

























475 

35 

FORMATION OF THE YOUTH AND ITS 

IMPLICATION FOR NATIONAL 

DEVELOPMENT 
 

Praise, KORIE 
Catholic Diocese of Uromi 
praisesilva2@gmail.com 

 
Abstract 
The future of any and every great institution in the world, largely 
depends on folks who fall within the age bracket of those regarded as 
youths, who undisputedly are the leaders of tomorrow, whether or not 
they are prepared for it. The youths no doubt are a very important class 
of any nation, since their resourcefulness, skills, strengths can no doubt 
be beneficial in sustaining any nation’s development. They bring in a 
kind of vitality and enthusiasm that can drive any nation to the zenith of 
development and self-reliance. But more often as we see; especially in 
developing nations, not much regard is given to youth formation, in a bid 
to prepare them for their future role. The consequence of which is, 
being plunged into the future with absolutely no formation and 
preparation, they also fail to maintain the standards already set in place. 
This study is therefore, posed towards understanding the importance of 
youth formation and it’s implication in attaining sustainable national 
development. It shall also establish the extent of interaction between 
formation and national development; the challenges of youth formation 
and the role of major stakeholders. A qualitative, critical and analytical 
assessment of these issues will help us to arrive at the shores of the 
objective of this study. This piece, discovers that, in other to situate the 
youth of today strategically for national development, we must put into 
consideration the demographics of youth as well as their corresponding 
formation. This remains the task of every major player saddled with the 
enterprise of promoting national development. 
 
Keywords: Formation, Youth, Youth formation, Development, National 
development. 



476 Formation of the Human Person in the 21st Century 

Introduction 
Every nation of the world, strives to attain an all-round growth. And 
undoubtedly, the future of any nation rests on the shoulders of the 
youth. They eschew age long out dated mentalities, the values they hold 
and the qualities they possess, can inevitably bring development to any 
nation. The knowledge, skills and principles which they have acquired 
over the years would be used as tools for the development or otherwise 
of the nation.  

Youths can bring social reform and improvement in society. We 
cannot do without the youths of a country. A nation requires their 
participation to achieve her goals and help in taking the nation towards 
progress. 

Indeed, the youths are the movers and shakers of the nation. 
Without them, the nation has no future, remains moribund and faces 
extinction if care is not taken. The development of any country requires 
active participation from the youth. We must make all the youth aware of 
their power and the role they have to play in nation-building. As well as 
contribute our quarter to their proper formation. There are many ways 
in which we can help the youth of our country to achieve their potential. 
For that, the government must introduce programs that will help in 
fighting off issues like unemployment, poor education institutes and 
more to help them prosper without any hindrance. 

But today what do we find? Ill formed youths, who cannot cater 
for their own well-being less talk, the well-being of a nation. Can this 
situation cannot be blamed totally on the youths? This write up, attempts 
at presenting a brief insight into the crisis concerned with youth 
formation and briefly state how their proper formation can aid them to 
contribute effectively to national development. 

 
Conceptual Clarifications 
Formation: Formation can be referred to as the act or process of value 
adding. This value may be social, religious, an ethical. It is the process of 
giving a form to a person, or an act of taking form.1 It has to do with 
character development, value orientation and moral integrity. It is a 
process of breaking and shapening, breaking out deformations and 
molding forth a transformation. 
 
Youths: Many definitions of the youths are often done with age 
classifications. And these categorization differ from place to place. 
Generally those who fall within the age bracket of 14-35 are often 
regarded as youths. In some cases, the age range can be up to 40. It 
usually is a period between childhood and adulthood, between 
dependence and moving towards independence. The definition of a 



Section III: Religious/Socio-Cultural Perspectives And Human Formation    477 

 

youth is a young person who has not yet reached adulthood and refers to 
the time period before you become an adult.2The United Nations, for 
statistical purposes, defines those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 
as youth.3UNESCO further notes that: Youths have the creativity, 
the potential and the capacity to make change happen – for 
themselves, for their communities, and for the rest of the world.4 
Simply put, youths have the vitality needed to transform any 
society. Pope John Paul II affirms this youthful vitality when he 
avers that:  
Youth is the age of hope, of promise, of enthusiasm, of plans and 
of ideals. Youths do not want to give up in the face of difficulties. 
Youth does not want to put up with the short comings of the 
status quo. Youth believes in a better world and is determined to 
do something to help bring about it.5 
 
