Major reasons Nigerian youths are angry

By Enyeribe Ejiogu

Two major reasons Nigerian youths are angry are the sense of hopelessness and economic hardship unleashed on them by some of the policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration. Yet, within the policy mix, the government has taken steps and set up governance structures intended to give life to the Renewed Hope Agenda. However, necessary links and policy balancing steps not yet taken or implemented have hamstrung the good intentions embedded in some policies. In this interview, National Coordinator of the Southern Nigeria Youths Forum and Convener of the National Youth Leaders Conference explains urgent steps that need to be taken to douse the tension in the country and give youths reasons to once again believe in the country and patriotically work for its unity and welfare.

The Bola Tinubu administration created the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. Would you say that youths are taking full advantage of the new ministry to push e-commerce enterprises? If not, what needs to be done and how can state governments assist in this regard?

The Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is a great thing to happen to our nation. The coming of this particular ministry in this era when there is much talk about the Internet of Things (IoT), and youths in nations across the world are deploying the internet, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and several other applications of information technology to create software and a myriad of apps to meet numerous needs as well as expanding the boundaries of the creative industry, I am super excited. I would like the governors to establish structures and frameworks that would enable them to domesticate these beautiful developments in their states and empower youths in such states with opportunities to vastly improve their digital skillsets and be positioned to take advantage of remote opportunities that can be created and facilitated by information technology. The whole world is a global village, and the entire global economy now largely depends on information technology to run and function. We saw that recently when there was a glitch in a Microsoft programme that grounded hospitals, airlines, airports, rail systems and affected even government departments. Again, when fibre-optic cables were damaged in the Red Sea, there was global impact on communications, shipping and distribution logistics. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs to be highly commended for his forthright move to ensure that Nigerian youths are integrated into the global digital economy. Therefore, there is need for state governments to go into partnerships with credible stakeholders to advance the vision and purpose of the establishment of the Innovation and Digital Economy Ministry. In this regard, the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), tertiary educational institutions and secondary schools should rise to the occasion, to train our young people right from junior secondary level to think like entrepreneurs and look at what they can use information technology to create, solve problems and create wealth. For instance, the media reported that the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, in 2022 to 2023 empowered about 15000 Imo youths with laptops after they had undergone training in various digital skills. That is very commendable. Other state governors should follow in his footsteps and connect with the hearts and minds of the youths and enable them create jobs and wealth and pay taxes to the government. That is how to grow the economy and stem the tide of illegal migration. I want to urge the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to partner with Imo State and Governor Hope Uzodimma, to reactivate the I-CAPS digital entrepreneurship centre to train youths. We need regional training centres across the nation. One centre currently exists in Uyo, the Akwa State capital.

In a major interview he granted to a respected online magazine, Mr Femi Otedola accused banks of wastefully investing about US$500 million in the ownership of private jets instead of supporting SMEs, especially those operated by youths that produce exportable non-oil products. How do you feel about this?

Mr Femi Otedola was absolutely right to call out the banks that are guilty of what he accused them of doing – that is, engaging in insensitive display of corporate extravagance instead of investing in technology that could enhance financial services delivery, reduce operational costs and also release the funds invested in the acquisition of the private jets into the local economy through provision of affordable loans to the productive sector of the economy, by assisting well organised Micro, Small-to-Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which would enable them produce more exportable non-oil products as well as processed and packaged agro-products, to earn foreign exchange. Truly, the banks are part of the problems of Nigeria. I have severally advocated that federal, state and local governments should not keep their funds in the commercial banks, but in the Central Bank. These banks only focus on getting money from the governments and that is why they shifted their focus away from the promotion of small and medium businesses in Nigeria. Overseas, in the United States of America for instance, small businesses get loans at very low interest rates to fund projects. Every month, the banks get billions from the governments as statutory allocations from the Federation Account. Therefore, they have little incentive do actual banking that contributes to the economy. No small business gets assistance from them. In fact. I once tried to institute a legal action against them for this reason. We, Nigerians, are very creative but there is no money to fund even the creative industry. Today, if you approach any bank for a loan, they will ask you to bring even your late parents. Even if you are qualified, you will not get anything, yet the banks declare trillions as profits. This is wicked and destructive.

