Give Young People Opportunity, Not Just Money – Charly Boy

Controversial musician Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has shared a powerful message on the importance of giving young people opportunities, using former President Olusegun Obasanjo's recent appearance on Isbae U's podcast as a case study.

The Nigerian Voice recalls that Obasanjo made an appearance on content creator Isbae U's podcast, 'Curiosity Made Me Ask', in an episode released on Saturday, September 19. The former President's appearance shocked many, who were amused at the veteran's willingness to participate on a show known for comedy, roast, and humour. The episode has garnered 2.8 million views on YouTube at the time of writing.

In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Charly Boy noted that sometimes the greatest thing one can give a young person is not money but opportunity. He pointed to how Obasanjo, a man of his age and experience, sat down with a young man whose style was completely different from what he was used to, matched the energy, played along, and showed Nigerians another side of himself.

He revealed that he was the one who helped make that connection happen, believing in the young people behind the show enough to pull Baba (Obasanjo) into their space.

Charly Boy urged the older generation not to only tell young people to succeed but to give them room, open doors, recommend them, and trust them with opportunities. Advising the younger generation, he advised them not to wait for somebody to hand them a future, but to build something worth believing in and be ready when opportunity comes.

He emphasised that sometimes all a young person needs is one person with influence to say they believe in what they are doing, and all an older person needs is the willingness to enter a young person's world and see what they are building. He added fhat when generations support each other, everybody grows, and that is how legacy should work.

He wrote:
"Sometimes, the greatest thing you fit give a young person no be money. Na opportunity. Look at wetin happen when Baba entered Bae U's world. A man of his age and experience sat down with a young man whose style dey completely different from wetin he is used to. Baba no just sit there looking serious. He matched the energy, played along and showed Nigerians another side of himself. And who helped make that connection happen? CharlyBoy. Fada believed in the young people behind that show enough to pull Baba into their space. That one get lesson inside."

"To the older generation: don't only tell young people to succeed. Give them room. Open doors. Recommend them. Trust them with opportunities. To the younger generation: don't wait for somebody to hand you a future. Build something worth believing in. When opportunity comes, be ready."

"Because sometimes, all a young person needs is one person with influence to say: 'I believe in what you are doing. Go ahead.' And sometimes, all an older person needs is the willingness to say: 'Let me enter your world and see what you are building.' When generations support each other, everybody gets to grow. Na so legacy suppose work."