Youth formation: Youths are the building blocks of every developed 
nation. Youth formation is the process of preparing the young for the 
future act of becoming leaders. The youthful stage is a formative age, 
which enhances the youth and makes him or her contribute 
meaningfully to national development. Youth formation is a duty for all, 
social agents - the family, the church, the government, parents and 
youths themselves. The energy and vigor of the youths act as catalyst for 
national development. That is why, countries which utilize their youth 
in positive direction are more developed. Youths can constitute both a 
challenge and an opportunity for development. 

The need for formation is vital, because the youths of 
this century live in a dysfunctional world, with so many contradictions, 
unprecedented changes. A world torn apart by a complexity of 
conflicting value orientations, divergent worldviews and competing 
ideologies.6 

Within the black continent, youths bring out the potentiality for 
Africa’s development. Youths could be a source of labor inputs as well as 
human capital in production, which would improve total factor 
productivity in a region of the world where capital formation is limited. 
When employed, youths could be a reliable source of demand for the 
economy through their consumption activities. Especially in the African 
continent, the youths of Africa could be critical for the development of a 
new class of entrepreneurs that African countries need to prosper.7 
 
Development: Development is generally used to denote growth or 
progress. It is a process that creates growth, progress, positive change or 
the addition of physical, economic, environmental, social and 



478 Formation of the Human Person in the 21st Century 

demographic components.  The purpose of development is a rise in the 
level and quality of life of the population, and the creation or expansion 
of local regional income and employment opportunities, without 
damaging the resources of the environment.  Development is visible and 
useful, not necessarily immediately, and includes an aspect of quality 
change and the creation of conditions for a continuation of that change.8 
 
National Development: National development is a constructive 
process of engaging all the people of the country in building political 
stability, social unity and economic prosperity of the country.    

National development involves social harmony, infrastructure 
development and economic growth of the nation. Youths involvement in 
any growing economy is an essential key to development. Youths are the 
greatest power of the country therefore significant efforts must be 
established to help empower them to competently and adequately 
contribute towards sustainable development of the nation. National 
development will improve the lives of citizens with the growing 
economy.9 
 
Challenges of Youth Formation 
Many challenges exist today, which impedes youth formation. These 
range from lack of proper education, lack of social and basic amenities, 
lack of job opportunities, lack of support for creative innovations and 
worse still, there is the dysfunctionalism which is associated with the agents 
of socialization which in turn affects formation. George Ehusani, in 
Success without Successor, affirms this socializational dysfunctionalism when 
he avers that  

The traditional agents of socialization - the family, the church 
and the school, appear to have lost much of their authority and pride of 
place in the socialization and formative process. Today the Internet, the 
Television, the Cinema, the Home Video and the Peer Group appear to 
have snatched from the Parents, the Priests and Catechists and the 
School Teachers the primary prerogative of imparting knowledge and 
values and building the character of the younger generation.10 

 
o Family. The family is the bedrock of any human formation which is 

to be impacted into young people. When the formation which the 
family ought to impart is missing, it requires extra effort to get the 
formation of young people aright. In these times, news of broken 
families and failed relationships constitute no new surprise to us. But 
the end process of these broken families are traumatized children and 
youths who are left and if not by grace, would themselves become 
partners of broken families, thus continuing the cycle. Again many 



Section III: Religious/Socio-Cultural Perspectives And Human Formation    479 

 

parents are career persons, who love their jobs so much at the 
expense of valuable family formation of their wards. They at best 
leave the formation of their wards to uneducated house assistance, 
who have the potentiality to bring into actuality the deformation of 
young people. 
 

o Church. Many Churches today, are but true Churches. They are 
advanced shrines and medium for business. Many main stream 
Churches, have become a reproach and abomination to God. Thus 
the message of Christ which ought to have a formative impact on the 
lives of young ones, is now being distorted for a message that 
preaches material prosperity and the desire for materialistic relevant 
miracles. Today, the pulpit is been used to advise young ones about 
the seemingly wastage of time on education. They only present to 
the young ‘the miracle working God’ and not the ‘suffering Jesus’ 
who carried his cross. Every line of scripture is interpreted in a 
liberalistic manner, and people end up fed with stones instead of 
bread. 

