WE ‘ALL’ RESPONSIBLE!

RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT?

As a street boy like most youths, I was redirected and ushered into what I am currently doing today known as 9ja knowledge show with the following three life changing sentences;

1. You can make it in Nigeria devoid of crime- no matter what,

2. Everyman/woman you meet bless and prosper you either ways,

3. And speak evil of no man but all the good you know of everyone!

That voice and propulsion from GOD is what has sustained me, the project and that is why my email opened ten years ago, reads yesnigeria4life@yahoo.com. So, it is not my business to celebrate ‘the why’ or ‘point fingers’, especially, because, we are “ALL” responsible but to contribute my quota in redefining and blaze the trail of youth/human capacity development and empowerment.”

“If you ask most people on the street the simple question, ‘who is responsible for the current decadency in our society?’ The response you are sure to get is- ‘…the government, politicians and the successful people – company owners.’

Who is the government or the rich people? “WE”- you, my humble self, our relatives, friends and fellow citizens- these people represent the mental and moral state of the wider society- good or bad!

If you walk up to the politicians or public servants in the government, most of them would tell you, it is a mutual business and or likely act too busy doing what they think they should do- but time and event overtake them by surprise.

And if you stoop to ask most men in business and social organizations, what do you get? We are in business to make money, we have scope and budget we are working on, besides, it’s the government’s responsibility to provide security, job and to re-orientate the society.

Those who are specially called like my humble self to inspire and empower the society, got sidetracked by mounting challenges that was meant to perfect us and didn’t sustain the calling as we should. We allowed ourselves to be carried along by the wind of get rich quick at all cost.”

I once called a Lebanese C.E.O, doing business in Nigeria, inviting him to be one of the proud sponsors of the youth development and empowerment programme we organized; what did he have to say, after several maradonic dribbling, he finally said, ‘I no be sponsor’ and cut the call.  

Don’t get too angry with the Lebanese fellow, because, as a team, we also invited high profile fellow Nigerian C.E.O’s and top government officials who did the same, likely because, they feel they were secured, but times are changing- they now know better.

Some of these people went as far as stealing the project, but like you know, THE VISION runs beyond what we wrote to them and as such they couldn’t execute it even with their position and unlimited funds at their disposal. I meet the former Warri South Chairman, Hon. Mathew Mofe Edema to complain about this daybreak stealing and oppression which was enough to take the boys back to the street.

I smiled at them and bear no grudges because; I now know better- they were doing what they were suppose to do- perfect us by their challenges. This reminds me of a popular story amongst the Christendom which goes something like this “if the devil knew that impaling Jesus Christ was in line with the redemption game plan of GOD and would attract the cloud of witnesses now calling his name, the devil would have changed his mind to- ‘stay and don’t die and let’s see how you would redeem man!’”

So, look at the people who challenge you as people who do not know what they are doing, at the end, you would realise that, the challenges post before you is what you need to be what your are created to be- this I can say at the top of my voice- again and again!

And that is why, I believe that most people who fast, pray, bind and cast don’t really know what they are binding and casting, most times, they use their mouth and hand to bind and cast away their most cherished dream they have all day and night being looking for.

And again, like other great men and women have overtime confirmed, ‘who God has blessed no man can curse- we are nothing but pencil in GOD’s hand and nothing without HIM!’  

YOUTH CHALLENGES

Let me state here that, most youth related restlessness of whatever form is not far from REJECTION and DISAPOINTMENT; more so because, most of them were not properly trained on how to handle REJECTION and DISAPOINTMENT or on how to manage NEGATIVE responses they get from the people they so much respect or hoped on.

There are two sides to every coin; these aggrieved youths end up saying to themselves, ‘...if you cannot give because of God, then you must give because of the devil- and funny enough, most people and the society give because of the devil.

That is the simple interpretation of the current system of AMNESTY and EMPOWERMENT- denote bomb, claim responsibility and be empowered or write to companies, if they didn’t respond, go there armed and they would gladly pay you!’

And I think, like many good thinking people have overtime complained, this does not in any way portend a glorious future for Nigeria. In most cases we inspired these youths take up arms by our response to them.

