The Gospel of not too young to rule according to Prof Nanshin Emmanuel Nansak
THE GOSPEL OF NOT TOO YOUNG TO RULE ACCORDING TO PROF NANSHIN EMMANUEL NANSAK
Part 1
"Youth are a transformative force; they are creative, resourceful and enthusiastic agents of change be it in public squares or cyberspace." United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
The definitions of youth vary across states, nations,cultures and among international organizations. Today’s youth generation is the largest ever, with over 50% of the world under 25 years of age. The vast majorities of young people live in developing countries( e.g Nigeria), and close to half live on less than $2 a day. After 2015, the ‘youth bulge’ in developing countries is likely to start leveling off. This means that there is a limited window of time in which to reap the so-called ‘demographic dividend’ presented by this large, youthful population. For this to happen young people around the world must grow up to be healthy, educated, employed, empowered and politically active citizens who have financial security, a meaningful stake in governance and whose rights are respected and upheld. As the global youth population has expanded, so too has an awareness of the need to address the diverse needs of young people. Alongside this is an increasing recognition of the importance of engaging young people constructively in economic and social development. Recent events in North Africa, the Middle East, Brazil, West Africa, Turkey and elsewhere have served as potent reminders of the power of young people to demand and bring about dramatic change when their needs are not being met. Increasingly donors, NGOs and governments are turning their attention to how young people’s energy and skills can be channeled constructively to further development goals. Youth leaders are individuals who ‘think for themselves, communicate their thoughts and feelings to others and help others understand and act on their own beliefs. Investing in youth leadership therefore means giving young people the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, qualities, values and experience that will enable them to effect positive change whether it is at the level of their family, among their peers, in their community or wider society.
It is within the plethora of international frameworks, declarations and strategies that have emerged over the last two decades that some of the most powerful articulations of young people’s agency and leadership potential can be found. One of the first international declarations of the value of young people’s ability to contribute to development can be found in Agenda 21, the declaration which followed the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 which reads: It is imperative that youth from all parts of the world participate actively in all relevant levels of decision-making processes because it affects their lives today and has implications for their futures. In addition to their intellectual contribution and their ability to mobilize support, they bring unique perspectives that need to be taken into account. Agenda 21 (1992), chapter 25 paragraph 2. Also, The 2006 African Youth Charter captures the spirit of many of these: Africa’s greatest resource is its youthful population and that through their active and full participation, Africans can surmount the difficulties that lie ahead;[Stakeholders must] empower youth by building their capacity, leadership, responsibilities and provide access to information such that they can take up their rightful place as active agents in decision-making and governance.
It is high time we stay true to what is written on papers. Enough of these theories, it is show time. We are tired of empty promises; we want to be the fulfillment of those promises. The time is come. We are embarking on positively weird methods to radically transform the nation and overhaul every inhuman act towards the youth.
We are wielding our swords and sharpening our axes. Freedom is never free. And we have come to know that the tree of freedom must be watered by the blood of the tyrants. This we hold to be an incontrovertible truth whose validity cannot be debated. The Not Too Young To Rule Advocacy must see this country move from a national assembly, state assemblies, Local councils, and ministries dominated by recycled, aged, and unproductive leadership to a more diversified, effectual and vibrant leadership. We, through the Not Too Young To Rule Advocacy shall Integrate the locals with the global politics; Transform a generation which has been conditioned to be politically passive to more pro-active ones; and, restructure the country such that greater political and financial powers ceded to young people towards empowering communities to be captains of their fate and masters of their nations.
In a nutshell, we are advocating for transformational leadership and I poignantly believe that:
With transformational leadership, a landlocked country can create coastal waters and become a powerful State like Israel. With transformational leadership, Japan, a country devastated by World War II and devoid of natural resources can become a leading industrialized nation. With transformational leadership, a country can convert its desert into an oasis, like United Arab Emirate that is now a world-class tourist destination and international financial centre. With transformational leadership, a country can transit from Third World to First within 20 to 30 years, like Singapore under Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. With transformational leadership, a country can transform from a backwater, commodity exporting country to become one of Asia Tiger’s economies, like Malaysia under Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad.