 
o School. Many schools today are set up for profit making, over and 

above value formation. We need to try striking simple conversations 
with our latest graduates in order to discover the mess many youths 
have been entangled in. Professors who engage in nebulous acts such 
as mal-practice, were those who had access to quality education. 
Schools today have lost their influence over value and character 
formation. Students and parents decide what they want, and what 
they do not want and in a bid to retain numbers especially due to 
financial rewards, the schools watch the children throwaway their 
future, while they sit and fold their hands. 

 
o Unemployment. Lack of employment destroys certain formation to 

be gotten from the ethics of work. When jobs are not readily 
available, and those available are not meant for the educated but the 
connected. This creeds the contemporary belief among youths that 
education is no longer the key.  

 
o Lack of Mentorship. Lack of mentorship is another factor 

destroying the affective formation of youths. Youths witness 
everyday those who preach but do not practice; those who outline 
policies and principles but do not follow them. The end result of this 
accumulated experience never motivates but translates them into 
being oppressed oppressors. 



480 Formation of the Human Person in the 21st Century 

 
o Social Media. The social media frenzy, has taken over the task of 

formation of these impeded agents of formation. From children who 
live in abundance but thirst from lack of attention, to those who 
want answers to the meaning of life, and seek  means for channeling 
their vitality and passion in expressing themselves. The media 
(wrong use of it), has given young people today the illusion of a false 
presence, a feeling of accepttedness, and a fabricated feeling of 
satisfaction. This makes a lot of persons accept whatever is brought 
to the table. 

 
Authentic Formation of Youths: Implications for National 
Development 
Can youth formation be beneficial for national development? Yes. This is 
because, we cannot eliminate the important role youths play, in any 
nation’s development. Youths could be a source of labor inputs as well as 
human capital in production, which would improve total factor 
productivity in a region of the world where capital formation is limited.11 
Youths are critical for the development of a new class of entrepreneurs 
and leaders that can keep any nation aright. 
Youths spur in-depth research into varying issues confronting our 
collective existence. They ask questions which set researchers into 
motion. They challenge, oppose existing foundations, by seeking more 
and more to make adjustments to existing status quo. Thus only when 
they are adequately formed, that it would be possible for them to make 
ethical choices, which in the long run would be beneficial to any society. 

With the new waves of knowledge attained from globalization, 
youths are better able to make choices that support the pursuit of 
educational goals and the development of life skills necessary for national 
and local leadership positions. For instance, youths with access to 
reproductive health education, services (where they are welcomed), will 
enable them make rightful decisions as regards their health.  

Youths occupy a prominent place in any society, for apart from 
being the owners and leaders of tomorrow, they have energy and ideas 
that are society's great potentials.12 The National Youths Development 
Policy asserts that: Youths are the foundation of a society. Their energies, 
inventiveness, character and orientation define the pace of development 
and security of a nation. Through their creative talents and labour power, 
a nation makes giant strides in economic development and socio-political 
attainments. In their dreams and hopes, a nation founds her motivation; 
on their energies, she builds her vitality and purpose. And because of 
their dreams and aspirations, the future of a nation is assured.13  The 



Section III: Religious/Socio-Cultural Perspectives And Human Formation    481 

 

statement above acknowledges the role of the youths in the peace and 
security of a nation.  

Youths depending on how they are employed, can be agents of 
peace as well a instruments of war. They no doubt can play the role of 
peace mediators. Ozohu-Suleiman avers that: as [an] active segment of 
any society, youths are the major determiners of peace and stability of a 
nation.14 Conversely, the degree of disorderliness and instability in 
society is also determined in part by youths. Peace is a precursor of 
development. The absence of peace means that no meaningful 
development can take place.15 

 
Youth Formation: A Task For All 
To our already existing identity as victims of bad government, today, we 
all are potential martyrs (whether we are ready or not), and also potential 
victims of kidnap, potential victims of wrong medical treatments, 
potential victims of collapsed buildings, potential victims of human 
inhumanness.   