I have written several letters to international organisations – even to CNN and all of them respond within 24 hours, but to Nigerian organisations, few responded. But sad to say, they do respond positively when youths come around them with arms as armed robbers, militants or as redefined development tax collectors as they are known in some part of the country- we can no longer indirectly continue to force these youths to take arms, that is not good for our and the wider society’s security.

I am not saying that, successful people or the government should throw away their hard earned money or not, but that; there are better ways to truly empower these youths. We should respond to these youths honourably- share in their pains, inspire, discover and develop their talents and speak hope into them.

Most times, these youths don’t know who they truly are- I mean their dormant abilities, we can supercharge them with simple words. In most cases, the act of given them free money/skill acquisition destroy them rather than make them, I can say that again and again!

For example, within the same period, we wrote to a man we now respect so much, Rev. Dr. Tolar Ikem, the C.E.O. of Triune Ventures Limited, invited him to be one of our proud sponsors.

Unlike some other C.E.O’s who hide themselves with security agents and turn down calls if you ever have the rare privilege of having their mobile contacts; when told we were around, he walked out of his office honourably, met us at his reception, shook hand with us and said;

“…young men and women, I love what you guys are doing, however, I must also confess that, I no longer know who is who, because, a lot of young men come around proposing one youth development related programme or the other, on giving them the money, that is the last you hear of them. Please keep the timely and good works going; I would personally call you when I see you doing what you say you are doing.

And again, I am on a mission like you, but decided to be doing this my small contract business to avoid begging people for support to my ministry...”

He didn’t give us a dime/kobo, we walked away smiling, because he dignified us and told us the truth we all know and should know.

However, I would not fail to mention this; our previous programme was a success because of the timely support we got from great men like Mr. Billy Ofesi, C.E.O Biloritz Nig. Limited.

And funny enough, Mr. Ahmed Mazolum, the M.D of Unitop International – who coincidentally is the younger brother of the Lebanese C.E.O I mentioned who turned us down. Dr. Ochuko Akpeme, the Proprietor of Classical International School, Mr. Sunny Ozobialu of the Wichtech Group and Federal Government College Warri.

You would agree with us that, running impact making youth development programme is finance intensive, but, to GOD Almighty be all the glory, our event made a positive impact that youths yet talk about to date.

THE MATRIX

Imagine if these people and organisation didn’t respond to our challenge when it mattered most, what would have happened?

UNLEASH THE DRAGON

Most importantly, imagine if we had allowed youthful exuberance to overrule our sense of reason, thus misinterpret and respond to the Lebanese response this way, which was also possible;

“In our country, a Lebanese, making money and yet have the effrontery to say ‘you are not a sponsor, then why are you here making money, pack and go by fire and by thunder’?”

UNLEASH THE GREATNESS

We unleashed greatness by handling the challenge responsibly, and latter enjoyed his younger brother’s patronage because, we know the rule of the game of business- you win and lose some and win latter- even in regular day to day business!

There are obvious indicators that, most youth’s related restiveness are not far from the response and the kind of attention we gave or did not give them.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER?

To parents; How many youths understand and play by this rule of the game of life and why? Most of them are ignorant of the rule of the game of life. Who should teach them? WE- the successful and we would by helping them help ourselves, and that is exactly what these great companies like Microsoft, Nokia, Intel have figured out!

If these youths are inspired and empowered, they would have money to patronised the unending smart devices/products they are producing and also secure their investment in Nigeria/Africa.

 

To youths: would we have enjoyed the Lebanese man’s younger brother patronage if we had gone all out to rain fire and thunder on his elder brother? NO!

Would we have been able to make the much talk about impact and be celebrated as inspirational role models to the youths? Again, NO!

You would agree with me that, most situations that take you to the street are decoy for you to destroy yourself by yourself with your own hand.

WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE- the Youths and the Parents! So, don’t point fingers; to us, it’s time to learn from our past- what has held us back and redefine the future!

The truth is that, most unsuccessful people today in life were at different spot in life close to ground breaking success but lost out, why? Because, they were ignorant of success power- knowledge! WE HAVE TO GO OUT THERE TO THE STREET AND COACH THESE YOUTHS!” Okri John