Youth alienation: A path to understanding development in Nigeria

Abstract

The youth remains the greatest asset in any nation for development. However, the overwhelming majority of these youth in Africa and Nigeria specifically have experienced alienation arising from the political, social, economic as well as the health spheres. Youth alienation emphasises that the youth in the country have been shut down of opportunities, separated from wealth and good health, making them exposed to several challenges. This paper utilized qualitative research approach to gain an insight into the phenomenon of youth alienation and development. The source of data was solely secondary, accessed from various academic journals including online articles relevant to the issue of youth alienation and development. This paper argues that the alienation experienced by the youth is associated with risks, resulting in anxiety, deviant behaviours, less involvement in school activities, fewer social skills, lower self-esteem and others. All of these show that youth alienation is predictive of other social problems in the country. Youth alienation does not exist in a vacuum but associates with causes like poor education and training; poor political
participation/low political representation; health-related problems; unemployment/poverty inequality, exclusion and unfairness; lack of leisure time activities and recreational facilities, to mention a few. It is concluded within this paper that the youth are the spirit of today and the hope for a better tomorrow. The ideas and vision of the youths are important for continued development
in Nigeria. Their intellectual capacities are fundamental to the progress and growth of not only Nigeria as a country but the world generally. Thus, the paper recommended that governments in any respect ranges should make sure that growing poverty indices be reversed and a sensible social safety programme is pursued and systematically implemented to make certain that the populations meet their simple wishes. It was also suggested that the government should create programmes, build recreational centres and parks, empower the youths technically and pay serious attention to human capital development through collaboration with NGOs and community members.