The formation of the youths remains an absolute task for 
everyone interested in the well-being of any nation. As faulty 
foundations can lead to collapse of structures, same can be said for any 
nation which pays little or no attention to youth formation cum 
development. Everyone must put in whatever it takes to give a better 
foundation for the youths. There must be a revival of the agents of 
socialization. The creation of enabling environment for family life. The 
creation of job opportunities and incentives for the youth. The 
admittance of youths sufficiently formed into the political and economic 
structure of society.  

The political society itself, is an important agent of the formation 
of the youths. The quest for an all-round character cum moral value 
formation for young people must have a place in any government’s 
policies. Leaders are to be aware that they must be role models and not 
pharisaic in nature. Government must set up effective youth policies 
which must move from the level of being an act of government to the 
level of honest implementation. Furthermore, equal opportunities must 
be provided for all irrespective of caste, creed, gender, race, religion and 
more. There are various issues of nepotism and favoritism which eats 
away the actual talents of a nation. This must be done away with.  

Since those found in the society are those found also in the 
Church, it follows that if the youths in the society are damaged, the 
youths in the Church would also be damaged youths. Given this fact, the 
Church must rise up and contribute her quota to the formation of the 



482 Formation of the Human Person in the 21st Century 

youths. She must play her role as an agent of the formation of youths. As 
George Ehusani notes: 
Church based programs and projects for youth development should 
include not only spiritual, moral and doctrinal education, but also 
(especially in our economically distressed environment where many 
youths have dropped out of school and are without skills) to include 
vocational and basic skills training for economically disadvantaged 
youths.16 

The youths themselves have a role to play in their own 
formation. The self is the first agent of formation. They should avail 
themselves of any and every such opportunity provided for their growth 
and wellbeing. Many youths today seem lackadaisical in affairs which 
should help their self-growth and aspirations. They are lured into all 
kind of life style which would lead to their unproductivity. If youths do 
not open and dispose themselves they cannot be formed and cannot 
eventually contribute to national development. At best they can just be 
noise makers on social media platforms.  

 
Youth Formation in Nigeria: Issues and Concern. 
Youths have a vital role to play in building this nation. They are spurs to 
facilitate Nigeria’s economic greatness and instigate developmental 
strides. But the youths of this country have not had a soft bed on which 
to land on. They are plagued on all sides many factors which are within 
and without. From lack of adequate formation to absence of 
infrastructural requirements for right living. Some of these issues as well 
as the resulting concerns are highlighted below. 
 
Socio-Economic and Political Environment: The socio-economic 
and political environment in Nigeria poses a great challenge to the 
youths. Economic and social statistics present a somber picture that 
leaves much to be desired. Almost half a century after flag independence, 
the economy continues to be dominated by the primary sector – 
agriculture, oil and minerals. This is partly because the country has not 
been able to create an environment for high value added economic 
activities. There is low domestic capital formation and declining direct 
foreign investment, with the exemption of the oil and gas sectors, until 
recently very heavy indebtedness, high unemployment and the 
informalisation of the economy where the majority of its people live in 
poverty.17 

Nigeria performs very poorly in terms of global economic 
competitiveness. The country lacks basic social and physical 
infrastructure. As a result, most people on the country have no access to 
basic services such as potable water, electricity, good sanitation, roads and 



Section III: Religious/Socio-Cultural Perspectives And Human Formation    483 

 

healthcare. All of this is coupled with a high illiteracy rate. The country’s 
underdevelopment has been reinforced by authoritarianism, political 
instability, ethnic and religious conflicts in the last decade.  

Even almost two decades after the return to democratic rule, we 
witness today instability in governance- like those in governance do not 
have an idea about governance. We witness tribalism and nepotism, we 
see a government that grossly tells lies, and misleads the public, we see 
non-accountability of public officials, lack of transparency in decision-
making, electoral frauds and the colonialisation and personalisation of 
the state and national resources by the political elite. This situation 
presents particular challenges for the Nigerian youths.18 

 
Lack of Education: Education is very crucial to the formation of 
youths. In Nigeria, our educational system is nothing to write home 
about. The aim of education is to bring about intellectual, moral, social 
and psychological formation of the human person. A person who is 
balanced in these areas of life will make the society proud. But today we 
find students who are intellectual thieves, socially imbalanced, morally 
bankrupt, psychologically confused, emotionally imbalanced, and 
physically challenged.19 More worrisome is the fact that education in 
Nigeria today is certificate based education, rather than education for 
productivity. Thus we have more graduates, but less people who can 
distinguish their left from their right. Education also ought to help us 
make ethical choices, but we have today more educated illiterates, who 
lack value appreciation and moral ethos. 
 
