It is well recognized that Ethiopia has a fast-growing population and the majority has accounted for the young generation. Yes, without the youth, the nation simply would have no heralds for future cohorts. Without the youth, all of its history, hard work, dreams, among others, would stop dead in their tracks the very moment they bite the dust.
Ethiopia needs the youth to safeguard the future, and it is one of the main reasons why they are so important. No one else has the power to build a promising national, regional, continental and even global future than the youth. They will solve future crises, write new policies, lead the nation to greatness, and make the world a better place to live in aggregate. The youth, in today’s standards, are even more involved in serious discussions and topics than those older than them.
Keeping this in mind, The Ethiopian Herald approached Tizita Mulugeta, who graduated from Addis Ababa University in Sociology, to have a professional standpoint towards nation building and the contribution of the youth—young generation in brief.
She said, “Since the advent of modern education in the country, the youth have been known to mount resolute struggles in opposition to different kinds of oppression prevailing in the country and for economic and social development, justice, democracy and a better system of governance. Ethiopia’s youth population, which constitutes a significant portion of the total population, presents both opportunities and challenges for the country’s development.”
As to her, the youth offers potential for economic growth, but investing in education, job creation, and skills development is crucial to harness this demographic share.
“Asset-based social justice pedagogies – such as culturally relevant teaching, culturally responsive teaching, abolitionist pedagogy, culturally and historically responsive literacy, and the archaeology of self – all draw on a series of ideas grounded in love for young people. Land shortages, poverty, reduced livelihood opportunities in rural areas, and increasing urbanization are driving internal migration among youth. More children, adolescents and young people leave their natal home today than when their parents were young, so this has become a common experience and needs to be addressed soon,” she added.
According to Tizita, since the youth are an integral part of society, they assimilate a lot from what they hear and see members of their communities say and do. For this reason, the society has the responsibility of nurturing its youth in the ways of ethical uprightness and inculcating in them the initiative for work and love for their country.
She further elucidated that it is from the same communities that the youth learns bad behavior and dissoluteness. It stands to reason, therefore, that society has a big role to play in the proper molding and upbringing of its youth. The youth constitutes that part of society that leaves behind in its footsteps the foundation stone for every new phase of a country’s development. Young people in this phase of life are capable of being productive more than any other sector of the society they live in. They are also full of potential energy, ready for change and responsive whenever they are called upon for action in the general development of their country.
Dilla University graduate from social science department, Alemayehu Wogasso on his part said, “It is our painstaking opinion and belief that families, the government, society and schools should, therefore, make their share of contribution to this end in a concerted manner if the youth must bring about the desired change for their country.
So the saying goes ‘Unity is strength,’ the above mentioned bodies must move in unison in encouraging the young generation, children and both existing and the generations thereby helping the nation come up with real change in all aspects. When people see the youth engage themselves in undesirable activities, for a country’s development is a matter of the concerted effort of each and every member of its communities, everyone has to effectively discharge their responsibilities in this regard for a common good.”
He further stated that economically advanced and prosperous countries in the world earned the fame and respect that they pride themselves in not by engaging in the futile and impossible task of clapping with one hand; rather they got where they did by following up and assessing their problems and utilizing the productive and energetic force, they young generation, they have and deploying it in the right place at the right time.
Not only does the young generation represent the country’s future but they are also primary agents of progress and change. Their power comes from the fact that they are the culmination of the previous generations’ dream to make progress.
“The youth is in a unique position because of their experience. They can speak about issues that others would like to forget entirely. We must not snuff their voices and instead listen to them. Youth is the time in our lives that teaches us how to make decisions and start making reasonable choices for our betterment. Our youth builds our character and is a very crucial part of our development,” he underscored.
According to Alemayehu, unequivocally, young people are energetic, enthusiastic and filled with a lot of passion, and their spirit that every leader talks about refers to the same thing. The passion and the energy this time around, when put to something very creative and useful can easily lead to developing skills and leading us to a bright future right away.
Yes, he said the youth must develop the spirit to refute what is wrong in society, and they must realize that now is the time to take action.
In principle, he said, there are some key responsibilities that the young generation must inculcate in. To mention but a few, value of time—it is the responsibility of the youth to understand the importance of time as every moment is crucial for them to take action so punctuality is a must.
The other crucial element is discipline—the youth have to understand the necessity of discipline in life. Youth is full of passion. Without discipline, the youngsters cannot work passionately and responsibly.
Fundamentally, said Alemayehu, the youth need to think well before taking actions. Yes, the youth must not be impulsive. It is very important for them to think before taking action. This is how the youth will be able to create a thoughtful society.
Being goal-oriented is another invaluable factor on which the youth are expected to work on. The youth needs to be focused on the goals that he wants to accomplish. When the young generation is goal-oriented, then their vision and mission become very clear and nation building would be very much easy, Alemayehu underscores.
In sum, national development is now in the hands of the young generation since the older generation has passed on the baton to the youth. The young generation has more concurrent dreams, passion and hope and the former in any country represents the future of the respective nations. For the development of Ethiopia, the young people have to be hardworking in any field they get involved in, be it teaching, farming, mechanic or any other field. Youth empowerment can eradicate poverty from the country. They can of course play an imperative role in the constructive process of building social cohesion, economic prosperity and political stability of a nation in an inclusive and democratic way. No doubt, youth is the future of society.
The young generation simply needs to renew, refresh and maintain the current status of society. When the youth contribute their ideas and energy to resolve social issues, they become capable leaders and can also make a difference in the lives of others. Hence, they must have the courage to resolve the mournful contradictions that are plaguing society and boldly take on great challenges without shunning the subsequent problems and difficulties that they will inevitably face.
BY MENGESHA AMARE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 31 MAY 2025
