The Values That Raised Me: A Message To My Generation || By Amb. Yusuff Gboyega 

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Amb Yusuff Gboyega Abdulafeez

+2348183552178

yussufgboyega@yahoo.com

I am a product of a family that believes upbringing is not just about providing food, shelter and education. It is about teaching a child respect, responsibility, discipline, humility and consideration for others.

 

From my parents to my nuclear family and extended family, I have been fortunate to grow within an environment where elders were respected, younger ones were guided, and everyone understood that our actions were a reflection of the family that raised us.

 

That upbringing has shaped the person I am today.

 

As a young person and as a Parliamentarian representing Ibadan South East Constituency 2 in the Oyo State Youth Parliament, I have come to understand that leadership begins long before one occupies a public position. Leadership begins at home.

 

The way you speak to people matters.

 

The way you disagree matters.

 

The way you treat the elderly matters.

 

The way you respond when you are corrected matters.

 

And perhaps most importantly, the way you behave when nobody is watching matters.

 

To my fellow members of Generation Z, I say this with sincerity: never underestimate the value of our culture and the lessons passed down by those before us.

 

Civilization should not mean the abandonment of character.

 

Being outspoken should not mean being disrespectful.

 

Being confident should not mean being arrogant.

 

Knowing your rights should also come with understanding your responsibilities.

 

We must stop celebrating careless behaviour simply because it is described as “Gen Z behaviour.” There is nothing progressive about disrespect, entitlement or deliberate disregard for people who deserve basic courtesy.

 

As a youth advocate, I have seen young people who are doing remarkable things, building businesses, supporting communities, learning new skills, advocating for better governance and creating opportunities for others. These are the young people Nigeria needs.

 

I have also learnt through my own journey that you do not need to wait until you become old before you begin to contribute. Since becoming a member of the Oyo State Youth Parliament, I have engaged with young people, listened to concerns at the grassroots, supported youth advocacy, facilitated conversations around opportunities and skills, and worked to ensure that the voice of young people is part of governance.

 

But none of these responsibilities gives me the right to disrespect anyone.

 

If anything, public responsibility should make us more disciplined, more accessible and more respectful.

 

That is why recent incidents where young people publicly display unnecessary arrogance or disregard for elders should concern all of us. Even when you believe you are right, there is a responsible way to express yourself.

 

For example, if an elderly person corrects you, you can disagree without insulting them. If you are in the presence of a respected leader, you can express your opinion without turning the environment into a theatre of confrontation. If you have a platform, use it to educate rather than embarrass.

 

And to parents and families, this conversation is also for us.

 

Let us not blame social media for everything.

 

Let us not blame civilization for everything.

 

Let us not blame Generation Z for everything.

 

Character is still largely cultivated at home.

 

A child who learns respect at home carries it into school. From school, into the workplace. From the workplace, into society. And eventually, into leadership.

 

The opposite is also true.

 

If we normalize indiscipline at home, we should not be surprised when it appears in public offices tomorrow.

 

If we celebrate arrogance in our children, we should not be shocked when they become arrogant leaders.

 

If we teach young people that correction is an attack, we may eventually produce adults who cannot accept accountability.

 

Nigeria cannot afford that.

 

I also believe that leaders and successful personalities have a responsibility to correct young people when necessary. In situations where a young person crosses the line, correction should sometimes be firm enough to serve as a deterrent not because we want to destroy the young person, but because we want them to learn.

 

For instance, Dr. Tony Elumelu’s reported intervention in a situation involving a young person could have been an opportunity to reinforce a simple message: talent and intelligence do not replace character.

 

We need to teach our generation that success without values can become dangerous.

 

My own story reminds me every day that upbringing matters.

 

The values I received from my parents and extended family have influenced how I relate with people, how I approach leadership and how I understand responsibility.

 

I am still learning. I am not perfect. But I know that being a young leader is not a licence to disregard the people who came before us.

 

To every young Nigerian reading this:

 

Be bold, but be respectful.

Be ambitious, but be humble.

Know your rights, but understand your responsibilities.

Challenge the system, but do it with wisdom.

Embrace technology, but don’t abandon culture.

Demand accountability, but remain accountable yourself.

 

Let us prove to the elderly that young people are not generally rude.

 

Let us show them that we can be innovative without being irresponsible, progressive without being disrespectful, and confident without losing our humanity.

 

The Nigeria we want tomorrow will be built by the character we demonstrate today.

 

This is not an attack on Generation Z. It is a call for Generation Z to become better.

 

And as a youth advocate and Deputy Minority Leader representing Ibadan South East Constituency 2, Oyo State Youth Parliament, I will continue to advocate for a generation that is not only educated and empowered, but also disciplined, respectful, culturally grounded and prepared to lead.

 

Because when opportunities eventually come, character will determine whether we are ready to handle them.

 

Conversation for another day: the role of parents, schools, religious institutions and society in raising the kind of young people Nigeria needs.

 

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