Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Blame Game: From the Boomers to Gen Z

October 28, 2024

By Ajibola Osungbohun

Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape has long been marred by issues of corruption, unemployment, and underdeveloped infrastructure. As these challenges continue, a troubling trend has emerged: the blame game between older and younger generations. Many in the Boomer and Silent generations who held or still hold significant positions of power are increasingly attributing Nigeria’s economic and social challenges to Millennials and Gen Z.

This blame shifting distracts from the root causes of Nigeria’s problems and often unfairly places responsibility on the younger generation for circumstances they did not create.

The Roots of Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Woes
Nigeria’s challenges began decades ago, as corruption, a lack of accountability, and over-reliance on oil revenues led to economic instability. Leaders of the Boomer and Silent generations largely shaped these policies, often emphasizing short-term gains over long-term development. For example, the prioritization of oil production over diversified investments left the economy vulnerable to global oil price fluctuations. Underinvestment in education, healthcare, and infrastructure has exacerbated poverty, while unemployment has soared, particularly among young people.

Despite these realities, younger generations are often seen to be responsible for the decline in moral values, diminishing work ethic, and alleged lack of patriotism. Critics from older generations argue that Millennials and Gen Z lack the resilience and discipline needed to uplift the country, but such criticism overlooks the systemic issues they inherited.

However, Millennials and Gen Z came in the period when Nigeria was grappling with high inflation, limited job opportunities, and socio-political instability. Many young people are educated yet find themselves unable to secure employment or even basic services. This has led some to seek opportunities abroad gaining traction of a name t known as the “Japa,” where young Nigerians leave in pursuit of better lives and which many are saying could find its way into the Dictionary. For those who remain, the struggle to succeed is often met with criticism from older generations who view them as unpatriotic or lacking vision for themselves.

The reality, however, is that many Millennials and Gen Z are working hard to overcome the limitations of an economy they were not part of. The engagement of technology, entrepreneurship, and social media have been an escape and source of employment for them in this hard economy, while advocating for transparency, reform, and innovation. The #EndSARS movement is a great example of the anger and annoyance, driven by youth, demanding accountability and reform to bad governance, a call that was largely ignored or resisted by older authorities.
The August 1-10 #Endbadgovernace protest which rather than looking at the demands listed by the youth but the government who are larger dominated by the boomer and silents generation resorted to arresting young people and even going ahead arresting children who are between 10-14 years and charging them to court.
Rather than blaming each other, both younger and older generations need to recognize their roles in creating a sustainable Nigeria. Millennials and Gen Z have shown that they are ready to contribute positively, but they require support through enabling policies, mentorship, and investment in sectors that can unlock their potential.
The Boomer and Silent generations must acknowledge that systemic issues such as corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor governance have compounded over decades. Acknowledging past mistakes and collaborating on reforms can pave the way for lasting change. Cross-generational partnerships can also strengthen Nigeria’s socio-economic fabric, with each generation contributing its unique strengths.

Note: Views expressed by contributors are strictly personal opinions and not of The Yoruba Times