Despite being Africa’s most populous country with a youthful demographic, Nigeria faces a daunting challenge: a significant portion of its young people remain unemployed and lack the requisite skills. The departure of multinational corporations due to a challenging operating environment has exacerbated concerns about youth unemployment.
Recent data indicates a drop in the unemployment rate, but a deeper investigation reveals a troubling contradiction: many Nigerian youths are neither working, studying, nor undergoing training. The number of young people in this category has continued to rise, despite reports of a decline in the unemployment rate.
Experts warn that the consequences of this growing trend are dire, including poverty, social exclusion, and mental health issues. The lack of purpose and direction can lead to increased involvement in criminal activities, political instability, and violence.
The root causes of this crisis are complex and multifaceted. They include a mismatch between the education system and the labor market, outdated curricula, high costs of education, limited job opportunities, and cultural norms and gender biases that restrict opportunities for young women.
To address this crisis, experts recommend a multi-pronged approach involving government, the private sector, civil society, and international partners. This includes reforming the education system, promoting vocational and technical education, and fostering stronger links between educational institutions and industries.
Additionally, experts suggest deploying youths to areas like sports, agriculture, and manufacturing, where Nigeria has strengths, to make them productive and contribute to the economy.
The government must declare a state of emergency on unemployment, provide soft loans and grants to support young entrepreneurs, and roll out a comprehensive employment plan or skills acquisition training.
The rising number of Nigerian youths who are not in employment, education, or training is a ticking time bomb that requires urgent and comprehensive action. If left unaddressed, it could have long-lasting effects on the country’s socio-economic fabric.
