BY ROSEMARY NWAEBUNI
“ BROKE down and wept bitterly on discovering that my son, who is barely 19 years old, had secretly sold my only piece of land that I have been protecting for years, hoping to build a better home for the family in the future, just to buy the newly released iPhone 17. He sold the land at a ridiculously cheap price and quickly used the money to purchase an iPhone 17, flaunting it proudly among his friends’’, lamented a heartbroken Nigerian father.
‘’You’re just 22 years old, still living in my house without a sustainable means of livelihood, and you’ve gone to buy a car. I consider this a misplaced priority because the acquisition of a car at this stage of your life will not only distract you from establishing a solid financial foundation needed for long-term stability and success, but also place on your shoulders the burden of sustaining this premature social status you’re foisting on yourself,’’ chastised a bewildered father.
These unfortunate scenarios demonstrate how some Nigerian youths have taken certain actions that can only be described as misplaced priorities. Many of them place more value on less significant things like luxury phones and cars than on their future development.
Buying a car or an expensive phone without a steady and sustainable income can very well be a misplaced priority for young people, primarily because it is a significant depreciating asset and a source of numerous expenses, which can hinder their ability to save and invest for long-term financial goals.
The Nigerian population demography is dominated by youths. Approximately 70 per cent of the population is under the age of 30, making it the largest youth population in Africa and one of the largest in the world. Sadly, Nigerian youths do not play any significant role in the politics and economy of this country. The reason can be effectively pinned down to misplaced priorities.
The average Nigerian youth will rather crave for an iPhone, a car and other luxury items than a voter’s card that would empower him to bring about positive change. Even when they participate in political activities, they either play the role of social media attack dogs for politicians who give them peanuts for data to attack their perceived political enemies or act as political thugs who are paid peanuts to unleash mayhem on Election Day. Meanwhile, the children of their pay masters hardly go close to the polling booths but attend the best universities in the world, and when they graduate, they get the best jobs in the country.
Misplaced priority is when someone focuses his or her time, energy or resources on less important things while neglecting or ignoring more critical matters. It is a misalignment between actions and what is truly important, often leading to inefficiency and negative outcomes.
Misplaced priorities among Nigerian youths primarily highlight how youths’ attention can be directed from important issues that concern their socio-economic and political future, towards less consequential matters. While misplacement of priorities by some youths may be taken out of ignorance and youthful exuberance, some of them are actually deliberate acts of pleasurable indulgence, as in the two scenarios painted above.
Unfortunately, many youths exhibit lackadaisical attitudes towards their personal development, civil responsibilities and nation-building. Instead, they are channelling their time, energy and resources into a wide range of unproductive, illicit and even time-wasting ventures and activities.
Misplaced priorities by Nigerian youths is characterised by prioritising immediate gratification or superficial achievements over long-term success or meaningful objectives; Ignoring critical issues by not addressing urgent or significant problems while concentrating on less important matters; spending time, money or effort on initiatives that do not yield substantial benefits or impact; succumbing to external pressures, such as societal expectations or trends, which may dictate priorities that may not align with personal or communal needs; and emphasizing short-term results or accidental success without considering the long-term consequences.
A few examples of misplaced priorities among young Nigerians would include: tendency to prioritise social media presence over personal health and education, leading to neglect of more critical aspects of their well-being; a university student focusing on relationships and social life in their first year, instead of concentrating on building a strong academic foundation; and the knack to spend heavily on luxury goods or entertainment while neglecting essential expenses or long-term savings goals.
The most dangerous thing about misplaced priority is that a person may engage in it without knowing it. Some youths may appear focused, but their focus may be on the wrong things. They may employ all kinds of strategies, exert all their energy on what they are doing, but they may never get the desired result because they are prioritising the wrong things. No matter how fast we travel on the wrong road, we will never get to our desired destination.
The pertinent question now is, how did we get here? The issue of misplaced priorities among Nigerian youths is a multifaceted concern that encompasses various social, economic and cultural dimensions. Here are some factors that have given rise to the culture of misplaced priorities among our youth population:
A key culprit is social media influence. Many youths aspire to live a lifestyle often showcased on social media, which prioritises wealth and celebrity status over education or skill development. Another contributing factor is parents’ constant comparison of their children with their peers, who they consider to be excelling more in certain aspects of life, a development that usually leads to stress and disillusionment, pushing youths to prioritise short-term gains rather than long-term fulfilment.
Yet another key element is a high unemployment rate, which can drive youths to prioritise immediate financial gains, leading to engagement in risky ventures or illegal activities, including internet fraud. While entrepreneurship is encouraged among Nigerian youths, some of them may dive into certain business ventures as a priority without proper research or preparation.
We now live in a society where traditional values tend to prioritise success in terms of financial gain and affluence rather than sound moral attributes like integrity, honesty and forthrightness. This development puts many youths under undue pressure to meet these societal expectations, which can adversely affect their mental health, leading to a cycle of frustration and misguided priorities.
Misplaced priorities can have negative consequences for individual youths, organisations and society, leading to dissatisfaction, frustration, inefficiency and failure to achieve meaningful progress. Some of the consequences that may result from poor prioritisation include failure to achieve desired goals, wasted resources, neglected responsibilities and relationships, lack of progress and fulfilment, as well as lack of reputation and trust.
It is not too late for youths who may have gone the wrong path in life to retrace their steps and reset their priorities aright. This they can do by focusing on education that emphasises practical skills like digital literacy and entrepreneurship; developing multiple income streams through side hustles and content creation; seeking practical experience and setting clear, achievable goals for themselves; balancing their needs and wants; staying focused; embracing challenges and eliminating self-doubts.
Addressing the issue of misplaced priorities among Nigerian youths would require a multifaceted approach, including educational reforms, enhanced access to mental health resources and fostering a culture that values diverse career paths and personal fulfilment over superficial success. Encouraging critical thinking and resilience can also help youths navigate societal pressures and set the right priorities about their future.
