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Stakeholders in Youth Development on Saturday expressed worry over declining societal core values and rising moral decadence amongst youths in Nigeria.
The stakeholders expressed their concern at an event organised by the Indomitable Youth Organisation (IYO) to celebrate the 2023 International Youth Day in Benin.
Dr Bright Oniovokukor, the Director of Project of the organisation, said it was more worrisome to find out that the most interesting things to the youths today are money and immediate gains.
According to him, it is becoming increasingly difficult to bring the youth to a gathering to brainstorm once no immediate gratification is attached.
“If we do a flashback, we recall the sacrifices made by our fathers to get knowledge and information for better future. Those sacrifices today have been termed either as stress or suffering,” said the project director.
Oniovokukor said the theme of the event “Green Skills for the Youth: Towards a Sustainable World”, was carefully selected, claiming that green skills were knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society.
The gathering, he said, was convened to take a critical look at the prevalence of social vices in Nigerian society and what the future portends for the youths of today.
In his goodwill message, Chief Patrick Eholor, the President, One Love Foundation, Benin, said since the youth always felt alienated from the older generation and vice versa, there must be a way to bridge the gap so as to create a better future for all.
Eholor, popularly known as Ultimate Equal, stressed the need to respect the perspectives of all generations and find a common ground on issues including social vices.
Regardless of age, he said, everybody was affected by resultant effects social vices; hence it becomes essential to work across generations in solving the problems.
Mrs Stella Ojeme, the Coordinator, Child Protection Network (CPN), however, urged parents to live up to expectations in the upbringing of their wards.
Most of the societal issues revolving around the youth today, she said, were as a result of failure of some parents.
“Children believe more in what they see us doing than what we say. What are we teaching them? They are so intelligent that they begin to learn, from the first, whatever they observe.
“Parents must teach moral, value, integrity and other principles that can make this world a better place for us.”
The cross-section of other speakers and contributors at the event harped on the importance of youths in the society and the critical role expected of them to play in national development.
This, they agreed, would be a mirage in an environment where youths engage more in ills such as drug abuse, political thuggery and illegal businesses.
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