Lack of Employment. Youth unemployment poses a great threat to the 
country’s stability and development, and if not checkmated on time, it 
may lead to disastrous consequences for the nation. Desperation can 
drive the unemployed youths into living outside the law in order to 
survive and as a means of expressing dissatisfaction at the apparent 
neglect of their very existence. Crime as a result of unemployment has 
adverse effect on the economy.20 E. Okafor laments that: High level of 
corruption in Nigeria has robbed the country of developing a vibrant 
economic base in spite of her abundant natural resources. Massive 
corruption is perpetuated in every sector and has permeated the entire 
social structure of Nigeria. Funds meant for development projects which 
could have generated employment have been misappropriated, diverted, 
or embezzled and stashed away in foreign banks. Endemic corruption has 
robbed the country of the chance of developing a vibrant economy that 
would have created jobs for the youths in the various sectors of 
economy.21 



484 Formation of the Human Person in the 21st Century 

The consequences of not fully developing and harnessing 
youth’s potential could be dire, having enormous impact on the 
economic, political scientific, moral and social life of a nation. Youths are 
more likely to become frustrated because of legitimate grievances, 
including a lack of employment opportunities, low educational 
attainment, little participation in decision making and low social 
mobility. In this volatile context, greedy and opportunistic politicians 
could even exploit these grievances by involving these frustrated youths 
in creating massive instabilities that could impede the development of 
any nation.  

We must invest heavily in our children and youth population, so 
that from among them would emerge better presidents, better governors, 
better local government chairmen, better MDs and Directors of 
companies.22 

If posed for a better future, the Nigerian youth, has the 
propensity for greatness. Being more technologically attuned and with 
the desire to improve on existing parameters of development, they can 
help push the integral part of Nigeria’s socio-political cum economic 
growth and development. The challenge faced by those saddled with the 
responsibility of youth formation, remains how to sufficiently harness 
and channel young people’s passion, energy and enthusiasm into positive 
outcomes. 
 
Concluding Remarks 
The task of national development of any nation requires the captainship 
of astute and sound personnel. Sound men and women of deep vision, 
with sincerity of purpose, hardworking credible persons who are self-
sacrifical and patriotic. In the words of Abolade Fagbohun,  
Nation-building and the associated developmental issues require men 
and women of deep vision; sincerity of purpose; selflessness; genuine 
love for their country and their people; hardworking; of conscience, 
integrity, credibility, trustworthiness, honesty, reliable and able; people 
who do not think of stealing or embezzling; people who do not misuse 
the authority and power conferred on them, by God or Man; people who 
do not think that getting to positions of authority is a “do-or-die” affair; 
people who understand the meaning of nation building, leadership, good 
governance, rule of law, political emancipation, equality, human and civil 
rights, civility, freedom of speech, rule of law, diversity and religious 
tolerance; people who will shun and will not tolerate tribalism, 
corruption and nepotism. These are the people who can build nations 
and create the change we want to see.23 

If a nation believes in its youths and believes that without the 
youths, she can’t achieve her greatness, then she should make more 



Section III: Religious/Socio-Cultural Perspectives And Human Formation    485 

 

investment in them, because without investing in the youths, the future 
of a nation will not have any returns.  
The youths themselves should also be proactive, and help in their own 
formation. They should indulge in selfless services, and in the long run 
become positive change agents and role models.  
The Church, family, school, the government and society at large have 
equal responsibility to provide the youths with an environment that is 
conducive to bringing about a formation for the youths. There is the 
need as Ehusani avers, 

…to invest in our future by channeling a lot of our time 
and resources into the wholesome formation and integral 
development of our youths, because what we see as our 
successes today must bear fruits in future generations… 
because our successes today must not end with our 
generation. They must have a multiplier effect on the 
coming generation.24 
Also, the youths should have a responsibility to be more 

proactive. An ideal youth who seeks to become a leader of tomorrow, 
must endeavor to be honest, hardworking, thrifty, idealistic, disciplined, 
patriotic, compassionate, sportsmanlike, moral/religious and above all he 
should be capable of dreaming high and positive dreams.25 

In the end, youths by their very nature are transforming, and by 
default, under formation whether or not the society puts effort into their 
formation, they are being formed, the question is not whether they are 
being formed or whether they should be formed but that whether by 
default or effort they receive the appropriate formation. Whatever they 
receive determines what becomes of the development of any nation.  

