Igbaja Youth and Developmental Challenges

By Engr. Ridwan Ishola BakareFormer FISA President, Unilorin ChapterInitiator of Igbaja Children Education Fund (ICEF)From Ile Oloko Compound in Igbaja land

The role of the youth in the development of Igbaja land

What is Development?Development does not simply mean becoming more wealthy, or getting bigger amounts of income. Development means changing and growing. It is social change in all six sociological dimensions.

What is Community Development?Community development, in this series, is not the provision of social services, but the methods that will encourage, guide, and perhaps influence that sociological development, as applied to a community.

Let us learn from the Oak treeWhen an arcon grows and develops, it does not simply become a huge acorn, it changes shape, develops new organs, and becomes an oak tree. So too a community or society; development is social change, not merely increase in size.

And pictorially

Dimensions of Social Change(1) technological / capital, (2) economic / wealth, (3) political / power, (4) social / institutional, (5) ideology / values, and (6) beliefs / world view. Each of those dimensions is linked to all the others, and changes in one dimension affect all others.

The Link between the DimensionsMarx suggested that changes in the technological and economic dimensions occur first.Max Veber, in contrast, suggested that changes in the values and beliefs dimensions occur first and cause changes in the remaining four. Modern sociologists see change as much more complex, and that all six dimensions are involved in the change.

Applying the Management Questions for IgbajaWhat do we want? What do we have? How do we use what we have to get what we want? and What will happen when we do?

What do we want?Question one includes the background, definition of the problem, and identification of broad goals and specific objectives.

What we wantA community where there are mordern amenitiesA community where all the able bodied citizens are gainfully employedAn industrialized community.A politically stable and dynamic communityA literate community that is free of poverty and disease.A religious and godly communityA community where every young person can be what s/he wants to be.

What do we haveQuestion two is a situational analysis, observation of potential and realized assets and liabilities, inputs, constraints and hindrances.How many in the Academia?How many Business moguls?How many professionals?How many serious politicians?How many in the Armed Forces?How many large farms and Industries?How many students in Higher Institutions?

What can The Youth do?Question three involves general and specific descriptions of strategy, scheduling, organizational changes (for decision making and for action) and proposed set-up.

YOUTHS CHALLENGESYOUTH can compile a register of all Igbajans in all endeavours at home and abroad. YOUTH can compile a register of all Igbaja students in all Higher Institutions of Learning.YOUTH can disseminate the list in numbers one and two by post and through a web site.YOUTH can start a new culture whereby Igbajans at home and abroad can help themselves.

YOUTHS CHALLENGE contdYOUTH can organize programmes whereby the senior students can help the junior ones to make good grades.YOUTH in higher institutions can organize holiday programmes to help the students in the secondary schools.YOUTH can collaborate with Other Development Organizations in the Community.YOUTH can launch Education (Up to Higher Inst.) for All Igbajans by Year 2020 (EFAIx2020).

IGBAJA DAY SO FAREvery thing has been done out of tune with the original script written by Igbaja Highlanders.Igbaja Day is supposed to be a development strategy rather than an entertainment programmeYouth should insist on being included in the programme next time.

What will happen when you(YOUTH) do?Question four encompasses not only predictions of expected output and impact, but should also indicate methods of monitoring and assessment of the process during implementation.

OUTCOMESYOUTH will be better positioned to contribute its quotaYOUTH will have an overwhelming presence in the affairs of Igbaja.YOUTH will be able to negotiate better employment opportunities for Igbaja Youth.Igbaja will be more developed.Igbaja will continue to be a giant in Nigeria.

From the SageNo one can develop a society; society develops itself. Julius Nyerere

Development does not simply mean becoming more wealthy, or getting bigger amounts of income. Development means changing and growing. It is social change in all six sociological dimensions. Community development, in this series, is not the provision of social services, but the methods that will encourage, guide, and perhaps influence that sociological development, as applied to a community

THANK YOU