I had the opportunity of meeting and interacting with some young school leavers, who have finished their secondary school education but are yet to gain admission into higher schools of learning. Some of these young ones wrote their SSCE this year while the others sat for theirs last year and some two years ago. Two of these people didn’t sit for JAMB this year (they were among those that just finished secondary school this year) but the rest did and were hoping for something good to happen.

The thing I noticed about these young men and women I’m talking about here is that most of them do not have anything they are doing to keep themselves occupied as they wait for the next stage in their academic pursuit. I was, however, impressed with the ones that accompany their parents and other relatives to carryout some business transactions. But I didn’t see any of them that was learning a skill or working somewhere for a pay.

I also noticed that these young men and women are not sure of what they want to study in the university. All they wanted was to ‘enter school’ and move away from home. I wasn’t so happy about this because I could only see history repeating itself – people going to school to get certificates that spelt ‘degree’ without knowing what to do with them.

I made out time to have a heart-to-heart talk with some of them. I found out that there are those that have businesses they want to go into, while some have skills they want to learn. But they are afraid of voicing out their desires to their parents. For example there is one that wanted to learn tailoring as he awaits the admission ‘lists’ but he always accompanies his father to his shop, where he sells cements and other building materials. He was more like the sales boy that doesn’t earn a salary. Another one wants to learn how to install satellite dish but he was asked to stay home and study for post-UTME. The one that tears my heart the most are those that can’t say what they want. For this group, JAMB and university admission is the only way out, unless their parents decide on something else.

So, I kept asking myself a lot of questions. What if JAMB and Post-UTME decide against these young ones’ dreams of entering a higher institution this year? What will be their plans till next JAMB and Post-UTME screening? Will they continue to hover around the streets till they ‘make it’ into the university? Why hasn’t the federal government decided on how to keep these young ones occupied till they decide on what next to do?

What of the parents? Till when will they understand the importance of skill-acquisition? When parents start allowing their children to acquire the skills they (the children) want, not the one the parents want.

But I want to ask, if parents will not voluntarily let their children go for trainings on entrepreneurship and skills acquisition, can’t they be mandated by the law to do so? Is it impossible to mandate these secondary school leavers to have a compulsory one-year skill acquisition programme before being allowed to sit for JAMB examination? I mean, if the FG can mandate graduates to carry out a one-year NYSC programme, it can also mandate secondary school leavers to carry out a one-year industrial training, or something like that, before they are allowed to sit for JAMB.

This may sound outrageous but it is worth looking into. However, I believe my reasons can explain it better. Some of the advantages of this programme, if adopted, include:

a. This type of programme can expose these young school leavers to the different occupations within the country (this information is denied to most Nigerians until they find themselves in the labour market). This will help them to choose the courses they will study in the higher institution based on what they want to do when they graduate. In other words, they will go for further studies in their areas of interest, and not just go into the university to acquire a certificate.

b. This programme can be planned in such a way that it will keep these young men and women busy until they succeed in gaining admission into higher institutions or are matured enough to start their own businesses. We all know what happens to ideal minds. Besides, keeping them busy will save them from frustration and depression that may accompany idleness.

c. I believe that the capture them young adage applies here too. A lot of talents are wasting in Nigeria because they weren’t harnessed at the right time. If a programme like this comes up and these youths were exposed to different professions, they can go to the areas they are good in. If they find out that they don’t like what they chose, they should be allowed to change it until they find what they love doing.

d. Most Nigerian youths knew what life after school is during their NYSC, or even after it. If I am asked, I’ll say that we don’t have to wait till that period to teach these young ones what life in the business and corporate worlds is like. They will use that period to learn how to be good employees and entrepreneurs. This means that the popular apprenticeship system can finally be utilised by the government to raise future entrepreneurs and corporate men.

e. The approved age for university admission during our days was 18 years. But today, because children are being pushed out of secondary schools early, we are beginning to see underage undergraduates. Of course I know that they may be doing well academically, but is it wise for someone to be in the university, a place for adults, at the age of 15? Anyway, I believe that if this compulsory industrial attachment programme is adopted, these children will be matured enough to go into higher institutions, which is a place meant for the intellectually, emotionally, mentally and socially matured.

Anyway, our job as citizens is to suggest, and that of the government is to apply. Someone on a television programme on Saturday accused the Nigerian masses of not bringing up ideas that the government can work with. I don’t believe that to be true anyway because if there is anything Nigerians loves doing, it is sending ideas upon ideas out to the government. Let the government think of ways Nigerian youths can be made productive before they all run out of the country.

How to unveil your potential. 

Long time ago, a tourist asked me on how to recognize one’s potential. I simply replied to him, “to every human, there is a measure of potential.”

But many people still fail to realize that everyone has got potential in him. 

What do you understand by the word, ”potential”?

Potential can be defined as a chance or possibility that something will happen or exist in the future. In other words, is a quality that someone has knowingly or unknowingly that can be developed to make it better. Also, it is an inbuilt ability in someone that can be developed to help that person become successful. 

Often times, I asked myself if I have what it takes to be a writer.

Why? Because I’ve never written anything before. 

My friend once advised me to go into writing. I laughed him off. I said it’s not my way. I gave many excuses. But there’s one thing he said that struck a chord in me, ”you don’t know what you can do until you try.” I definitely agreed to that statement. 

I decided to give it a try. I wrote my first article but it was full of blunders. I didn’t bother to post it because of the fear of being mocked. He gave me the push – just do. 

I summoned the courage and published it. But to my surprise, no one cares about the blunder. All that matters was the message. That’s when I realized that what we fear most times doesn’t really exist. 

Imagine what you would have achieved if you had not let fear gripped you? 

Fear is a killer of potential. Fear has buried much destiny. Many youths out there have the potential in them, but the fear of what the public would say have turned their dreams to a mirage. Does it really matter? 

The truth is, you can never overcome what you fear. 

How to unveil your potential. 

• Face your worst fear: There is a saying that everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear. I agree. Until you learn how to face your fear, you can never unveil your potential. Action fights fear. By taking small steps, you’re building evidence to show that you are more and can do more than you think.
• Take a step: They said the journey of a thousand-year starts with a step. Wow…..I love this. Nothing starts until you start. If you pause, things paused. When you start, things start. No destiny achievers remain stagnant, they take a step. I understand that when you start, you might come across many obstacles. Even your parents can tell you it’s impossible. But always bear this in mind that life gives you option, you make a decision. To every great step, there is a great decision.

• Be determined: Problems are real. Problems come in many ways. Some are minor, while some are big. If you come across any, treat it like it’s your last day on earth. If you want to unveil your potential, you must have a strong determination.

• Be positive: Our doubts are nothing but useless thoughts created by our mind by its filtering process. The more negative information we subject our mind to, the more our brain will filter our thoughts in conjunction with that information. Lack of confidence comes as a result of habitual negative thoughts. Be positive when taking actions.

Note: Nothing starts until you start. Unveil your potential by doing the needful.

 Credit: Adeleke Lekan