WE ARE VOTING, WE ARE THE FUTURE, THE FUTURE IS NOW…by Okereka Eseoghene
The first keynote speaker, Mr Festus Adibe (Founder, The Thinker’s Pub) at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, during the global campaign and advocacy organization, ONE organized a Vote Your Future Youth Summit; spoke on “The Nigeria of Our Dreams” and noted how much of the public conversation about Nigeria focused more on the negatives than positives. He asked the audience for opinions on things in Nigeria that had vastly improved and got suggestions like our Entertainment Industry especially the music space, the improved communication systems between policy makers, politicians and citizens; and finally the ease of access to verifiable information about policies and events that affect the lives of citizens.
By citing the eventual drop in sim card prices over time, he proposed that some things could improve if left to private individuals to solve than waiting on government intervention, as even though the government would always play a vital role in how certain things are run, we hold the obligation to ask of ourselves what things we can currently do/handle better than the government.
The 2nd Keynote Speaker, Mr Lekwas Chimezie, (clinical psychologist and social activist) talked on “Youths and Governance” by speaking about the strength/power in taking a stance for issues that bother us. He referred to popular figures like Malala Yousafzai (shot in a bus from school) and Rosa Parks (refused to stand up in a bus) who by taking a position where able to trigger change. With the worrisome population statistics that list people within 16-25 years make up more than 70% of our population which continues to grow exponentially with no available jobs or realistic plans to help improve their quality of life.
Next was a panel session tagged “Know the Issues” moderated by Onyekachi Onuoha (ONE Champion) which was framed around the questions:
- What are the issues you think the government elected in 2019 should focus on and why?
- Interaction on job creation, education, health, agriculture, etc. What are the challenges youth face in these issues? What kind of solutions are they hoping for?
The panelists criticized our attitude of hero worship towards politicians, citing the lack of cohesion among students and student leaders to complain publicly (e.g. holding placards during campaign trips) especially when around politicians to generate traffic and invite questions on the ASUU strike.
Another panelist, Iheanyi Igboko talked on youths as the trustees of prosperity but in today’s reality we seem to live in a time that answers the prayer/quote by former USA president Herbert Hoover “Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the national debt.” For him, choosing a candidate would be influenced by one who provides the chance for supporting the aspirations of youths and can offer specific and smart plans to solve the unending debt crisis.
ONE Campaigns assistant Olalekan Obisesan spoke on how to get involved with ONE activism/become a ONE member and encouraged members of the audience to sign the petition for #VoteYourFuture.
In calling upon all aspiring leaders to endorse the Youth Declaration, ONE continues to be a global movement campaigning to ensure that everyone everywhere can lead a life of dignity and opportunity.
Their hopeful agenda for speaking with ONE voice in solving the issues that worry Nigeria is through supporting policy and social change and to hold people accountable for their words and actions.
Remember that none of us are equal until all of us are equal.
WE ARE VOTING
WE ARE THE FUTURE
THE FUTURE IS NOW