King Solomon was 12 years old when he became King over Israel. His reign of forty years was recorded as the most prosperous in the history of Israel. King David his father was sixteen years old when he killed Goliath. He was not even old enough to be in the army but when he saw that his people were being mocked, he volunteered his service to his nation remembering that at an earlier age he had encountered and killed a lion.

In Nigeria, late Dr Mathew Tawo Mbu became a Federal Minister in 1952 at the age of 23, Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom at the age of 25. and Minister of Defense at the age of 33. HRM Alfred Diette Spiff became Governor of Rivers State at the age of 26. Yakubu Gowon became the Head of Nigerian State at the age of 31.

What all these names have in common is that they assumed leadership positions at an early age. Apart from King Solomon who may have enjoyed royal grooming, all the others were ordinary folks who were propelled to positions of leadership through self effort.

Why is the situation. Different today? Why are young people in our nation finding it difficult to grow into leadership?

Why has a better eduction not prepared our youths for leadership like the past?

Why do so many young Nigerians spend substantial part of their youth engaging in Social vices or on social media hauling insults at each other?

At every stage in the evolution of Nigeria, a new economic class is created. The 1940 class led us to and became leaders of a new nation in the 1960s. The 1950 class became the technocrats and foundation of the public service in the 1960s while some became military rulers. The 1960s class became military rulers in the 1970s while others enjoyed the dividend of the indigenization policy of the era. The 1970s class were the leaders of the eighties in the military and civil service, the 1980s class started the banking revolution and became pioneer business elites, they got the first set of oil blocks without paying signature bonuses. The 1990s class were beneficiaries of the return to civil rule, the sale of Government assets and the Soludo Magic while some are political leaders today. This is the time for the millennium class. Some have taken positions in entertainment, IT and new media while a whole lot are still searching for a miracle.

As new opportunities emerge in our nation, are you spending time on Facebook trading insults or laughing at the antics of Davido whilst Linda Ikeji acquires new designer bags and choice apartments at your expense?

My dear brethren, why can’t you be a partaker in the contemporary revolution taking place in Nigeria? Opportunities abound in Agriculture, tourism, entertainment, IT, fashion or scientific research? Ideas rule the world now, not money not ‘imanmadu’. Success is an open door, there is no barrier to entry. Be a part of the success stories of the present era when told in the next decade.