The Youths and Leadership in Emerging Democracies

Abstract

Every generation of youths tends to have its own leadership challenges and opportunities. These are usually posed by the prevailing political and socio-economic circumstances of the day and the effects on the youths as a social and generational category. In Nigeria, different generations of youths have experienced leadership challenges and opportunities which can be said to have been peculiar to them. How well or otherwise they have tended to grapple with them appears to have been a function of their proper diagnosis of the leadership challenges and opportunities as well as the determination to face them with a unity of purpose and commitment. What are the leadership challenges and opportunities in emerging democracies of today?  What implications do they have on the Nigerian youths?  What can the Government and the leaders do to help them instead of just labelling them “lazy” as President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria did in London, U.K. at the Commonwealth Heads of States and Governments Meeting on the 18^th April, 2018?  This paper attempts to address these questions.  It concludes that while we expect the youths to do their best, there are two major things that the Government and leaders can do to help them succeed.  First, Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), whose tasks are focused on Youths Affairs, must do their work diligently and mobilise the youths to be able to deal appropriately with these leadership challenges and take advantage of the opportunities in contemporary Nigeria.  Second, National Youth Leadership Education and Skills Training must be organised for the youths for them to successfully tackle the challenges of their generation.  This way, they will be ready to become good leaders of tomorrow.