YOUTHVILLE ISSUE #165
Friday, January 12, 2018
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...young at heart
‘Social media to blame for poor writing culture among youth’
Bizum Yadok, is a teacher at the Federal College of Education, Pankshin in Plateau State. He is also an author and a youth empowerment advocate. In this interview, he spoke about how the social media has eroded the once rich writing culture of Nigerian youth. From Dickson S. Adama, Jos
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hat inspired you to become a writer? Growing up as a child, I was exposed to different literatures so I acquired an unquenchable thirst for books, especially fiction, but then I had never tried my hands in writing until I became an adolescent. I was also inspired to be a writer by other writers and the paucity of literary materials from my society also motivated me to pick my pen and creatively document our socio-cultural experience, at least from my perspective. I used to read fantastic stories by Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, Sidney Sheldon, and John Grisham (my favourite). How would you score writing among the youth today? Many youth today are eager to be labelled as writers and some even dare to include it on their social media profiles. Yet they have nothing to show for it. The key to better writing is reading vastly. Sadly, most Nigerian youth happen to be short-distance readers. This partly accounts for the enormous time they spend on social media reading brief posts a n d writing short ones and then
calling themselves writers. Many youth are into writing, but only few are sophisticated and doing exceptionally well. These exceptional cases are our consolation. Nonetheless, in a scale of 1 to 10, I will give writing among youth in Nigeria 4 point score. How can good writing skills be revived in Nigeria? I think it is easier to stimulate reading among youth than writing. I say so because reading, like listening, does not require any peculiar skill aside the basics. However, writing, like speaking, requires talent in addition to the skill. That is why everyone can talk, but not everyone is an orator. Likewise, everyone can write, but not everyone is a writer. However, what you can do is to help them explore their gifts and the ones who are called to become writers will follow the path to their destiny. For the avoidance of doubt, writing is an art; just like music, visual arts and dancing. Therefore, unless someone is innately endowed with the skill, including a good measure of zeal, he/she would not succeed at it. y How has your works affected lives? I will tell you about my works, but the impact is not really for me to determine. I released King of the Jungle (a novel) and Echoes of the Plateau (a collection of poems) simultaneously on the 5th of December, 2014. Many people have walked up to me to say that my novel has inspired a poem, play, song or something in them. I thank God because I didn’t know my writing will be warmly accepted at home and abroad. Do you think books authored by young writers can enhance youth empowerment? Certainly! No one
What needs to be done is just to find ways to stimulate those youth to read and their behaviour can certainly be modified. I believe in the popular saying that ‘you are what you read understands the youth of today better than themselves. I strongly believe that the certain trends and vices such as drug abuse, prostitution and violence can be aggressively reversed through writing. What needs to be done is just to find ways to stimulate those youth to read and their behaviour can certainly be modified. I believe in the popular saying that ‘you are y read’. what you For instance, i I am currently spearhe spearheading a team, Plateau Authors Group (PLAG), on an antholog project. We collected anthology a are about to go to press. stories and b This is because we strongly feel that writ our writings can foster peace and instigate meaningful development. a the young authors that Who are y inspire you? f The first on my list should be Ch Dike Chukwumerije. He always has his signature on his writings. I bet I could c tell if a ghost writer imperso impersonates him. Next would Abub be Abubakar Adam Ibrahim; his writing seems to glide seamlessly. Abidemi Sanusi, Helon Habila, Doug Kaze, Su’eddie Agema, Lengsha Gomwalk, Richard Ali, Lengshak Kh Toni Khan, Saddiq Dzukogi and Ahmed Maiwada all inspire me the works. with their What is your advice to upcoming authors authors? Read, read, read and read. And wri That is how to become then write. a good writer/author. Also delay publis publishing a bit to ensure you ha have quality stuff that can stand you on a sound literary footings before you attempt publishing your book or writings as the case might be.
Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art - Andy Warhol
Kano’s youth directorate head gets excellence award From Ibrahim Musa Giginyu, Kano The National Association of Kano State Students (NAKSS) has awarded the Director General Directorate of youth development and economic empowerment Kano state Alhaji Ado Abba Tudun-Wada, the award of excellence as advocate of youth and educational development in the state. Presenting the award to him, NAKSS national president, Comrade Ali Maikasuwa Rano said the award given to Alhaji Tudun-Wada by the association is in recognition of his immense contribution towards the educational development of youths in the state adding that, Kano youth have never had it better than this time when the DG is heading the directorate. “I need not to tell you what the youth of Kano state have so far achieved in the educational sector during the reign of the DG, and this award is a way of saying thank you from NAKSS for being there for Kano state students,” said NAKSS’s national president. Receiving the award, the DG stated that the directorate has done a lot in areas of youth empowerment and other related issues in respect to youth development adding that the success so far recorded by the directorate was as a result of the state government’s commitment under Governor Ganduje’s administration of ensuring viable and productive youths in the state.
NOA urges youth to venture into poultry business By Latifat Opoola LatifatOpoola
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The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) are in a partnership to encourage Nigerian youth to go into poultry business as a preferred alternative to white collar jobs and to meet national policy of an egg a day for the Nigerian child. The Director- General of NOA, Dr. Garba Abari and the President of the PAN, Ezekiel Ibrahim formalized the partnership at the Agency’s headquarters during the week, in Abuja, a statement by the agency said. Abari noted that the partnership will help to encourage the teeming unemployed youth “which constitute 60 per cent of our population” to go into livestock production. He said the
promotion of poultry farming as a business will dissuade youths from entering paid employment which is “not even available now”, instead promote a diversification of the economy to broaden foreign exchange earnings. Abari further noted that NOA is a willing partner in the task of creating awareness on agriculture policy of the present administration adding that it has already started the campaign of promoting the ”Eat What You Grow and Grow What You Eat “ and the patronage of Made in Nigeria goods for national development. The President of PAN while speaking earlier said poultry production should be encouraged among Nigerians especially the youth which will also serve as income earnings and reduce unemployment y in the country.