Adolescent is the transition from childhood to adulthood. It is marked by profound physical, mental and social changes. The word adolescent stands for boyish, girlish, growing teenage, young adults, youthful, youngster or teenage (Collins Concise Dictionary and Thesaurus 1995, pg. 14)

The World Health Organization defined Adolescents as those between 1 and 19yrs and youths as persons between 19-24yrs. The WHO has defined Adolescents as

1. Progression from appearance of secondary sex characteristics (Puberty) to sexual reproductive maturity.
2. Development of adult, mental processes and adult mentality.
3.Transition from total socio-economic dependence to relative independence.
(Population reports 1995, pg. 3)

However for this purpose, I define Adolescents as THE TIME PERIOD FROM AGES 10-24. For this reason I shall use the terms Adolescents, youth, young adult, and young people interchangeably.

Today one in every five person in the world is an adolescent. Young adults are known to constitute a significant proportion of the Nigerian population. A result from the 1999 Nigerian Population Census indicates that young adults aged 10-25yrs account for approximately 22% of the population. Thus male and female young adults presently number about 26million in Nigeria. Indeed this represents one of the largest single critical mass of young people in the developing world.

The United Nations Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis (1994) gave an estimate of Nigeria’s population. It indicated that by the year 2015 the population of adolescents in Nigeria age 21-24 would be nearly 62million. Being more than the population in France in 1994.The population of adolescents in Nigeria is really staggering/shocking. This definitely has a lot of implications for the country.

Adolescents/youths perhaps are the most important group in a given society. Going by their characteristics and size they are a country’s most valuable future assets. More than any other groups in the society. Adolescents occupies an exciting but potentially dangerous position.

How has this position been managed, or betterstill how is this position managed? What are the steps and measures taken to render and promote essential services for the benefits of this population? What are the contributions of individuals, governmental agencies, non-governmental agencies, local and international agencies to ensure the needs of this population is adequately provided?
I accept the idea or the concept of forgetting about the government since its obviously not interested in the next generation but in the next election or the next political issue.
Apparently there are so many agencies and organizations at local and international levels aimed at promoting the development of the youths. So many seminars, symposium workshops,coferences and programmes are organized to achieve this aim. Indeed this is laudable.

However my query is how many youths/adolescents are beneficiaries? How much impact or positive changes have these offered? If there’s any to rely on are they adequate in comparison to the population of the youths? Why do a large size of youths/adolescents still make up hawkers on our roads and streets? Why are so many youths/adolescents still employed to carry out nefarious activities such as engaging themselves in armed robbery, prostitution, drug abuse and allowing themselves to be used as political thugs?

Travelling from Lagos (South West Geo-political zone of Nigeria) to Benin City (South South Geo political zone of Nigeria) is one hurdle I undertake weekly. At each tollgate it pricks my heart to see youths/adolescents, the future leaders in large numbers hawking their wares. The situation is so appalling. Records show that perpetrators of the recent tribal clash in Warri Delta State Nigeria were mainly youths.Cases of this nature are countless.

The reasons are not farfetched. Adolescents/Youth is a vulnerable age group. They encounter numerous psychological social and economic obstacles. These are often overlooked by the society and not adequately handled by the existing youth friendly organizations. This results in constituting handicap adolescents/youths and ultimately leads them into prostitution, armed robbery, and thuggery e.t.c. as a means to meet their needs.

Personally I have experienced so much difficulty and frustration in actualizing my dreams.Some I have decided to allow lie low and others I’m still struggling to make headway with, yet help seems far away. I know and strongly believe that many youths/adolescents are faced with similar predicament.

The end seems to be out of sight and someone says the talk is enough! We are in pains and we’ll continue to cry out and hope for help. We can only act when we are empowered. Can you stop a child who has been badly hurt from crying? No it’s not possible because it is natural to cry when you feel pains. However when you administer drugs that will help reduce and ultimately heal the pains there will be no need to cry.

This is a plea to all who is truly in service for the youths to provide adequate services efficiently and effectually not only a for a staggering population but also for the most valuable future assets of any society: THE YOUTHS/ADOLESCENTS

ESTHER OKHIADE