Nigeria has the potential to be a global force. Our land is rich, our people are smart, our youth are full of ideas. But year after year, we watch the country sink deeper into crisis. Why? **Failed leadership.**
The truth is hard, but it must be said. We are suffering not just from mistakes, but from deliberate decisions made by people who should be leading with vision, service, and empathy. Instead, corruption, selfish interests, and short-term thinking have hijacked our future and it’s the youth who pay the highest price.
Education is Crying for Help
Let’s talk about the education system. In 2025, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) recorded over **2,030,627 UTME candidates**. That’s over two million Nigerian youths trying to enter higher institutions this year alone.
But here’s the sad part, Nigeria only has **283 universities** (federal, state, and private combined), plus a few polytechnics and colleges of education. These schools can’t even admit half of the applicants. So, even after hustling to pass the exam, many students are left stranded with no admission. Hope shattered. Dreams postponed. Talent wasted.
This Gap Na Real Wahala
"Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge."
— Simon Sinek
Case Study: Borno and the Rejected Opportunity
Take for example the recent rejection by the **Minister of Education** to approve the proposed creation of a youth acquisition centre in Borno State, a state that has suffered heavily from conflict and displacement. This centre was meant to give life skills, economic empowerment, and hope to youths who have faced the worst. But the plan was rejected.
This isn’t just bad policy, it’s a sign of how disconnected some of our leaders are from reality. Borno’s young people need support, not more setbacks. Rejecting such an opportunity is like telling them, “your pain no concern us.” That’s not leadership, that’s abandonment.
We Can’t Afford to Be Silent
The youth of Nigeria can’t sit and watch anymore. This isn’t about party politics, it’s about survival, about justice, about the future. If we don’t rise now, na when? If we don’t speak, na who go speak for us?
The truth is, we are not lazy. We’re just under-utilized and ignored. And that has to change, fast. From school to skills, employment to empowerment, the youth need a system that works. Not another empty promise.
**This Is Your Wake-Up Call — No More Waiting!**
#JoinTheMovement on the CYCN Forum
Speak your truth. Share your story. Let your voice shake the tables.
From CYCN Voice, Youth Voice and Forum — Na Time To Rise!