INTRODUCTION
For the next few weeks, we will be looking at “Management Solutions to Youth Unemployment in Nigeria” I will discuss it through the following sub-topics: A summary of the numerous positives in Nigeria; Some not too good aspects of the country; some historical points to note about Nigeria; Recommended Management solutions and Conclusion.
NIGERIA: THE GOOD.
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with an estimated population of 206 million people. This feat is good news for product and service marketers. Anyone who can sell to only a fraction of this population must be successful. Nigeria is also rich in vast natural resources. The soil is fertile for agricultural purposes; everywhere you turn, all you will see is green, which means anything you plant on the ground has the potential to grow. Our lands are so fertile that if you plant a finger, it will grow into a human being!
From North to South, East to West, our soil is a farmer’s delight. Our waters are anointed and blessed. They abound in a variety of fishes and other edible animals. If you go deeper into the water or soil, you will get oil and other essential mineral deposits. Mention any resource that makes the world thick; you are likely to get it in commercial quantities, probably untapped.
Aside from our natural resources, we have superlative human resources. Nigerians are long-suffering, warm, easily led, friendly, peace-loving, accommodating, rugged, dogged, hard-working, and intelligent. They are scattered across the globe doing exploits in their respective fields of endeavour. We also have great spiritual resources. Our pool of favor, grace, and mercy are so large that problems that have destroyed other countries only made us stronger and better. What else do we want God to do for us as a country? God has been so kind to Nigeria, but Nigerians have not been that kind to Nigerians and Nigeria. How?
NIGERIA: THE CHALLENGES.
Nigeria as a country is overflowing with all the afore-mentioned physical, human, spiritual positives. But something has gone wrong. Our resources are largely more potential than real, more in hope than in real-time. So much so that many may want to ask, are our resources a curse or a blessing? Despite these enormous resources, and contrary to the expectations and dreams of many, we have gone contrary to Ecclesiastes 5:9 that states thus; moreover, the profit of the earth is for all, the king himself, is served by the field. Our leaders have so selfishly managed our resources to the extent that they have created vicious poverty, corruption, and violence.
Youth unemployment is one of the fundamental developmental challenges facing the country despite the various Government interventions. The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), National Poverty Eradication Programme, SURE-P, YOUWIN, N-Power, and so on are all avenues to empower and reduce youth unemployment in the country. All these have not successfully triggered an economic growth rich in job creation opportunities and development.
Some other Nigerian youths want money in dollars and millions without work. Even when they agree to work, they want to work in Shell Petroleum Development Company, Chevron, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Communication Commission, and such like, or go into music, the ‘Ministry’ or Politics. Working in those places, though, a legitimate wish, but how many can the companies probably offer employment from the pool of the millions of job seekers.
Who are our teachers? Most secondary school teachers are National Youth Service Corps members or graduate ’birds of passage’ waiting to fly away when they get another job. The curricula of higher or medium institutions are not industry-tailored. Most of the oil and other companies bring in expatriates to work as artisans and technicians.
Our borders are porous, as anything can be allowed in as long as you know how to do it the Nigerian way. Every sector you analyse has one or more rotten spots. Many only want to get a big bite of the national cake by any means, and some want to carry away the whole cake ignoring the goose that is laying the golden eggs.
Now, what more do we have in our hands? Warlords, Yahoo employed youths or the advanced form, Yahoo-Plus employed, Advance fee fraud (419), Ritualists, Kidnappers, Boko Haramers, all colors of militants, etc. The rich cannot sleep because the poor are hungry and awake, the legitimate nightlife is unsafe, road, water, or air travel is unsafe or insecure. Also, sitting at home doing nothing is not advisable because of its attendant family and social pressures. What shall we do then? Where did we go wrong? Is there a way out? Or are we just going to continue to complain? What went wrong in the past to bring all these challenges?
(To be continued next week)
Sunday Ade Bello (SAB) is a multi-talented and an analytically inspired management trainer, writer and examiner. He is the CEO of WorkLife Training Professionals, Lagos.
