November is the month of the Global Entrepreneurship Week and in light of that, Entrepreneurship is the broad discussion theme on the Social Conscience talk-show for the month. With this, the conversations kicked off with the topic, ‘Entrepreneurship or Employability – Addressing Nigeria’s Youth Unemployment.’
It was such a delight to have Mrs Detoun Ogwo, an External Collaborator at the International Labour Organization on the Youth Employment Inventory project, come in to share her instructive perspectives on the topic. However, in preparing for the Show, she decided to ask her 18-yar old son what he reckoned his peers would find useful from such a conversation. The adroit response from this young man – Chiagozie, as shown below, is the main content of this article. With permission from Mrs Detoun Ogwo, I present to you below, notes from Chiagozie which his mum tagged ‘Nostalgic lessons from my 18-year old son.’
What is your best advice for a young person seeking to grow the skills for the future of work?
Self-education through reading; Education is an instrumental component in the realization of one’s self and the fulfilment of one’s goals and aspirations. Discover your genius now; attend seminars, lectures and courses of vocations and subjects of interest. Be confident in one’s creativity and ideas and have a sense of openness and flexibility to allow room for further development and growth. Strive for excellence and creative eminence in any collective culture or undertaking one is involved in. Become independent. Seek insight and gain foresight for long-term thinking and goal setting. Understand what different jobs or undertaking entails, and planning and problem-solving.
What insights from you as a Mentor, for the next generation?
Know how to ask questions. Do not be afraid to fail.
Look for multiple perspectives and heuristics on any opportunity. Be in people’s good graces. Know yourself (Key quality). Know to retrieve and handle information. Team learning, collaboration and problem-solving, and be quick, concise and precise with ideas.
How do we build ethical leadership from our youth?
Proper evaluation and deconstructing of the current value system of the post-modern era. A reform of societal values on a macro level (the transmission, diffusion and evolution of cultural practices). Stimulate new conceptual ways of thinking. Increased support from government and stakeholders who are able to teach and create better conditions and support young generations.
How do we shine light in the midst of crisis, agitations and failed systems?
Staying optimistic through tough times and being conscious of the time that no condition is ever permanent. Realising that a crisis, agitation and failed systems are major factors in fostering new ways of seeing and fostering new forms of creativity and innovation. Implementation of innovative programs to build skills and opportunities through social innovation and social entrepreneurship.
How do we grow personal mastery and become distinguished thinkers and change-makers?
Be able to think for oneself. Discover genius now. Have a definite purpose and set a vision that you want to achieve (Focus). Identify one’s values and ways of thinking and perceiving the world. Learn how to commercialise and market services. To have that internal, earnest desire in whatever endeavour you embark on, having confident expectations, firm demand of particular services and backing that with immeasurable faith.
As written by: Chiagozie. E. Ogwo 05/11/2020.
Chiagozie’s responses and insights blew my mind so much I had to share, after all, who better than the youth themselves to guide on the best way to handle the challenges they’re exposed to.
Please go listen to the Social Conscience podcast with Detoun Ogwo on episode #6 on our podcasts page.