To transform the crisis of youth formation and development 
today, we need a paradigm shift in the structure and method of their 
formation, as well as the environment we provide for them, and the 
opportunities we present for them to grow. 

 
 
Endnote 
                                                      
1What is formation? https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formation 
2Who is a youth? https://www.yourdictionary.com/youth (accessed March 5th 2020) 
3Secretary-General’s Report to the General Assembly, A/36/215, 1981 in 

https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/documents/youth/fact-sheets/youth-definition.pdf 

(accessed March11th, 2020) 
4https://en.unesco.org/youth (accessed March 7, 2020) 
5John Paul II, Address to the Young people of Nigeria. 1982 



486 Formation of the Human Person in the 21st Century 

                                                                                                                         
6George Ehusani, Success without Successor is Failure in Disguise: The Challenge of 

Youth Ministry Today. http://www.georgeehusani.org/index.php/other-articles/187-

success-without-successor-is-failure-in-disguise-the-challenge-of-youth-ministry-

today 
7 Adeline Idike. A Eme, Okechukwu Innocent, “Role Of The Youths In Nation-

Building,”  Journal of Policy and Development Studies Vol. 9, No. 5, (2015):  52-3 
8 Sid Israel, What is Development? The Israeli Center for International Aid and 

Development Studies, March 11, 2018. https://www.sid-israel.org/en/Development-

Issues/What-is-Development (accessed March 7, 2020) 
9 Essay on the role of youths in nation building,  http://robinnegiclasses.blog 

spot.com/2019/06/essay-on-role-of-youths-in-nation.html (accessed March 7, 

2020) 
10George Ehusani, Success without Successor is Failure in Disguise: The Challenge of 

Youth Ministry Today.http://www.georgeehusani.org/index.php/other-articles/187-

success-without-successor-is-failure-in-disguise-the-challenge-of-youth-ministry-

today (accessed March 7, 2020) 
11 Sid Israel, What is Development? 2018 
12 Onyekpe, N. “Managing youths at election,” The Constitution: A Journal of 

Constitutional Development 7 (1) (2007): 76-87. 
13 Federal Republic of Nigeria (2001), National Youths Policy 
14 Ozohu-Suleiman, A., “The Nigerian youths in contemporary political 

development: Relevance, challenges, and role expectation,” The Constitution: A 

Journal of Constitutional Development 6 (4) (2006) : 97-111. 
15 Eme, and Okechukwu, “Role Of The Youths In Nation-Building,” 57-8 
16George Ehusani,  Success without successor 
17 Eme, and Okechukwu, “Role Of The Youths In Nation-Building,” 62 
18 Ibid. 
19Anthony Ewerido, Lazarus Ishaku, “Youth Formation and Globalisation in the 

Nigeria context, A Theological and Pastoral Reflection on Timothy 4:12-15” in Youth 

Formation & Globalisation in the Nigerian Context,  edited by Luke Ijezie, Stephen 

Audu and Agnes Acha, (Portharcourt, CATHAN Publicatios, 2018), 102 
20 Adebayo, Abayomi “Youths unemployment and crime in Nigeria: A nexus and 

implications for national development” International Journal of Sociology and 

Anthropology 5 (2013): 350-357.  
21 Okafor Emeka, “Executive Corruption in Nigeria: A Critical Overview of Its Socio-

Economic Implications for Development” Afr. J. Psychol. Stud. Soc. Issues. 2005. 8(1): 

21-41. 
22George Ehusani, Success without Successor 
23Abolade Fagbohun, The Role of Nigerian Youth in Nation Building, 

https://medium.com/@abbjcicero101/the-role-of-nigerian-youth-in-nation-

building-2fb8a5552520 April 26, 2011. (accessed March 12, 2020) 
24George Ehusani, Success without Successor 
25 Eme, and Okechukwu, “Role Of The Youths In Nation-Building,”. 64 


