International Youth Day 2024: Nigeria Youth are obviously manipulated, if not of digital technology, Nigeria Political and Economical systems might have successfully and forcefully resist Youth Voices:

International Youth Day is aimed to draw the attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding the Youth. The International Youth Day was first celebrated and observed on 12th August, 2000.

In 1965 to 1975, the General Assembly of the Youth, Economy and Social Council emphasized three basic themes in the field of Youth Emancipation: (i) Participation, (ii) Development, and (iii) Peace. The need for an International Policy on Youth was emphasized as well.

The General Assembly of the Youth passed a resolution in 1979, topmost deliberation are for Youth participation, Youth Development and Peace.

In 1985, the resolution 40/14 of the Assembly of the Youth also endorsed the guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of Youth Emancipation. The guidelines are significant for the focus on the young people as a broad category comprising various subgroups, rather than a single demographic entity's. They provide proposals for specific measures to address the needs of subgroups such as young people with disabilities, rural and urban youth and young women. 

In December, 2009, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution 64/134 proclaiming the year commencing 12th August 2010 as the International Year of the Youth, calling upon Governments, Civil Society, Individuals and Communities worldwide to support activities at the Local and International  Levels to mark the event. 

The International Youth Day was first endorsed in 1985. The International Youth Day is commemorated on the 12th of August every year, bringing Youth issues to the attention and to the tables of the International Community and celebrating the potential of Youth as partners in today's global society. 

The idea of International Youth Day was proposed in 1991 by the young people who gathered in Vienna, Austra, for the first session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System. The forum recommended that an International Youth Day be declared, especially for fund-raising and promotional purposes, to support the United Nations Youth Fund in partnership with Youth organizations. In 1998, a resolution proclaimed 12th August every year as International  Youth Day and was adopted by the first session of the World Conference of Ministers responsible for the Youth. The above are the history behind the Celebration of International Youth Day which was started in 1998.

In Nigeria, we join the Youth across the World to celebrate the International Youth Day, but it is obvious that youth in Nigeria are marginalized, and if not of Digitalisation, Nigeria Political and Economy systems might have successfully and forcefully resisted the voices of the Youth.

Let us look at this broadly: Economy, Political, Policies and Justice. We need to ask ourselves these questions: Is the Nigeria Economy favourable to the Youth? Does Nigeria politics considered the priority of Youth involvement in her affairs? Does Nigeria Policies create an enabling and conducive environment for the Youth? Does Nigeria law justify the right of the Youth in the democracy we claimed  to be practicing in Nigeria? What are the impacts of Digitalisation in penetrating the various arms of government on allocation of responsibility to Youths in our Democratic rules as a Nation? 

We need to hold our Leaders responsible,they owned us explanations,they need to tell us the reason why Nigerian Youth are marginalized and why the Youth in Nigeria are shortchanged and this is the right time to correct the abnormalities. 

It is only through digitalization that will make Nigerian Youth to flourish in blessed ideas, and wisdoms, other sectors is all about sabotaging the Youth of this Nation. The craziness has to stop.The political Class and Leaders behind this sabotage and the political radicalism must be challenged and cautioned. The voices of our Youth must be echoed and be taken serious at all level of governance.

We need to tell ourselves the truth, Nigeria Economy and Political arrangements is not friendly to Nigeria Youth, the set of people controlling the economy of this Nation are very wicked, they hate the existence of the Youth, they didn't believe in Youth Ideology, they refused to engaged the Youth in developmental activities of our society, and surely this is not good as a Nation. The Political Class worsen  the situation, they deliberately cheats on the Youth on the percentage apportioned to the Youth in position sharing and Political Participation.

Don't let anyone deceive you again, we Youth must fully participate in politics, this is where they cheat us, this is where they sideline us, this is where they take charge and also shared our resources, we own this Country together, we needed to retired all the old system and unproductive Political classes, we can achieve this together by making use of our huge percentage population and with determination and one voice,we will surely achieve the goal.

They have forgotten that,any Nation who neglected the Youth participation and advocacy, neglected the future of that Nation. This craziness must stop, we must call our Political Leaders to attention, we are lost and far from the right direction. The problem of this Nation commenced when the Political Leaders started sideling and also neglecting the voices of the Youth and is the bases of the problem the Country is facing currently and this can never be stopped until we have major allocation of positions for the Youth in both Political, Economy and consideration of Youth policies and engagement.

That is why you see some Youth in this Country, making use of Social Media to navigate and explore their chosen career and profession. Digitalisation is directly helpful to our Youth and also contribute positively to the career of Nigeria Youth as well. Digitalization has accommodated numerous Nigerians and no one can argue about this.

As the world is celebrating the International Youth Day this year 2024, which was not limited to only Nigeria, the Youth in our society should take advantage of Digital System to promote their chosen career and also encourage their colleagues who are still neglecting the power of Social Media in this current Civilised World to retract and also changed their orientation by going for Digital System if they love their future.

Large population of Nigerian Youth are succeeding through the opportunity of Digital System or Mediatisation and it contribute to the Economy of this Country. 

International Youth Day is a must to celebrate, it is our day and we are excited to see the Youths in our society succeeding through the use of Digital Media System. There are so many opportunities in Digital Technological System, let us all keyed in to the available opportunities we have at our reach, we have a lot to achieve as a Youth through digitalization process.

Let me use this opportunity to call the attention of the Government at all Levels to prioritize the Youth Agenda, to give priority to the Youth at all level of governance, this is very important and it is a must to implement.

Neglecting the Youth in our society is like abandoning the future of a Nation. We can't continue like this and expect good results in the future, the Youth in our society are clamouring for the betterment of the society from the government who needed to protect the future of the Youth by doing the right thing. 

Above all, all agencies of Government in the Country, should specially design a specific budget for the Youth  in order to secure the future of our Nation and the Youth who will be the leaders of our Nation tomorrow.

Government should equip the Youth more with meaningful empowerment Programs and Schemes that will make them proud of their Nation; Nigeria, Youth is making use of this opportunity;  International Youth Day, year 2024 to plead to the concern stakeholders in our Country, Nigeria for a better attention for Youth participation, advocacy and demand. 

I celebrate with my colleagues; Youth, in the World, African Countries, Nigeria and all States in all region of Nigeria on this special day both in Africa and other Continent of the World for this wonderful opportunity that we are all enjoying as a Youth. 

Our leaders should stop damaging the future of the youth, it is imperatively dangerous to our democracy as a Nation.

Comrade Samakin Abdul-Jeleel Abiodun (ORIWO)

MS Commination Skills, Native intelligent and Leadership Democracy 

Write from Odeomu Town, Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State, Southwest, Nigeria and from West Africa.