Addressing Youth Unemployment In Nigeria ACCORDING to Oxford - TopicsExpress

Addressing Youth Unemployment In Nigeria ACCORDING to Oxford Advance Learner Dictionary, unemployment can be defined as the number of people without a paid job. Experts see it as a state of absolute joblessness for people between the ages of 20 – 40. underemployment on the other hand, refer to people who are gainfully employed but not financially rewarded according to their qualification or skill. Most Nigerians especially the youths are unemployed according to available statistics despite the intimidating credentials they have acquired from higher institutions in Nigeria and across the globe. Things have become worst as a result of the economic recession and inconsistent government policies which affect many existing manufacturing company closing down in the process and there by worsening the case of unemployment. Micro finance and commercial banks are not helping matters as they have failed to make money available to young entrepreneurs because of high interest rates which make most of them shy away from such loans. Unemployment is a cancer that have eaten deep into the annals of this nation, and we are to be blamed for the worsening situation we have found ourselves today. There is no more job in the labour market and those that are ready to use their initiative to create jobs, get frustrated along the path of actualizing their dreams. Further more, political will on the part of government to create jobs for Nigeria youths is still not there. The government have not put down any credible programs to effect the necessary change and create employment for our teaming youths who need to be kept busy. During the 2011 presidential campaign, President Goodluck Jonathan launched his book on the Nigerian reading culture, his motive was to motivate Nigerian youths to develop reading habit. The effort of the president yielded little or nothing as they lost interest in reading due to unemployment. After all the reading, what happens next? They seem to be saying. The crime rate is on the high side today in our society because the youth are jobless. They have nothing to keep them busy. Some of our politicians have made matter worst by using this youths for election rigging purposes promising them jobs that will never come. This has pushed some of our youths to carry out nefarious activities to keep soul and body together. In spite of this, graduates with first class degree find it difficult to get job because they have failed time without number to defend their certificate. This situation has painted our higher institution in bad light. Those with other lower qualification sometimes don’t have the opportunity that first class graduates have, yet perform better on the job. This situation has continue to grow worse on a daily basis as the government is doing practically little or nothing to change the situation. Higher institutions have continue to produce yearly job seekers rather than entrepreneur who will rather create jobs and employ others. We have failed to build human capital and develop the nation through entrepreneurial skill development. The parameter to create jobs by the government and the private sectors are not properly laid down and the jobs are not forth coming out as a result, crime rate is soaring in alarming rate and has continue to be on the rise to the detriment of the nation, denting the good image she is trying to create. Although, unemployment is a world problem, Nigeria’s government is not doing enough to reduce this problem that is threatening the very existence of Nigeria as a nation. Recently, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed gave automatic employment to 1,400 youths to join the Kwara Civil Service. This action has been applauded both at home and abroad. Also, Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is seeking ways to enlighten youths to engage themselves in other co-operate employment rather than relaying only on oil and gas and banking industry. But what is that in solving the problem of unemployment. The gospel of entrepreneurship seems to be the preaching in everybody’s lip but the platform to effectively carry it out is not there, then tell me how the goal will be achieved. It is a common sight in our everyday life to see our youth roaming the streets where industries and organizations are located looking for job that are not readily available. Some spend more time on the net now, applying for jobs and in many occasion fall victim of internet fraudster who dupe them. Some spend time with newspaper vendors just to search for vacancy which are not real in most cases. Loneliness and frustration have pushed many youths into engaging in unwholesome activities that has continued to rubbish the image of the nation. Kidnapping, robbery, cyber crime, prostitution, illegal oil bunkering fraudulent activities among others are now the order of the day. The youth population is growing astronomically while those graduating from various higher institutions of learning are also increasing on a daily basis. Despite the creation of the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NPE) and National Directorate of Employment (NDE). Unemployment is still on the increase because those bodies created are not well and properly positioned to benefit the youths. Investigation reveals that only those who can bribe their way through get the job. You either bribe in cash or kind to get the connection needed for the job. There are measures that needed to be taken for the reduction of youth unemployment to become a reality. For example, encouraging youth creativeness and entrepreneurial skills. This will reduce the high level of unemployment in the society, helping the government to create new jobs for the youth thereby reducing the level of crime in the society. If Nigerians and Nigeria must survive this threat of unemployment, we must all team up and work together to bring it to an end. Whether unemployment will become a thing of the past in Nigeria is a big question that all of us must answer from the dept of our hearts.