The context for Generation to be addressed to bring about an effective and sustainable change is the process of passing the baton from one generation to the next. In every nation that will be great, there is an active long term plan for future successive generations to build upon and then continue to lay the foundation for the next generation. Over the years in Nigeria, we’ve had a plethora of National Development Plans, National Rolling Plans, Vision Plans – Vision 2010, Vision 20:20:20 and diverse other overlapping programmes – SAP, NEEDS; however, none has translated into laying a solid foundation for the next generation to build upon. We tend to just shift the target year to some distant, catchy period e.g. Vision 2010 becomes Vision 2020 when we realise there is nothing to show for the budget that has been allocated for the initial target date. Unfortunately for us, as this is what we bequeath to the next generation, they just follow suit and repeat the same process leading to an unending generational cycle.
A critical examination of the underlying reason for this lack of generational planning is our poor and inadequate maintenance culture. This is revealed in the manner we treat our national infrastructures; we divert maintenance budgetary allocation, encourage sub-standard workmanship and turn a blind eye to disrepair and decay in our infrastructures. Examples abound nationwide– roads, airports, power & energy, transport network, sports centres, seaports, refineries, office and residential buildings etc. To address this unending generational cycle, the current generation must embrace change and ensure a solid foundation is laid for the next generation to build; this starts from our families, associations, institutions, communities and governments.