Mbonu Emerem, a world renowned visual artist, has decried the hopeless of Nigerian youths and urged them to improve on their talents, rather than wait for white collar jobs that are not readily available.
Emerem, in an interaction with journalists in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, however, charged Nigeria’s Government to be more responsive to the citizens, by providing social welfare nets that would alleviate poverty in the country.
He attributed increase in crime rate in the country to joblessness and appealed to youths to use their talents well to make money rather than involve in crime, which according to him, does not pay.
The accomplished artist and Nigeria’s representative at the Museum of the Americas (MoA) in Florida, United States of America (USA), lamented that majority of Nigerians are traumatised by their living conditions.
Emerem charged the political class in the country to create better pathways of success for millions of youths, who graduate from Universities every year without direction of where to start life.
The Imo State-born globally celebrated visual artist however, charged the Nigerian youths to remain resolute and resilient as losing hope in themselves will be tantamount to self-destruction, as the government has failed them.
He urged them to look beyond their certificates and concentrate more on their skills and talents, adding that the current situation in Nigeria has completely placed the educated at a disadvantage and to public ridicule.
Using himself as an example, the 65-year-old artist, who studied Economics at the University of Nigeria (UNN), said that he discovered that his source of livelihood lies in his talent in arts, during the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1983/1984.
Emerem lamented that Nigerian political leaders are insensitive to the plight of the citizens, stressing that what he has demonstrated with one of his Art Works during an exhibition in 1997 with the title ‘Tears for my nation’ is still manifesting.
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“Honestly everything is blank. I pity our youths, but they must not be discouraged. Look at the country, no encouragement and when they become discouraged those, who can’t cope will begin to lose their minds. But they must seriously look beyond their certificates.
“Every year, millions of students graduate from school, but there’s no focus for them. No hope of a place to attach to find their fit to become responsible. Nobody knows where this country is headed.
“Let’s critically look at the future of our youths and ask the political leaders where they’re taking us to. With all the talents and resources available, this country keeps borrowing. We all forget that a borrowing nation is a beggar nation.
“Politicians have started ranting about what we should expect, but within the next eight years, people will start apologising for their errors,” he said.
He called on government to help create pathways for these young ones so as not to lose them to crime and criminality.
Emerem reiterated his encouragement to the youth never to be discouraged and never to see crime as an alternative, no matter the temptation, stressing that if discouragement sets in, their minds will begin to deteriorate and depression will set in.
He also charged political leaders to take deep research into the society they are leading and see the ages of the people in most obituary posters across the nation, adding that such critical research may help them redirect their steps.
Emerem, who won “Best Corps Artist Award” in 1983/84 service year, has also won many other local and international awards in Arts, including “Distinguished Artist Award”in the International exhibition of digital art, organised by Museo Municipal we Bellas Artes Juan B. Castagnino, Argentina.
He was also selected by the board of directors of the Museum of Americas, as representative of the Museum of the Americas, Doral, Florida, USA.
