I got an invitation to address some young fellows. To me, it was an opportunity to relay the agitations that have been running through my mind for ages. As a sought-after youth ambassador, when I was called to the podium to speak to the youngsters, the power supply went off. At first, I had received a resounding applause as the master of ceremony called me out for my address.
The hailing or rather, shouting of Papa Kay filled the whole hall. As I rose to the microphone. I was indeed hoping for a great speech.
As you all know, our world is not having it fair with peer influence and the negative attitude of our youths who ought to take their place as the leaders of tomorrow. These and many more are the agitations I want to address but the power holding company distributing electricity just moved to disappoint.
The need to switch from what I wanted to address rose. The. I started to dish it out from what bad governance has done to the Nigerian people.
Good morning, everyone.
They persisted in shouting.
Papa Kay! Papa Kay!!
Don't Kill Yourself over nothing!
The hailing stopped at one.
I am talking to you my male folks especially
They gave me their listening ears.
From my findings, most guys kill themselves trying to be like the other in the street who has a car and is living comfortably.
My findings shows that in Nigeria, as a case study, that only the male folks get to kill themselves in suicide because they are either frustrated or hopeless.
In 2023 alone, over ten Youths in Nigerian universities have committed suicide. Five out of the nine guys who took their lives did so because of women. What an incredible way to end one's life.
Everything around us as men is not favourable (not to every man out there though). The pressure of meeting up with personal and family demands is heightened. It would only take a man of courage to stand firm, not minding the discomfort in our world.
As I speak further to the audience, I could see that many guys were nodding in affirmation of my talk. Them I continued.
Recently, I spoke to a group young fellows in a high school. The school management had called my to address them because of the threats of Gen Z that has enveloped the whole school. As I mounted the stage, and started to speak on other topics , the students laughed on top of their voices,except one fair lady in the crowd who frowned throughout. Each time I looked at her direction, she seemed to be uninterested in this discussion but I continued talking to the rest who we're ready for me.
After the show, she walked up to me and said:
Papa Kay, I enjoyed every bit of your speech today.
I was so dazed to hear her say that because she wasn't laughing throughout the day.
Really? But you weren't laughing like others.
She looked embarrassed and replied me:
I am a monk, I laugh inside my heart. If you look carefully, you'd have seem that I laughed the most.
Men! I didn't stress myself asking any further questions. I knew at once that these Gen Z thoughts has started making some of these young people behave funny.
When she mentioned that she was a monk, I couldn't believe my ears. It feels like she should repeat herself.
A few hours later, at the lounge where I was eat some food and drinks, the frowning fair lady, Amara, sat by me. Her phone slid into the washing hand basin. After about ten minutes when she noticed, she faced me and said'
Papa Kay! Why didn't you tell me that my phone slide into the washing hand basin.
I thought that this is the right time to pull my own strings. I said to her:
You mean you didn't hear me speaking to you from my mind? Aren't you a monk?
In my mind, I laughed hard at her. I didn't mean to make her regret meeting me, I hope she didn't. It was just a way to make her stop this crazy ideas called GenZ.