THE FUTURE OF THIS GENERATION –A Wake Up Call for Nigerian Youth Home and Abroad

I’m sure that you have all read through three guest writers on ‘ DIS GENERATION’ page managed by amiable Jennifer, for the past weeks; Temidayo Israel-abdulai, Isikwenu Oghenefego and Jessica Rimington all discussed one thematic focus which is FUTURE and YOUNG PEOPLE .

I want to share an excerpt from an address that was delivered by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered at Oberlin College on June 1965, Ohio entitled ‘Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution’ he shared the story of Rip Van Winkle; the things that we usually remember about this story that is -Rip went up into mountain for his long sleep, when he went up, the sign had a picture of king George iii of England, when he come down, years later, the sign had a picture of George Washington, the first president of the United States. When Rip looked up at the picture of George Washington he was completely lost; he knew not who he was. This reveals to us that he slept through a REVOLUTION.

Revolution! That is my focus, the three guest writers talked about the issue of future generation without sounding the word revolution which I believe as only solution to under-youth development in our country. Dayo Israel , a young Nigerian I respected so much, talked about “My Hope for Future Generation” I could remember vividly in one of my meeting with him in Lagos , I said that we need to bring down our commitment and passion to grassroots so that young citizens there would understand those developmental issues and participate.

Isikwenu Oghenefego said that many young people have lost hope in this country- Why? Those countries they ran to had their own turbulent period and through socio-political-economic revolution they are smiling today. What am advocating for is in support of what Jessica Rimington of One World Youth Project talked about “The future’s Future” in her context she encouraged connectivity of ideas and frowned at social inequality, believe me my fellow young Nigerians the concept of egalitarianism should be encouraged among Nigerian youth home and abroad and our coming together-‘the synergy’ is the key.

My wake up call to all Nigeria youth on a final note is in accordance to what an elder statement, politician and journalist of higher repute Chief MCK Ajuluchuwa of blessed memory said “… I foresee a revolution, may be after my life time, a great revolution arising from the youths, a violent revolution not a peaceful one, where all the tyrants, all thieves of public fund will be slaughtered like in the RUSSIAN REVOLUTION of 1917 .

Never allow it to be said that you are SILENT ONLOOKERS, DETACHED SPECTATORS but you are involved participant in the struggle to make social revolution a reality, a revolution without violent in Nigeria .

By Guest Witer on Dis Generation, THE NATION Newspaper (sundays):

MAYOWA Adeniran A youth- development Journalist with Youngstars Foundation, Jos Executive Officer, African Youth Television Network, (AYTV)

GO ASK ALICE!

Do you know enough about your health and sexuality to help you stay in good shape and out of trouble? It is no longer news that where providing comprehensive information is concern, some parents and teachers still find the task difficult. Thus, they only tell us what they want us to hear and sweep the rest under carpet until the media rescue us from our state of deprivation!

Talking about the media, despite the junks on the internet, there are some outstanding websites that are taking the lead in providing useful information that can be accessed free of charge by anyone. I stumbled on one of such wonders of the Internet recently, actually I heard about the link in a programme organized by MTV Base Youths Are Talking. The facilitator simply said, “…Check out www.goaskalice.com…”. The name alone is enough to spur anyone into action. I was intrigued by the resourcefulness of the website.
Basically, Go Ask Alice is an interactive website that is created to provide reliable, accurate, accessible and culturally competent information to help readers make responsible decisions about their health. You can “Go Ask Alice” questions on relationship, emotional health, alcohol, drugs, fitness and nutrition, sexual health and other general sexuality and social issues.

I actually posted a question to Alice (don’t ask me what question) but was disappointed when I did not receive an instant response as expected. This is because all questions and responses have to undergo a review process in order to ensure a qualitative and accurate response is given. When you submit a question, Alice checks her archives to know if similar queries have been addressed in the past and if it has, you are directed to the page prior to getting a response to your question.

Go Ask Alice, which is supported by a team of Columbia University Health educators, health professionals, research experts and health related organizations world-wide, can be accessed free of charge by students, parents, teachers, other professionals, the elderly, and everyone! Some interesting features on the website are: Questions and Answers of the week, Go Ask Alice Archive and Ask Alice (this gives you an opportunity to submit a question). However, Go Ask Alice is not created to address all issues because there are questions that should be better directed at “go see your professional doctor or counselor”.

“I am afraid to tell my mum I am pregnant”, “Should I tell my friend I am attracted to him?”, “Is social smoking really bad for me?”, “dining out effect on health”, “confused about HIV statistics” etc. are some of the issues I read up from the archives. It is amazing how much you can learn from this professional website. So whether you want to do some armchair psychoanalysis, learn by reading the diverse issues raised by others, or ask a question of your own, Go Ask Alice and get a fresh perspective to help you stay well informed and healthy!

PHONE DATING EXCESSES OR CRISIS?

On a lighter note, I will love to share with you my friend’s phone dating dilemma…in his own words “…so that no guy ever falls into the same pit that I did”. And yeah, I am sure ladies can learn from this too since mobile phone has become a critical tool needed to hopefully negotiate, build and keep an intimate relationship, a new added value of GSM!He writes: A couple of week ago, a certain number was constantly flashing me, so I decided to send a text to know who it was.

The 1st call came through at exactly 12 midnight. If I had known it was some phony call, I wouldn't have picked it up because I have a standing rule that every person that does midnight calls is nothing but a damn cheap-skate.Unfortunately for me I did pick it and lo' and behold on the line was the most beautiful female voice I have ever heard, believe you me, it so beautiful that she would make you pee in your pants. So we did get talking while I still trying to know how she got my number. Before long that became no issue, all that mattered was talking to this chic. I was stuck on her. I called her about 5 times a day and she did same, telling me that if she doesn't talk to me in an hour, she's not satisfied. My male instinct kicked in and got me excited!

After her exams, instead of going home she decided to come to Lagos . I should have got a cue of what was to come when she asked if I wasn’t interested in seeing her. She got to Lagos on a Friday night; my expectation was stake high, hoping to see a beautiful damsel that would totally knock my socks out. But my expectation crashed to debris, leaving me blank, as I tried to convince myself that the person in front of me wasn’t the girl I have been talking to, considering the fact that she told me that on a beauty scale of 1 to 10, she was an 8 but what was standing before me short of a 6.

The next couple of minutes got me thinking about how to ditch this girl. She was every thing that I don’t want in a woman- fat, too spiritual, the whole anchelada. I later found her hanging with my friend whom I think gave her my number, and she asked me to come see her. To avoid her suspecting on my plans to ditch her I paid her a visit that Saturday. After all said and done she simply refused to get the silent message... Girl Get a life! Well to cut the story short, she left for school this morning and I haven't called her. I do hope that she don’t call me or remember me. Like I said before screw free call and phone dating. What do you think?

(Thanks Samuel for sharing!)