By Prof. MK Othman
From youthful exuberance to delinquency and then to full-blown violent crimes, the youths are restive, and we are losing control of the situation, creating a bleak future for the nation. From Bama to Badagary, the story of youth involvement in illicit drug use and crime is pathetic and, more dangerously, creating a monster that requires our collective efforts and responsibility to crush. After a series of write-ups on Nigerian youths and their undesirable behaviors that have become a time bomb, I was alarmed to read a piece by Abdu Abdullahi, an ace writer and public opinion analyst, who cited examples of crimes committed in Kano over the last five years, predominantly by youths.
Abdullahi posits that Kano, hitherto a famous center for both Islamic and modern education, cultural fulfillment, and progressive politics, has sadly been redefined and ruled by spontaneous episodes of human carnage that have witnessed many great tragedies, including the gruesome murders of innocent people by heartless elements, which have reshaped the public consciousness of her citizens from the arena of social responsibility to outrageous rascality.
Kano is not alone – in my piece “The Craze for Easy Money in Nigeria and The Hanifa Story” in this column four years ago, cases of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni in Lagos and 8-year-old Asma’u Shuaibu Wa’alamu in Zaria were reported. Still, I also recounted the story of a 39-year-old housewife, Maryam Abubakar, apprehended by security personnel in Zaria, who was found to be deeply involved in running errands and sex rackets for bandits in exchange for money. She was audacious enough to confess to newsmen, “Bandits paid me between N30,000 and N50,000 for a round of sex.
I helped them do their shopping to prevent them from being arrested. I knew they were into kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery, but I decided to date one of them despite my married status because they gave me lots of money. I brought girls to them, and they were given 50,000 naira per night each. I felt my 15-year-old and 17-year-old daughters could also benefit, so I introduced them to the bandits, and they were given lots of money….” A highly pathetic story and unbecoming of a mother in this part of the country. The stories are unending, and we must, as government officials, parents, teachers, and opinion leaders, wake up to fight this menace head-on; else, it will become a society-consuming monster.
My piece on this subject, three weeks ago, drew reactions from my esteemed readers, which I am sharing to help view the issue from all perspectives. Happy reading.
Our dear Professor Othman, truly speaking, you are magnanimous and an exceptionally delectable writer who cuts across almost every sphere of discipline. You are such a bohemian writer to point out this perspective. I adore you and your write-up, sir. Please, keep the ball rolling. May we salute you with our two hands raised above our shoulders, amen__Prof Ibrahim Kankara
Thanks so much, sir, for this great thought. How I wish this had gone viral. You not only highlighted the problem and danger posed by untrained, uncultured, and, in fact, neglected youth and children. You also aptly emphasized how this problem can be addressed before it gets worse. May every parent, teacher, and government official in a position to address this issue wake up and do the needful. A stitch in time saves nine. Once again, thank you, Sir. God has really blessed you with a sound mind.__Dr Simon Obadahun
Well said, my dear Professor. Your article is both sobering and inspiring. It captures the urgency of Nigeria’s youth crisis with clarity and moral conviction. The tragic incident in Kano is not only a painful reminder of the erosion of family values and societal safeguards but also a wake-up call for collective responsibility.
I strongly align with your assertion that Nigeria is a country of youth, but not for the youth. The demographic realities you highlighted—70% under 30, 42% under 15, and a projected population of over 400 million by 2050—underscore the magnitude of the challenge. If left unaddressed, this youth bulge could become a demographic time bomb. Yet, if harnessed through deliberate investment in education, healthcare, and job creation, it could be our greatest asset.
Your call for schools, parents, teachers, and government to act in synergy is particularly compelling. I would add that beyond policy allocation, Nigeria must embrace systemic accountability:
1. Parents must reclaim their role as the first line of moral and social education, ensuring that values are instilled at home.
2. Teachers and schools must be empowered with training, resources, and ethical standards to nurture disciplined, innovative, and resilient youth.
3. The government must not only legislate but also enforce policies that prioritize youth empowerment, while modeling integrity by ensuring public officials’ children experience the realities of public education.
Equally important is integrating culture and innovation into our curriculum. A society that neglects its cultural identity risks producing youth who are disconnected from both heritage and the future. By embedding problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and civic responsibility into education, Nigeria can transform despair into hope.
Your article reminds us that youth delinquency is not an isolated phenomenon but a mirror of our collective neglect. The solution, therefore, must be collective. If parents, educators, and policymakers act with urgency and sincerity, Nigeria can turn this looming crisis into a renaissance of human capital.
Thank you for consistently raising your voice on important issues like this, Sir. Your scholarship and moral clarity continue to challenge us to rise above complacency and act decisively. May your words inspire leaders and citizens alike to embrace responsibility and chart a path toward national greatness. Yours Respectfully,__Dr. Muhammad Shafi’u Adamu.
Professor Othman, Sir, your write-up presented the solutions to our current situation and our children’s future. Or how I wish this important and expensive message would be put into practice by our government in our communal society. All I realized while reading this piece is that it is not an article; it’s a model with solutions to the problems the world faces in nurturing young people, especially for African Americans.
Sir, I pray to Almighty Allah to grant you special protection and tranquility. May Allah turn the faces of our Leaders and our masses toward giving paramount consideration to the solution and rescue from our present and future problems, Amen.
Please, Sir, with due respect, if there’s a chance, it’s necessary to develop this message into a book for posterity. If there’s much resolution to our present Nigerian conflict, the proposed book will fit. God help us to do the needful. Amen, and thank you immensely.__Aliyu Muhammad
