You don't have to be a genius to figure out a few things.
These young ones do not fit into the strict, hierarchy driven "you must respect your elders" mindset that governs previous generations.
And in an increasingly globalised, networked world, they don't have to.
Nigerian corporate culture, is rigid, master-servant relationship driven and retrogressive - and they are having none of it.
"You must have a 2:1, be less than 26 years, be prepared to carry your oga/madams laptop bag when he/she arrives office".
No time for that nonsense.
They can do #300DaysOfCode, or something, and prepare themselves for some remote IT role - with a much better work-life balance and better pay, or they could explore the world outside Corporate Nigeria/Nigeria.
Many bosses in Corporate Nigeria are yet to figure this out.
Remember how we endured crappy jobs and boasts from arrogant Nigerian bosses, because "there are no jobs, and nobody will pay you as much as we do"?
Well, they have the option of upskilling and working for people who will pay them more - and treat them like human beings.
You have to understand their mindset, and why they challenged the Nigerian Political Class during #EndSARS - and why the Nigerian Political Class hates and fears them.
Whatever happens, they will outlive the venal and corrupt old men in power.
They also feel no need to "respect" the venal and corrupt old men in power.
One could respect the likes of Pa Michael Ajasin for the principled role they played during the June 12 Struggle - unlike today's politicians.
You can't tell them, "I am old, respect me".
The next institution they will shake up is the Church, in Southern Nigeria.
If you are the kind of pastor who collects money and gifts from politicians to do their bidding - they are coming for you.
Stay tuned.
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The middle class African youths who emigrate to the West, do so for the same reasons as their less fortunate/educated brethren who sneak in to the West illegally.
The first group is celebrated ("Nigerian Americans are the most educated, all of them have masters degrees).
The second group is despised; they are the target of xenophobic Western politicians - and the trigger for "Camp of the Saints" style hallucinations.
But what is the essential difference between both groups? Education/opportunities.
One group has them, the other does not.
Why is there such a disparity in opportunities/outcomes? The modern African leader has failed the African youth.
This is the first tragedy. The second is we educated ones, who can "japa", do not feel any sense of responsibility to the less privileged.
My mother has memories of "Empire Day" (one of her uncles was named "Empire", because he was born on "Empire Day");
But for my generation of Nigerians, neither the British Empire, nor its legacy, nor the Queen - means much to us, or is viewed as a "positive" aspect to our lives.
The allure of the British Monarchy has lasted as long as it did - because Elizabeth II carried it with a quiet dignity. (I.e. she was disciplined enough to keep her mouth shut).
I can't see that outlasting her.
For contemporary Nigerians, UK is just another rich English-speaking Western nation - often a third choice after US and Canada, because the natives are colder and less friendly - and more obsessed with arcane traditions.
In my dad's generation, if you "believed in Nigeria" you meant it.
Many of them passed over opportunities for foreign citizenship, or giving their children foreign citizenship, or investing in property abroad.
They were fully committed to building Nigeria.
People attended the best universities abroad - and were determined to give back to Nigeria. A retired biochemistry professor said he was some committed, he spent his own money completing a lab (he was laughed at by some of his colleagues).
Unfortunately, this trust was betrayed by the mid-1980s, and it was replaced by a deep cynicism - and a desire to escape Nigeria, by all means.
Their children, who watched them suffer, despite their deep devotion to Nigeria - swore that they would NEVER do the same.
I am not saying there was no altruistic motive to Britain's push to end slavery - but it is important to note that they were the first nation to industrialize, and hence had less need of slaves.
When the late Professor Ukpabi taught my mother history, he made this point.
When the British abolished slave trade, the focus was on compensating slave owners, not rehabilitating former slaves - billions of dollars were spent on compensation.
Once again, these facts are not in dispute, they are easily accessible.
Britain was at one point, the major beneficiary of the Transatlantic Slave Trade - and only moved to abolish slavery when the Industrial Revolution made slavery redundant.
This is in contrast to the Quakers who had a principled objection to slavery, from day one.
I think it was Awolowo who said, "if you think education is expensive, try ignorance".
When discussing education, cost CANNOT be the primary consideration.
Education should be needs driven - first determine what the nation needs, then find a way to pay for it.
Higher education should not be "exclusive and rare".
Remember that a university degree is the basic requirement to teach in a secondary school.
Have you bothered to ask this simple question, "who will teach your kids in secondary school if higher education is inaccessible"?
My mother studied English at UNN on a Government scholarship. Then Government used to plan - to fully educate X number of students through secondary school, we need Y number of teachers (of particular subjects).
A needs based assessment, not cost should be starting point.
Meiji Japan; 1. Expanded access to primary and tertiary education. 2. Expanded access to female education. 3. Heavily invested in tertiary education and research.
The results were obvious; Japan's rapid industrial rise.
You can't separate the success of India's IT Industry from Government investment in world class universities like the Indian Institutes of Technology.
China and South Korea also invested heavily in tertiary education and research.
Now if you want to be stuck in a rut like Bangladesh - textbook case of outsourcing/globalization (textiles), but lacking the human capital to scale up the industrial value chain - then don't invest in tertiary education and research.