"Sir, what is the dominant challenge facing the average Nigerian youth?"

Its been a very busy month. Speaking engagements, consulting sessions and lots of faith-based and social activities worthy of my time investment.

Last weekend, I was in Lagos, Nigeria for the DREAM BIG Conference 2009, organized by the 3M International, a vivacious and purpose-driven organization headed by Mr. Kenny olagbenjo. I spoke alongside Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo, Pastor of David Christian Center, situated in Lagos State, Nigeria. Never met the guy until that day, I must confess, the guy's got a head! He's both smart and intelligent. I was informed his church is a fast growing one, not so surprised though.

I had a great time with the folks there, predominantly youths. I spoke on the topic: THE DREAM, THE DREAMR and HIS GOD. It was a big wow!

At the end of the conference, I was approached by some press guys who asked me some salient questions bothering on the fate of the Nigerian youth. Chief amongst them was: "What do you think is the dorminant challenge faced by the average Nigerian youth?"
I didn't need to think much before answering this question. I have always said that the core issue the average Nigerian youth is faced with is LACK OF DIRECTION, KNOWLEDGE OF THE WRONG INFORMATION AND MENTORSHIP BY THE WRONG PERSONS.
This is the foundation of all the problems. What we lack is not just physical infracstructure, but mental infracstructure. We are a generation that is value-deficient. In a normal sane and progressive society, every youth ought to have a belief system he/she can live and equally die for, not just existing to accumulate age. Her youths must do more than mere existing... Her youths value education more than entertainment...

I think there is a very easy way out! I believe every youth in Nigeria connects to some religious belief system of some sort. So, if like we all know, the political class have failed this generation, shouldn't this be the right time for our religious leaders to provide the much needed direction and a selfless shoulder to lean on? Different from what should be, a huge bunch of our religious leaders seem to be socially irresponsible, so much so that they have several warped theologies to back up this unjingoistic attitude. To these ones, they are not socially obligated to society... Their obligation is to their 'God'! Sometimes I wonder, if this would have been the reactions of Jesus Christ [or Mohammed] to the gross mediocrity and moral bankruptcy that strangulates the dreams and hopes of the average Nigerian youth, if they were to live in our contemporary days?

The gross ineptitude and unpathrotic attitude of our religious leaders ought to change! They must do more than just sermonize... With the current shape of things in this country, the average Nigerian youth seems to have no where and no one to run to for help, guidance and assistance. He is left to FACE THE FIGHT, which in most cases, he unavoidablywalks into.

Fact is, at the end of the day, the responsibility for change all comes back to the individual youth. We must decide to be like the crop inside the soil; the crop always fights its way out. No matter the hardness of the soil, every determined crop somehow finds expression. Folks, no determined dreamer ever dies without expression. Determination is the key to expression and fulfilment, especially when you find yourself in a society like ours!

Every Nigerian youth must develop a dream for himself; a dream for his future. In the face of the seemingly ever-increasing challenges, we must choose to see with our minds, not our eyes. We must make a conscious choice to be 'eyely blinded' but 'mindly sighted'. We must make and take responsibility for our lives and choose to be the real pilot of our destinies, trusting God to lead the way, choosing to stand for what is right and shouting down all forms of mediocrity and warped perspectives that seeks to undermine our future and the worth of our present.

There is hope for this country. More than ever, I know there is hope from my generation. Weekly, I move around this country and I meet with outstanding youths, the exceptionally intelligent and purpose-driven ones. Most of them have taken it upon themselves the sole responsiblity of building this country from where they are, the very best way they can... Who dares say there is no hope? There is!This is the best generation ever!

I dare say, certain elements in the failed generation should be wary of the kind of values they try to hand down to us, because henceforth, we are going to test and x-ray them, before accepting any. That is, if at all we will.

We now know we are indeed the pilots of our destinies!

MY INDEPENDENCE MESSAGE....

Happy independence, Nigeria!

Unlike every other year, I am so happy about this year’s celebration, maybe it’s because the Nigerian people and the world generally is gradually falling in love with the ‘Nigerian-thing’.

Dear friends, this is the best time to share ideas, not just drink, eat or sleep. It is more than a holiday. This is the best time for us to look at where we’ve been and decide where we want to be in 1year, 5years, 10years time. It is not up to ‘Aso-Rock’ alone, every Nigerian is a decision-maker as far as our national progress is concerned.

To start with, every nation is ruled by systems. America is said to be the greatest nation on earth; this is because of their systems. No president works all by himself... He is under the rule of systems. Thus, the rot in our system is not personage, it is systemic. Therefore, for a better and more virile Nigeria, the system must be re-worked.

The systemic problem is what has defectively affected the mentality of our people. Up until now, our minds have been conditioned to look up to a central body to take care of us and our needs. The ‘slave-master’ thing is still there... Thus, a married man believes his only responsibility is to impregnate his wife; the rest is left to government.

Our minds have to be reconditioned. The million-naira question is: HOW?

Let’s look at 2 very practical ways....

I have discovered that virtually everybody has passed through both or one of these 2 fundamental systems: the religious system or school system. We have all gone or still going through these systems.

If you carry out a very scrupulous scrutiny, you will discover that a lot of our mental conditioning has been a product of these two systems. The defects in our society are a reflection of the rot and decay in these two systems.

First, the school system must be restructured. Up until now, the school system has made everything UNI-DIRECTIONAL. Students are trained to rely on a central body for their wellbeing and future. Thus, when he fails, there is somebody he throws his blame at. Students are not trained to RESPOND TO THEIR ABILITY, but to rely on other people’s ability... The minds of these young ones are conditioned to worship wealth... Their minds are accustomed to be dependent – the SLAVE MENTALITY... These young ones are trained to shift responsibilities. Since most of us have passed through this system, we were also mentally conditioned same way...

For a change, entrepreneurial thinking has to be taught and emphasized. Responsibility thinking. There is more to life and living than what the system currently offers. These young ones, who are supposed to be the productive strength of the Nation, are so ignorant of what truly works. Like Plato once said: “what you know is infinitesimal compared to your size of ignorance...”

There must be conscious redefinition of standards for redirection for the benefit of the FUTURE.

Each citizen of a nation is an independent idea that can develop this country. This implies that we have over 140million ideas to move this nation forward, this is much! All we need now is for each citizen to express his/her unique being. The reason babies are born every day is because the world is not yet what it should be. There is something every person can contribute, there is. We are the most blessed Nation on the face of the earth, yet we live in the poorest conditions.

How do we move Nigerians forward? Simple! Let every Nigerian be courageous enough to express his unique being. Have a personal dream that will profit you and your country, and fight to make it a REALITY. Despite the several odds - where there is a will, there will be a way. As individuals, we must have the “what can I do” mentality.

Let’s embrace the RESPONSIBILITY mentality – RESPONSE TO ABILITY.

I will talk about the defective religious system tomorrow...

Have a most productive and fulfilling 'independence-day' celebration!