By Paschal Norbert
OWERRI, JANUARY 23, 2024 (CISA) – “Our young people are the most affected by this syndrome. As the country continues to sink economically, and as our government continues to accumulate more and more debts, many young people have been led to frustration and dependency. The situation is worsened by the high level of youth employment in the country, which makes our youths feel rejected by the very society into which they were born,” said the Catholic bishops of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province in a statement dated January 18.
The Catholic bishops noted with concern that the failure of the government to live up to its responsibility of providing welfare to the people in the face of hard economic times and initiating sound policies that could revive the economy of the country, thereby creating a thriving business environment is leading young people and professionals to give up everything to emigrate in search of jobs and better living conditions.
“This extensive brain drain is worrisome, and is denying the country the requisite manpower needed to revamp its economy and foster national development,” the bishops warned.
The bishops contend, “A peaceful and secure environment will encourage investments and the movement of goods and services across the regions of the country. Fighting the menace of corruption and nepotism will help to enthrone the reign of competence and meritocracy in the country. Reforming our educational system will help to equip the young people with the needed skills for our contemporary market-driven economies.”
In the statement, the bishops appeal to young people to also understand the current dynamics of the country and engage in entrepreneurship, take up training in vocational skills and practice patience in job seeking, so as not to engage in the ‘yahoo’ menace.
“We urge them to shun the get-rich-quick syndrome and the so-called yahoo-yahoo menace. These speak of attitudes that are anti-social and easily lead to criminal behaviour,” the prelates said.
The bishops also warned of a continued lack of patriotism among citizens as a result of a lack of fairness and equity among ethnic communities and religions of the country, a vice that stems from the federal government.
“At the moment there is the perception that some sections of our countrymen and women are not relevant in the scheme of things. This perception is partly responsible for the rise in agitations and the clamouring for the restructuring of the nation,” the bishops noted.
They explained, “As long as injustice and gross inequality persist in the allocation of resources and appointments into government positions, our dream for a fair, just and equitable commonwealth will not come true. Our democratic culture will remain endangered as long as no fair power-sharing formula is articulated.”
The bishops appealed to the different arms of government to rise to their constitutional duties and instate the rule of law and order to collectively resolve and work towards building a country where justice, equity and fairness thrive.
