The #EndSARS protests for October 2020 bring young Nigerians together to demand end to police brutality. Cali-Dibang Nshua retrospective look at wetin follow: some participants enter public life more, while others lose trust or begin imagine future for another country. The main point na say shared experience no make everybody respond the same way.
The movement show how people fit organise outside established political parties. Online networks help participants share information, raise support and coordinate assistance. The article describe that experience as introduction to political awareness for some young Nigerians. Participation fit change how person understand citizenship even when the institutional changes wey e want no happen immediately.
The article discuss research wey connect protest participation with later political engagement, but connection no mean guaranteed result. More interest to vote or contest office no be the same as winning election. Also, experience of people inside one research sample no suppose become complete story of how every young Nigerian relate with politics.
Disappointment na another part of the account. Movement fit build collective confidence and still leave participants with fear or doubt about whether institutions go respond. The retrospective consider both sides instead of saying activism must always produce lasting hope. People fit remain involved, step back for some time or change how dem participate.
Migration make the picture more complex. The article connect the discussion to japa, the popular expression for leaving Nigeria, but e clearly reject simple claim say #EndSARS cause people to migrate. Work, education, insecurity, prices, infrastructure and personal ambition fit all shape decisions. To prove direct cause, evidence need pass just noticing say migration and political frustration happen for the same period.
Leaving the country also no always mean leaving its public life. Person abroad fit continue follow events, support causes or discuss Nigeria future. The retrospective matter because e hold these different paths together: mobilisation, disappointment, departure and continued participation fit overlap. Na reflection on wetin follow 2020, e no be report of new protest or claim say whole generation dey think alike.