become anything you want to be as long as you put your mind to it. You are the future! So, that idea that you are useless, perish it! Do you know that you can change that narrative even from now? Well, yes. Get your PVC!
- Aanuoluwatomiwa Oke
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