PROF NANSHIN EMMANUEL NANSAK
Part 1
"Youth are a transformative force; they are creative, resourceful and enthusiastic agents of change be it in public squares or cyberspace." United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
The definitions of youth vary across states, nations,cultures and among international organizations. Today’s youth generation is the largest ever, with over 50% of the world under 25 years of age. The vast majorities of young people live in developing countries( e.g Nigeria), and close to half live on less than $2 a day. After 2015, the ‘youth bulge’ in developing countries is likely to start leveling off. This means that there is a limited window of time in which to reap the so-called ‘demographic dividend’ presented by this large, youthful population. For this to happen young people around the world must grow up to be healthy, educated, employed, empowered and politically active citizens who have financial security, a meaningful stake in governance and whose rights are respected and upheld. As the global youth population has expanded, so too has an awareness of the need to address the diverse needs of young people. Alongside this is an increasing recognition of the importance of engaging young people constructively in economic and social development. Recent events in North Africa, the Middle East, Brazil, West Africa, Turkey and elsewhere have served as potent reminders of the power of young people to demand and bring about dramatic change when their needs are not being met. Increasingly donors, NGOs and governments are turning their attention to how young people’s energy and skills can be channeled constructively to further development goals. Youth leaders are individuals who ‘think for themselves, communicate their thoughts and feelings to others and help others understand and act on their own beliefs. Investing in youth leadership therefore means giving young people the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, qualities, values and experience that will enable them to effect positive change whether it is at the level of their family, among their peers, in their community or wider society.
It is within the plethora of international frameworks, declarations and strategies that have emerged over the last two decades that some of the most powerful articulations of young people’s agency and leadership potential can be found. One of the first international declarations of the value of young people’s ability to contribute to development can be found in Agenda 21, the declaration which followed the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 which reads: It is imperative that youth from all parts of the world participate actively in all relevant levels of decision-making processes because it affects their lives today and has implications for their futures. In addition to their intellectual contribution and their ability to mobilize support, they bring unique perspectives that need to be taken into account. Agenda 21 (1992), chapter 25 paragraph 2. Also, The 2006 African Youth Charter captures the spirit of many of these: Africa’s greatest resource is its youthful population and that through their active and full participation, Africans can surmount the difficulties that lie ahead;[Stakeholders must] empower youth by building their capacity, leadership, responsibilities and provide access to information such that they can take up their rightful place as active agents in decision-making and governance.
It is high time we stay true to what is written on papers. Enough of these theories, it is show time. We are tired of empty promises; we want to be the fulfillment of those promises. The time is come. We are embarking on positively weird methods to radically transform the nation and overhaul every inhuman act towards the youth.
We are wielding our swords and sharpening our axes. Freedom is never free. And we have come to know that the tree of freedom must be watered by the blood of the tyrants. This we hold to be an incontrovertible truth whose validity cannot be debated. The Not Too Young To Rule Advocacy must see this country move from a national assembly, state assemblies, Local councils, and ministries dominated by recycled, aged, and unproductive leadership to a more diversified, effectual and vibrant leadership. We, through the Not Too Young To Rule Advocacy shall Integrate the locals with the global politics; Transform a generation which has been conditioned to be politically passive to more pro-active ones; and, restructure the country such that greater political and financial powers ceded to young people towards empowering communities to be captains of their fate and masters of their nations.
In a nutshell, we are advocating for transformational leadership and I poignantly believe that:
With transformational leadership, a landlocked country can create coastal waters and become a powerful State like Israel. With transformational leadership, Japan, a country devastated by World War II and devoid of natural resources can become a leading industrialized nation. With transformational leadership, a country can convert its desert into an oasis, like United Arab Emirate that is now a world-class tourist destination and international financial centre. With transformational leadership, a country can transit from Third World to First within 20 to 30 years, like Singapore under Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. With transformational leadership, a country can transform from a backwater, commodity exporting country to become one of Asia Tiger’s economies, like Malaysia under Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad.
PROF NANSHIN EMMANUEL NANSAK
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