By Olisa Moses.
As a student of comparative development and public wealth, a member of Akoko-Edo Economic and Investment Summit planning committee, I bring it to this honourable house that Akoko-Edo is up for sale with the highest bidders working day and night to have a good returns on their business.
The near abysmal performance of this current democratic government is nothing compared to what Akoko-Edo may plunge into if conscious/strategic efforts is not put in place. This is eating up the fabrics of our society.
The insecurity in the land which is as a result of fulani herdsman invasion and internal saboteurs can increase or decrease depending on how we deal with this ugly merchant of our common future.
As at today, the potential work force which we call the youths are no where to be found. A visit to Igarra Technical College will give a clarification of what I am saying. Only a handful of the student population come from Igarra (the host community) just as the case with other parts of the LGA. Bulk of her student come from the Ebira descent of Kogi state. When you visit the roadside mechanic, the same story, young people are no longer ready to dirty their hands – none of them is/are ready for apprenticeship. The same Ebira descent, and young people from neighboring communities outside the LGA are the one’s you will find as apprentice.
Furthermore, a visit to the government secondary school will shock you. Students in SS1 coming to school with a motor bike of around N600,000. N600,000!!!. They live in rented flats together with their friends. They have the best phones and buys the same for their girlfriends.
When you work around town, for every group of six young person you meet, five of them or all of them are involved in fraud and drug abuse. When they are yet to belong, they consider those already in it as role models and mentors.
As a matter of fact, parents now buy phones and other gadgets to enable their children enrol into the school of internet fraud AKA yahoo yahoo.
Don’t get me wrong please, I am not concluding that every young person in Akoko-Edo is a fraudster; NO. What I am saying is that a stich in time saves nine. The battle for the next generation, the potential work force is raging and if a strategic approach is not taken, the future is uncertain.
Once I heard from the mouth of the sage, Chief Emesealu, former LGA chairman and proprietor of Success Group of Schools that Akoko-Edo is now the headquarters of internet fraud AKA yahoo yahoo in Nigeria. To those of us who have lived in other parts of the country especially the North, you will easily digest what he is saying. But for some of us here outside the shores of Nigeria, you may doubt it. But one day, a small boy from Akoko-Edo will empty your life savings and live you helpless or you will see it in BBC, CNN, and other international TV/media station that Akoko-Edo in Nigeria, Africa is now the headquarters of internet fraud AKA yahoo yahoo in the world. I am sure you will want to lead a protest or go for a change of name and nationality. Remember, home is always home.
Where do we go from here?
Nigeria has been in recession since the administration of President Buhari. You may argue that Bureau of statistics said we are out; ok. Let me explain. When an economy is in recession, the quality of life reduces. When the economy comes out of recession, the quality of life increases. Now, have we experienced an increase in the quality of life since this administration eight years ago? Your answer is as good as mine.
So, how do we get out of this recession and improve the quality of life?
Simple.
1. Diversify the economy, create more jobs, employ more people, get more taxes, meet the basic needs of the people to improve their living standard to work more comfortable, insist on international best practices (shun every form of mediocrity and unfair sentiments), go over the circle again and again and again. Just like this, poverty will be eradicated and the economy will stand out.
Ask Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yuan of Singapore
This is our thrust for the Akoko-Edo Economic and Investment Summit and all our labours around Akoko-Edo.
2. This number 2 is supposed to be number 1. Human capital development.
Akoko-Edo has the most intelligent people in Edo state. It takes great intelligence to take money out of somebody’s pocket and the person is still smiling. Young people here develop sophisticated apps for their nefarious business and you call that cheap, no. That’s intelligence not harnessed. It takes prayers, love and strategy to get around this for Success.
Somebody may argue again, ‘it’s because there’s no job. When Peter Obi wins and job is created, all these will fizzle out’. Oh yes! But come to think of Alfred Nobel Laurel who initiated the Nobel Laurel prize for excellence turned his negative intelligence to positive impact and it’s affecting the world positively today. Luck = opportunity + preparation. Even when these jobs are available and created, are these mass of young equipped with relevant skills to make a pay for themselves. Honestly, that’s my worry right now with Akoko-Edo.
When the dividends of the summit begins to show forth, are our young people ready for the opportunities. I say this so that we will avoid the kind of xenophobic attack that happened in South Africa.
Olisa Moses can be contacted on
08146458262
