The Role of Creative Thinking on Youth Development and the Socio-Economic Transformation in Africa

Presented By

Akanji K. Michael

League of Extraordinary Genius, LEG

Organized By

BUILDERS’ GENERATION MOVEMENT

The Potter’s Place, TREM Felele, Ibadan,

Oyo State.

INTRODUCTION

“Where there is no Vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”(Proverbs 29:18)

I sincerely welcome you all to this epoch event. It is a day marked remarkably to display God’s accomplishment of purpose. You are highly honored for being part of this day. “He that watches greatness passed is great.”(Williams Shakespeare) and this is why I say you are all great people.

We are celebrating someone who through the unyielding firmness of his character, the power of his personal example, the sheer force of his Moral and Spiritual Leadership, the translucent light of his counsel and wisdom, and his over-flowing love for humanity especially the youth has touched all of us, in and out of this room, so profoundly.

I feel privilege this day to converse with you on the topic “The Role of Creative Thinking on Youth Development and the Socio-Economic Transformation in Africa.” As we celebrate someone with rock-solid character like granite, it bears a connection to the canon that Creative Thinking is viewed by world scintillating professionals as the most proffered antidote to the transformation of any nation’s human and natural resources.

Finally, because we stand at the dawn of a new era, there is no better reason for invoking the urgent need for the development and socio-economic status of the African Continent. Let us then without mincing words begin by talking about Creative Thinking as the foundation to Transformation.

WHAT IS CREATIVE THINKING?

Looking at situations from a fresh perspective that suggests unorthodox solutions (which may look unsettling at first). Creative Thinking can be stimulated by a free-wheeling process such as the method of solving problems with diverse suggestion(Brainstorming) and by a step by step process such as ways of solving problems with initial irrelevant ideas(Lateral thinking).

Creative Thinking therefore is a Divine Wisdom. The ability to make alive an intelligent extraordinary unthinkable inborn idea. It is a way of life of an individual.

Creativity has been linked to the activities in the human “LEFT BRAIN” which is responsible for the most component of human characters as language sounds, emotional memory, vision and reading, body sense, phonics and spellings, symbolic relationship, creative ideas inhibition, including worry etc.  Whether you are trying to solve problems or not, creative thinking is crucial. The process boils down to changing perspective and seeing things differently than you currently do.

Recent research confirmed that Brainstorming and Lateral thinking: agent of creative thinking has largely increased the advent of both Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations concerned with Youth Development. These organizations are responsible for the defense of the creative wealth of the youth in the society. However, unfortunately, another recent report by the White House Task Force for Disadvantaged youth (2003), says the amount of high quality outcomes of youth programs is limited. Still, some valuable information about the impact of youth development can be gleaned from existing report.

Youth development is a process which prepares young people to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood through a coordinated, progressive series of activities and experiences which help them to becoming socially, morally, emotionally, physically, and cognitively competent. These competencies encompass a wide range of areas such as increased academic achievement, greater communication skills, increased safety at home and school, fewer psychosocial problems as loneliness, shyness and hopelessness.

Youth development as increasingly been identified as an important component of social reform: the means that generates social development.

Functionally, youths are geared to adapt old knowledge to new uses, produce new knowledge, and apply it to one or more fields of human life. Therefore, though, youth development is the outcome of socio-economic transformation, it also highly affects social development. Other factors that are relevant in the development are youth/ adult partnerships, youth voice, youth leadership and civil engagement. A positive creative thinking youth development is the idea that all young people need support, guidance and opportunities during adolescence, engaging them to contribute to the well-being of the large community. In order to augment the development of youth, a well designed and planned community programs are to be in place. Such that will concentrate on the positive social norms, opportunity to belong, appropriate structure, physical and psychological safety.

While development is facilitated and influenced by technological changes such as modern information, and communications technology, the social group which is highly influenced, (i.e. the population that is very vulnerable under its pressure, is the youth, not only in Africa, but in many other developing countries.

Socio-Economic Transformation is not a new process. For over five decades, firms in the economically advanced countries have increasingly extended their outreach through trade and production activities through colonialism.

