By Dada Ahmed.
(C) Google.
In Nigeria today, the surge in youth-related crime has become a pressing national concern. With an alarming 80% of criminal activities reportedly linked to young people, it is evident that the country stands at a critical crossroads. This unsettling statistic not only threatens national security and economic growth, but also signals a disturbing erosion of values among the very generation entrusted with the nation’s future. The situation calls for urgent, collaborative action by parents, government, schools, religious institutions, and civil society.
Nigeria’s youth,vibrant, innovative, and resourceful,hold the potential to transform the nation. Yet, this same energy can be misdirected when the foundation of moral, social, and economic development is weak or neglected. While it is common to blame peer pressure or unemployment for youth crime, deeper issues such as broken homes, poor parenting, lack of role models, and institutional failure lie at the heart of the crisis.
The family is the first social unit and moral classroom. The role of parents cannot be overemphasized. Good parenting is the bedrock of character formation. Parents must lead by example, teaching their children values such as honesty, hard work, empathy, and respect for the law. Unfortunately, some parents are too busy chasing survival to monitor their children’s emotional, educational, and social development.
It is important for parents to balance providing for their families with being present in their children’s lives. They must understand their children’s needs, struggles, and aspirations. Open communication and active listening can help detect early signs of negative behavior. Where necessary, parental counseling should be made available to help struggling families realign their responsibilities.
The Nigerian government must enhance efforts in providing increased meaningful policies that support family values and youth development. Investment in quality education, job creation, mental health services, and family support programs is non-negotiable. Youths must be engaged positively through skills acquisition programmes, mentorship opportunities, and inclusive national development projects.
Public schools must also be reformed to not only educate but shape responsible citizens. The same goes for private educational institutions. In this respect, education analysts believe that a curriculum infused with civic education, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and ethics becomes vital. Teachers should be trained not just to teach, but to inspire and guide. Schools must become safe spaces where children are encouraged to dream, think, and grow with discipline and dignity.
Religious institutions,churches, mosques, and faith-based groups,must reclaim their moral leadership role. Rather than focusing solely on prosperity messages, they should emphasize spiritual growth, moral uprightness, and social responsibility. Faith leaders must use their platforms to mentor youth, preach peace, and condemn all forms of crime regardless of who is involved.
Community-based initiatives can play a crucial role in curbing youth crime. Community policing, neighborhood watch groups, youth clubs, and vocational centers should be supported and This becomes imperative because these platforms allow youths to channel their energies productively while fostering a sense of belonging, responsibility, and mutual accountability.
The role of the media must also be constructive. Media houses should consciously project positive role models, celebrate young achievers, and spotlight community heroes. Constant exposure to violent content and materialism can shape harmful behavior. Therefore, media literacy should be taught in schools, and content creators must exercise ethical responsibility.
Journalists can make meaningful contributions to the collective effort to reduce youth-related crime by de-emphasizing the monetary aspects of such offenses in their reports. Media analysts subscribe to the fact that the way crimes are portrayed in the media plays a crucial role in shaping public perception, especially among impressionable youths.
Experience has also shown that when suspects are arrested for drug trafficking or when kidnappers demand large sums,often running into millions of naira,and such details are widely publicized, the reports may have unintended consequences. Instead of deterring criminal behavior, they can inadvertently glamorize it.
For some criminally minded youths, these reports highlight the perceived profitability of crime, presenting it as a shortcut to wealth. By focusing less on the financial figures and more on the consequences, societal harm, and legal repercussions, journalists can help shift the narrative and discourage youth involvement in crime.
Technology can be a double-edged sword in youth development. While it exposes them to global opportunities, it also opens the door to cybercrime and social vices. Parents, schools, and the government must invest in digital education that teaches youths how to use the internet responsibly, while developing tech-based solutions to social challenges.
Peer mentorship is another powerful tool. Young people often listen to fellow youths more than to adults. Therefore, encouraging youth-led movements, debate clubs, and peer education programmes can yield tremendous results. Positive influence from respected young leaders can steer others away from crime and towards purpose.
Law enforcement must also be reformed to be youth-friendly and rights-conscious. Security agencies must treat young people found wanting in their behavior,as stakeholders, not suspects. Rehabilitation, rather than brute punishment, should be prioritized for first-time offenders. Youth correctional centres should be transformed into reformative, not punitive, environments.
No doubt,in most societies in the world, including Nigeria,poverty remains a major driver of youth crime. Many young people engage in crime out of desperation. While poverty is not an excuse for criminal behavior, providing a conducive environment for wealth creation, micro-loans for startups, and fair employment policies can give youths hope and a reason to say no to crime.
Leadership at all levels,traditional rulers, elected officials, and influencers,must lead by example. When leaders steal, lie, and get away with impunity, youths take notes. To inspire responsible youth behavior, Nigeria must entrench a culture of accountability and justice. True change begins from the top.
In the final analysis,it is instructive to note that reducing youth crime in Nigeria is not the duty of one arm of society, but a shared national responsibility. Parents must be more involved, schools more proactive, religious bodies more purposeful, and government more responsive. The youth are not only leaders of tomorrow; they are the heartbeat of today. If we raise them right, Nigeria’s future will be bright.
Ahmed, one time Assistant Editor in Chief,News Agency of Nigeria,NAN, publishes The Reporters.