The 2023 General Election strongly divided Nigerian youths along ethnic, religious and ideological lines (the Old Guard PDAPC versus the Obidients) and created massive distrust, such that no matter how good an idea is, it will be evaluated through the lens of tribe and religion. How does this make you feel and what can be done about it?

The 2023 election is gone. I want us to focus our attention on national development and matters that will unite our country. Usually, elections and the contest for power tend to create tension and division along religious or tribal lines. The last national election threw up the Obidient Movement. The reason is very obvious: the winner takes it all attitude. But with time, I believe this will change. Leaders must begin to build a new spirit of nationalism to unite the country. We must see ourselves first as Nigerians, regardless of tribe and religion. This is my new patriotic vision, which is to join hands with my brothers and sisters across the country to have a national youth leaders conference and dialogue, starting from October, to be held in Abuja, Kaduna, Owerri, Uyo and Lagos. For this purpose, I have started reaching out to everybody, including our political and religious leaders. so that we can build a ship that will accommodate all Nigerians. I will give scholarships to young Nigerians once my proposed university is approved. It will be an educational institution that will unite Nigerians. I have built a “Nigeria Admin Building”in the place. I have named various blocks after past and present leaders. Look at the average American youth, he is unique and committed to the unity of the United States, and it is this patriotic belief in the United States that makes their youths ready to die for the country.

The time has come for us to build a national movement for peace, unity and the progress of our great country. We must put politics, ethnicity and religion aside, and join hands to support the government in the quest to create a strong cohesion among our people. It is for this reason that we are organizing and mobilizing the youths, students and everybody to speak the language of love, togetherness. We have no other country than Nigeria. Speakers at the event will cut across all sectors – The Presidency, National Assembly, Judiciary, private sector, academia, political parties and traditional rulers. We want every Nigerian to be a peace ambassador. We are partnering with civil society groups and the media.

The Tinubu Administration has proposed the Windfall Tax, to raise money to fund infrastructure projects in the areas of health, education and other social services that can provide employment opportunities for youths. How would you describe some people in the rich class who are strategizing to undermine the move?

First, I want to say that President Tinubu is one of the best things to happen to Nigeria at this time. He is a strategic thinker and a man who has studied Nigeria as a book. He has created synergy, projects and programmes that will change the entire structure of government. I trust his ideas always and that is why we are praying and encouraging Nigerians to be patient with him because he is determined to bring about the desired change, but we must accept that the President alone cannot fight the people who have been eating from the national table for decades and also destroying our dear country. He needs our collective support. He is a civilian General, a courageous person who has gathered experience over time. Those who plunged our country into this mess will not go home without a fight; they want to continue in their ways. Imagine an oil producing country refining its crude overseas and bringing back only premium motor spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, aviation kerosene and automotive gas oil (diesel). What about the other products from the refining of crude oil such as associated or petroleum gas, lubricants, etc. For over five decades, we have simply refused to build and grow a petrochemical industry. All our refineries are not working. There is even an effort to frustrate the Dangote Refinery. It is a terrible situation. Concerning the people opposing the Windfall Tax, trust me, Tinubu will chase them out and reconstruct and rebuild Nigeria. I am building a support and encouragement group to stand with all Nigerian change ambassadors. You will see them across Nigeria. I have a team working with me. Nigerians would remember that I created Akpabiosm, which recognised the fact that Godswill Akpabio gave the average Akwa Ibom man a seat at the table of national discourse. The team is still strong, and it is the nucleus of the Southern Youths Development Forum, which is the platform I am using to convene the forthcoming National Youth Leaders Conference. This is not about politics, but the unity and welfare of Nigeria.

God created mothers to be natural nurturers of children. Similarly, school pupils tend to do better under committed and caring female teachers. Today, and for the first time in the history of our country, the chief executives of several major banks are seasoned female bankers who are also mothers. If you were given the opportunity to address them in one place, what would you tell them about youth entrepreneurs in the spirit of getting the country to move from consumption to production and export?

The emergence of female executives is the latest and best news about Nigeria. Really, there is a natural milk of kindness in women. The revolution has started. I think it is a global vision from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. In many other countries, including America, women are taking over the mantle of corporate leadership in the Banking and Finance Industry. I am fully convinced that we will see a very positive difference.