Between these stages which will be passed through in life by man-Childhood, Adolescent, and Adulthood, the most important of them all is the adolescent stage. Which is the stage between the childhood and adulthood. It connects the first and last stage thereby acting as the connector through which current is passed to the last stage being the adulthood. As a connector if stepped up will pass substantial amount of current that will guarantee a vibrant and productive adulthood. But when its faulty, the current that will be passed will definitely become relatively low and the effect will be lukewarm and mediocrity. The adolescent period is the determining factors among all three stages in the life of every man. It is the preparatory period for the very important journal of life.
One of the most important factor that will determine the efficiency of the connector as the case may be is basically the human factor. If man is able to harness all other factors available to him well, it will become productive thereby affecting people’s life positively to the maximum.
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ADOLESCENT NIGERIA
Nigeria’s democracy from the time of the birth of new Nigeria in 1999 to 2010 is still eleven years old. Under normal circumstances, the adolescent age starts between the ages of nine and twelve. And a simple calculation shows the New Nigeria and Democracy is stepping into her adolescent. And it is now that we have the opportunity to give her the right formation that she needs to be able to achieve a greater tomorrow. The sensitiveness of adolescence made it apparent that it is now or never for us the citizens to choose the best part among all the available parts which will change the future of our nation into a model to reckon with in the committee of nations. Or to continue to pretend that we are what we are not.
CHALLENGES OF ADOLESCENT
This period in the history of individuals as well as our nation’s is one that comes with many challenges though not insurmountable. But it must be noted that it depends on us as citizens. It all fall in our hands to make things right in other to achieve greater tomorrow which we will be proud to speak about and a future that we will proudly hand over to our children as an inheritance. All the misdemeanors that are going on in our nation must be seen as unwanted branches and get pruned. This is because if we fail to prune them now it will certainly follow us into adulthood by the year 2018 and could cause us an event that will quake our nation from its foundation ; owing to the type of nation we are.
To have the type of nation we talk about, selflessness, excellence and patriotism must be instilled in the concience of our nation in this her adolescent so as to come out a balanced adult. Every citizen must see this as a clarion call for a greater tomorrow and also this period in the life of our nation as the dawn of a greater tomorrow. Nigeria must be cared for by us just as we care for adolescent children. This will ensure that our dream of greater tomorrow become a reality ; thereby making us pioneers of greater tomorrow achievements.
In Conclusion, for us to realize this dream we must begin a nation wide social and political reformation that will focus on the three stages our human resources ; Children, youths and adults.
Adolescent Nigeria By Chukwunonso Ekwunife
Copyright@Chukwunonso Ekwunife
Africa Daily News, New York
