The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Petroleum Training Institute in Warri, Delta State, has joined forces with the Resourceful Youth Network Initiative (RYNI) to host a national summit tackling Nigeria’s worsening unemployment challenge.
The event, which took place virtually last Friday, carried the theme “The Unemployment Dilemma: Government or Citizens to Blame? Navigating the Job Crisis and the Future of Nigerian Youths.”
Dr. Lawson Obasenu, Chief Executive Officer of RYNI, explained that the dialogue sought to push graduates and young professionals to confront the root causes of joblessness while exploring new pathways for economic growth.
“This is not about politics or numbers. Nigeria’s strength lies in its young people — not just as job seekers, but as innovators and job creators. The future won’t be handed to us; we must seize it,” Obasenu said.
Speakers across academia, industry, and the diaspora highlighted the gap between education, policy, and opportunity.
Dr. Gloria Evbaru-Okhuaihesuyi, a University of Benin lecturer, described the situation as a “two-sided crisis,” pointing to corruption and poor skills training. She urged the government to fund small enterprises while encouraging youths to pursue practical skills.
Similarly, UK-based energy consultant Donald Umunna argued that Nigeria’s challenge was not a lack of policies but poor execution. “We have policies, but no follow-through. Nigeria thrives informally because formal systems keep collapsing. True progress will require collaboration — no one can do it alone,” he said.
Other panelists echoed the call for systemic change. Dr. Ndudi Francis Ejimofor of SERVICOM lamented the disconnect between universities and industry, stressing the need for policies that generate real jobs. Entrepreneur John Amagbor warned that youth-led businesses were often born out of survival, not empowerment, due to limited funding and infrastructure.
Experts abroad also weighed in. Cybersecurity mentor Ochuko Adogbeji contrasted Nigeria with countries like Canada, where students receive large grants. “Nigerian youths excel abroad because systems there support them, while back home, policies often leave them stranded,” he noted.
US-based IT consultant Osi Avwunudiogba Diji spotlighted the global digital economy, calling for Nigeria to embrace exchange programmes and coding education early. “We must learn to PUSH — Persist Until Something Happens,” he urged.
Closing the session, summit coordinator and SUG-PTI representative, Godgift Oghenegavwraye, declared the initiative a youth-owned movement: “This fight belongs to us. Every student, every graduate caught in the trap of unemployment must be part of this journey.”
