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A former Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has issued a warning to Nigerian leaders and parents, stressing the urgent need to instill values in the nation’s youth to save the country from its current challenges.
He spoke on Thursday in Lagos at the 17th Anthony Cardinal Okogie Foundation Annual Lecture with the theme: “Harnessing Nigeria’s Youthful Population as a Tool for Nation Building.”
The cleric said the nation’s problems stemmed from poor leadership and the failure of parents to instill values in their children, emphasising the saying that charity begins at home.
He said, “Before we begin to proffer solutions to the country’s problems, it is only when our youths are brought up properly that they can become a veritable tool for nation-building. As the saying goes, charity begins at home. So, our first admonition is to parents. The home is the nucleus of society. It is from the home that basic foundational values such as respect, honesty, diligence, obedience, and self-control, among others, are inculcated in the wider society.
“Parents and guardians should examine how they bring up their children because what we see today is levity and outright failure on the part of some parents. The scripture admonishes us to train children the way they should go, and when they grow up, they will not depart from it. Before we begin to point accusing fingers at the government and society at large, let us go back to our homes and ensure that our youths are brought up with the right virtues and character that would instil in them the resilience needed to combat societal ills.”
The guest speaker and Vice-Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, Prof. Enase Okonedo, emphasised the importance of intentionally preparing Nigeria’s youth to unlock the country’s true potential.
Okonedo also underscored the critical role of family units in shaping Nigeria’s future leaders.
She said, “As we consider Nigeria’s youth, often referred to as leaders of tomorrow, it’s crucial we reflect on how to adequately prepare them. This preparation is key to empowering them to tackle today’s global challenges and lead Nigeria effectively, benefiting both its citizens and organisations.
“Also, we can’t rely solely on the government; families must educate their members on core human values. By adopting a multi-faceted approach, Nigeria can empower its youth to drive positive change and achieve its full potential.”
The Lagos State Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, said the youths were not just leaders of tomorrow but leaders who had already begun making their mark today.
Highlighting various initiatives taken to engage the youth in the state, he said, “One such initiative is the industrial placement programme under the Ministry of Works, which recently admitted 2,500 youths.”
