#EndSARS The Political Awakening Of The Nigerian Youth
By: Marx Okereke
Tags: Human Rights, Nigerian Politics, Endsars, Nigeria, Endsarsprotest

#EndSARS The Political Awakening Of The Nigerian Youth

Growing up in Lagos Nigeria it was a tale of mixed emotions filled with uncertainties dealing and inhabiting in an environment I was told is the giant of Africa. Rising to the occasion as a Nigerian youth fighting injustices and corruption in the political atmosphere was very much a fantasy and of course I would beat my chest to say it is far fetched but I stand happily corrected as well as my peers in these day and age where 2020 ushers in a sudden consciousness in minds and boldness staring actions from millennials, especially to say’ in young black people not just in Nigeria but all over the world.

Lets get to how the #EndSARS protest started. According to wikipedia “The protests which takes its name from the slogan started in 2017 as a Twitter campaign using the hashtag #ENDSARS to demand the disbanding of the unit by the Nigerian government. … The protests is notable for its patronage by a demographic that is made of entirely young Nigerians”. The purpose is for advocacy and protest against police of which took place internationally and largely in Nigeria.

In a situation where it has gotten to a point with young Nigerians fighting to exist and create their own peaceful world in the midst of poverty, classism and lack of economic growth then you perfectly understand that the camel has definitely broken its back. Don’t even get me started with inadequate education and the place of politics which has become a legal hub of corruption.

As a young Nigerian immigrant living in the United States of America I would think that I’m still dreaming waking up one morning picking up my phone, surfing online and seeing that millenials have finally taken to the streets to display resilience saying “enough is enough”, “stop killing us”. I watched a lot of videos on protests, read and also watched lots of commentaries especially the clip from afrobeat artiste Tiwa Savage who in soberness took to her instagram giving updates and beckoning on influencers to lend their voices, by the way I’m listening to her Album “Celia” its a very nice project. So seeing all that I was looking at online the first thing that came to mind was the gratitude to be alive at such a time as this to say of a truth there is hope for my home country. Ofcourse I became active on Twitter again tweeting and retweeting using the hashtag #EndSARS joining conversations online, reporting and talking about it on my platform Spur Play Podcast.

As a result of the exercise on twitter I came across a feminist coalition group of young Nigerian feminists who’s mission to champion equality for women encouraged and stood in the gap catering to protesters all over the country receiving donations and helping get arrested protesters released, facilitating financial medical assistance to injured protesters and more, my heart became more merry seeing the effectiveness of these young women disseminating and properly managing responsibilities and delivering its objectives and showing reliabity much more than the Nigerian government itself. Most of all these women reporting on social media’ their financial expenses and donations received, what could be more hallelujah than that!

2020 has been that big year for fights against social injustice, racial inequality and most of all the activeness of millennials all over the world. Taking a closer look at the upcoming elections here in America, experts now reveals polling data ​and high levels of voter engagement indicates that 2020 may bring out a huge wave of young voters and as of Friday 23, more than 1.2 million voters age 18–21 had already cast votes in 39 states.

#EndSARS has made a mark that has also ignited interests in looking out for change strongly in other areas of ongoing corruption in the Nigerian government.

My heart, thoughts and prayers goes out to the families of those lost during these protests. May the universe see to your comfort always!