By Dr Patrick Akhere Ebojele
The criticism of the visit by members of the Scout Association to the newly completed Ramat Park Flyover in Benin City by some on-air persons on AriseTV displayed complete ignorance about civic education, youth development, and public appreciation of infrastructure projects with due respect Ayo.
The discussion came up during the segment tagged ‘Videos Trending’ around the world.
The criticism suggested that the tour of the flyover in Benin City, the Edo State capital, by young Scouts who live in Edo State, was unworthy of recognition. It portrayed the exercise as an embarrassing celebration of a routine public project. However, such views overlook the educational purpose and broader significance of the visit because, for one, flyovers are not routine public projects. This particular flyover is the first in Edo State.
But thank God for Dr Rueben Abati for quickly intervening.
The critics were unaware that the Scout movement is built on principles of character development, leadership, community engagement, and practical learning. There is no way they would have known that the visit to the Ramat Park Flyover provided an opportunity for young people to witness firsthand a major infrastructure project within their city and understand how public investments affect everyday life.
It was learning by experience, which remains one of the most effective methods of education. Rather than learning about governance and development only through textbooks, TV, movies and online, the Scouts were able to see a first hand, a completed project designed to improve transportation, ease traffic congestion, and enhance mobility within Benin City.
For many young people, exposure to modern infrastructure projects can be inspiring. Flyovers are still relatively uncommon in several parts of Nigeria, making them significant landmarks in the urban landscape. There should be no shame in young citizens taking pride in improvements within their communities. Instead, such experiences help strengthen their connection to their state and encourage greater civic awareness.
The Ramat Park Flyover in Benin City stands as one of the key infrastructure projects delivered under Governor Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda. Beyond its physical structure, the project represents his commitment to improving public infrastructure and creating a more efficient transportation network for residents.
More importantly, the visit offered the young Scouts a useful lesson in citizenship. It demonstrated that public projects can move from promise to reality and that government actions can have visible and measurable effects on people’s lives. These are important lessons for a generation that will eventually assume leadership roles in society.
Constructive criticism of government projects remains essential to grow our democracy. Legitimate questions should focus on issues such as project quality, cost-effectiveness, engineering standards, maintenance plans, and whether the project achieves its intended objectives. Such scrutiny promotes accountability and good governance.
However, criticism directed at young people for visiting and learning about a completed public project misses the larger issue. The Scouts were not engaged in politics; they were participating in an educational exercise that broadened their understanding of development within their state.
The visit to the Ramat Park Flyover rather than being a source of embarrassment, it reflected the importance of helping young people understand and appreciate the development taking place around them.
Dr. Ebojele has his PhD. in Public Administration and the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State
