HARNESSING IGBO YOUTHS’ HUNGER FOR SUCCESS: ADVOCATING FOR YOUTHS LEADERSHIP AS HUMAN CAPITAL

Abstract

Leadership as human capital entails investing in youths through education, vocational studies, apprenticeship and mentoring for the purpose of development. While Igbo’s intrinsic hunger for success can be traced to their rich cultural heritage that propels them to work hard, create wealth
and enjoy financial freedom. Hence, their entrepreneurial spirit and drive to make wealth is often interpreted as ‘love for money’. The study aims to strike a balance between Igbo youths’ materialistic quest and the need to invest in human capital. The work investigates the economic, social and cultural rights that provides for the investment in human capital and examined factors that hinder same. The work found that investment in human capital is jeopardised by the non justiciability of Chapter (ii) of the 1999 Constitution which is very critical for achievement of human
capital. The work found that unemployment and poverty is the greatest challenge of Nigerian youths, hence this condition has driven thousands of Nigerian youths to engage in criminal activities. Further, the work discovers that the inability of the government to provide enabling conditions for development of human capital is a serious gap that makes youths susceptible to nefarious activities. The study observed that, investment in human capital is precedent to national development and recommends for urgent review of Chapter (ii) of the 1999 Constitution.