Years ago in architecture school, I was walking from the hostel to the studio to work.
I was carrying my tracing paper, T-square & other stuff.
I ran into an acquaintance on the way.
We exchanged pleasantries & he asked, "wetin you dey do with tracing paper & T-square?

Na architecture guys dey carry tracing paper & T-square nau!"
I told him I was an architecture student.
He responded, "I don't believe you!"
Wow.
I said, "Ok".
And continued my walk to the studio.
He followed me.
"I say I no believe you, Harry!"
I heard you the 1st time, mate...

But it's ok, your unbelief doesn't change anything.
"Ok, show me your ID Card!"
"No, I won't. No need."
"See? You no be architecture student!"
"Ok!"
He wasn't satisfied!
"You no fit be architecture student nau! Haba! Na your type dey study architecture?"
"Yeah, no be my type..."

I refused to prove anything to him.
I left him frustrated.
I've met people who ask where I come from. I tell them, Zuru, Kebbi State.
They respond, "I don't believe you!"
I simply say, "Ok!"
And move on.

Earlier this year, I was with a young, 23 year old lawyer...

He just finished Law School.
We got talking & I asked, "you're a Lawyer, right?"
"Yes sir."
"If I say I don't believe you're a Lawyer, what would you say?"
He said he'd be upset!
Said it would seem as if all his years in the University & Law School were wasted!
I was shocked!

Why would my opinion about him cause such a reaction in him?
Why would his emotional equilibrium be displaced by the opinion of a man he just met?
I couldn't understand it.

But I later understood.
My generation is not under any pressure to seek validation externally...

We were not trained to prove anything.
I don't know if it was the quality of education we received or the training from our parents, but external opinions don't move us.
We understand EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE.
Unlike this "soro soke" generation.
They're wired differently...

They're wired to be almost always angry, bitter & confrontational.
You disagree with them? They insult & curse you!
They don't have the capacity to engage with civility & decorum.
When they have no words to express themselves, they go rogue.
And it's so unfortunate to see...

In the 90s, there was a presidential election between Bashir Tofa & Moshood Abiola.
Abiola was in the studio for an interview & he was asked: "Chief, people say this election is between a thief surrounded by idiots & an idiot surrounded by thieves. What would you say to that?"

Abiola laughed!
Then he asked, "Which one am I, the idiot or the thief?"
I was in my 20s, but that incident left a strong impression on me:
Abiola laughed!
He joked about it.
He was so comfortable in his own skin, being labelled a thief or an idiot didn't destabilize him...

Emotional Intelligence teaches you restraint.
Emotional Intelligence teaches you to keep your emotions to yourself.
Emotional Intelligence shows how developed you are as a human being.

In my opinion, this young generation has so much going for them.
The sky is their limit...

But their lack of Emotional Intelligence will be their bane.
They just don't have the capacity for RESTRAINT.

I don't know how they'll handle it, but if they don't learn to rein in their emotions, they're just a time bomb awaiting detonation.

And great will be the explosion...