Considering the socio-economic transformation in South Africa, the Black race now measure up in every standard. Looking at the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), South Africa have been recognized as central for economic growth and transformation since the mid 1990s and have developed under an economic framework influenced by the State’s transformation strategies, particularly Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerments (BBBEEs). While acknowledging the limitation at hand, the overall conclusion is that positive interaction between the SMMEs and BBBEEs frameworks can contribute to the empowerment of more disadvantaged South Africans and therefore to meaningful Socio-Economic Transformation.

Socio-Economic Transformation is not a finite goal, but a long and complicated process that requires adequate policies and institutions, and an action role from both government and private sector. It requires clear targets, guidelines and beneficiaries. Although the transformation framework has moved forward in this direction where targets and guidelines are now much clearer, the South African government still needs to workout ways in which the benefits will reach not just those who have been historically disadvantaged, but also and particularly those who are now marginalized. Notwithstanding the importance of business in general, and that the larger Small Medium and Micro Enterprise contributes greatly to employment creation and economic growth, it seems that Socio-Economic Transformation is more likely to be achieved if strategies to support the smallest  initiatives are strengthened.

ROLE OF CREATIVE THINKING AND ITS IMPACT ON TRANSFORMATION

Creative Thinking as played Positive Roles in youth development as it settles some nagging issues dealing with emotions, academics, mental and spiritual development.

·         Emotionally- creative thinking has helped the youth in bringing out their realities ideas and expressing their brio to the forefront for positive change.

·         Academically- it has created a positive learning where youths are charged differently contributing to the development of the society, through sensible creativity, logical reasoning based on personal knowledge and rational problems solving skills.

·         Mentally- creative thinking as a mental catalyst has facilitated making right choices and influencing policies reaching the youths where they are.

·         Spiritually- David was a man who through his creative thinking defeated the giant Goliath with a sling and a stone. This creativity is still functional today as the youths of this age are daring towards the unthinkable to do exploit for God.

Apart from such roles played, the youth have also impacted greatly on the Socio-Economic Transformation in Africa. The constant and increasing cultural change among the youths has contributed to the challenges in various economic forms. In contrast to this, the youth themselves have geared towards reviving the socio-economic transformation. They have achieved this by:

·         Trying to find the ‘Right Answer’ to every situation- not just an answer, but the right one to solve the immediate problems of unemployment, criminal activities and other illicit acts in the society.

·         Following the lay down ‘Rules’-those rules that guide the conduct of behavioral attitude among the youths in the society.

·         Avoiding ‘Ambiguity’-they have learnt to take more risk and tackle the first issues first.

·         Be ‘Serious Minded’-they have shown more maturity in their dealing as it makes them more serious in their activities.

·         Think ‘logically’-their logical thinking now transform the society making it a haven of peace.

This has strengthened the economic transformation as more knowledgeable serious minded youths are now contributing to the growth and transformation of Africa’s economy.

CONCLUSION

The possibility of future peace and stability for all of Africa’s population are contained within the matrices of the current instability surrounding Africa. This argument does not necessarily mean that Africa is automatically progressing towards a stable, free and positive change, but these conditions will provide the potential for the profound human development. Therefore, these calls for the immediate intervention of all Africans to recognize the opportunities provided by the current socio-economic flux and relative openness in Africa, and support positive outcomes for the socio-economic transition. The basic facts are that while we have achieved some of our goals, there are many more, which are ending up in the dustbin of history. Our unshakeable faith and devotion have always been a source of consolidation despite the vicissitudes of life. As an incurable believer, I have no doubt that our youth now have more confidence in achieving every set goal.

In conclusion, let me say that the youths in this part of the world have suffered injuries. I believe that the solutions lie in our hands if we can work in good faith and humanity to create a developed and transformed society which will be the pride of future generations.

Our situation is far from hopeless no matter what the doubting Thomas’s say. However, wise thinking will transform us (the youth) from the pit of decay to a society that has reconciled with the demons of the past and on the part to ensuring a future of common prosperity and socio-economic transformation into the rest of Africa. This is what great leaders do in altering the destiny of their society. The change is in you!