Devil workshop: idleness
The rapid rate at which crime, especially against women and children is escalating in Nigeria has almost become a normal phenomenon with no end in sight.
The youth are the overwhelming majority of the over 50 million unemployed youths in the country and it is very easy for them to be lured into the devil's workshop when they have nothing to do but to descend into idleness.
The abundance of idle youth, who are not exposed to productive activities, is what sustains social vices such as rape, cultism and other forms of criminalities in the country.
There is virtually nothing wrong with the activity of having a job or business that one can engage in so as not to be idling around all day waiting for mischief makers to come and prey on one to commit crimes that would lead to their incarceration.
According to the World Bank and the International Labour Organization (ILO), Nigeria has the highest concentration of youth in the world. Over 60% of this country's people are under the age of 30. And with an unemployment rate for 15-24 year olds at 13%, it is not surprising that most of these young people resort to anti-social behaviour as a means of survival. But, it is still surprising that our youth have become so idle and unproductive. No wonder their productivity has been referred to as "zero".
The reasons behind this 'high rate' of idleness among Nigerian youth can be traced to various factors in our society. Firstly, it is partly due to the lack of proper parental guidance or guardianship even though family remains a highly respected institution by most Nigerians. The reason why most parents are unable to provide good guardianship is largely due to their low levels of education. This can be traced to the way we run our schools.
According to statistics, crime rates are on the increase with the youth accounting for most of the criminals. This is as a result of them being idle. If they are idle, they find themselves bored. And when they are bored, they find no other way of entertaining themselves other than engaging in vices, which often leads to crime.
Churches and families should teach the young about the value of hard work and the need to avoid idleness. Children should be encouraged to pursue useful skills and hobbies that will occupy their time constructively, instilling in them values that will help them develop their careers.
I'm just not happy with the vandalism and the crime rate in my country. People are always blaming a particular class of the community for their bad behaviour, but the truth is that young people need a lot of guidance from their parents, government and church leadership. These should lead them to do rather than do nothing. I would say that our youths are idlers.
Bankruptcy is an offence which is punishable under bankruptcy law and also may lead to a criminal offence.
Idleness (or leisured class) refers to the class of individuals who, due to wealth or influence, have leisure time to develop pursuits beyond basic survival.
Idleness, a great enemy of the progress and development of the younger generation, who, upon growing idle like their parents, are tempted to turn to vices.
