In its last unemployment report, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said that the unemployment rate in Nigeria increased from 27.1 percent in the second quarter of 2020 to 33.3 percent in the fourth quarter.
The statistics bureau in its report said the number of active working population in December 2020, representing those within the age bracket of 15-64 years, was 122.05 million Nigerians.
In June 2020, the number of active working age Nigerians was 116.87 million.
According to Nigeria’s statistics bureau, at least a third of the 69.7 million labour force either did nothing or worked for less than 20 hours a week, making them unemployed. Another 15.9 million worked less than 40 hours a week, making them underemployed.
Earlier in March, a Bloomberg report said that Nigeria surpassed South Africa on a list of 82 countries whose unemployment rates were tracked, with Namibia leading the list with 33.4%. Nigeria’s unemployment rate surged to the second highest on a global list of countries monitored.
Over the years, the number of young Nigerians looking for jobs has risen exponentially even as population growth continues to outpace output expansion. A United Nation’s report said that Nigeria is expected to be the world’s third most-populous country by 2050, with over 300 million people.
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In January, food inflation climbed to 20.57 per cent year-on-year, and analysts blamed the rise on COVID-19 pandemic disruptions, dollar shortages, and lingering restrictions on imports of certain food items, and incessant attacks on farmers.
Disillusioned young population
In the midst of the biting economic reality, the nation has seen a surge in cybercrimes and sundry criminal activities among unemployed young people.
Earlier in the year, a PREMIUM TIMES’ reporting series showed that other young Nigerians who are desperately looking for jobs are being ripped off by fake recruitment companies.
In Nigeria’s chaotic job market, the series showed how unscrupulous companies working as recruitment firms often trick unsuspecting applicants into paying “fees” for jobs they hardly get.
It also showed how the efforts of legitimate recruiters have been overshadowed by the fraudulent activities of other companies.
It is against this background that many young people have expressed optimism over plans by some Nigerian corporate entities, led by Nestle Nigeria, to tackle youth unemployment and provide jobs in a three-year project.
“It’s a very good initiative with huge potential,” says John Ibitoye, a young graduate who spoke to this newspaper. “Youth unemployment is a big problem and we must acknowledge the role of corporate organizations who support government to tackle it and provide opportunities.”
Silver lining
In August, Nestle and four other organisations announced collaboration under the Global Alliance for Youth Nigeria to tackle youth unemployment in Nigeria in commemoration of the 2021 International Youth Day.
The coalition, which consists of Nestle Nigeria, Jobberman Nigeria, Sterling One Foundation, Big Bottling Company and the United Nation Global Impact, said it will pull together resources to help youths across Nigeria access skills to thrive in the present job climate and the future of work.
“The alliance plans to reach more than 250,000 young Nigerians with employability and entrepreneurial skills to enable them get gainful employment or set up businesses of their own within the next three years,” the coalition said.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé Nigeria, Wassim Elhusseini, was quoted as saying: “We are excited to announce the Global Alliance for Youth Nigeria today. If there was a time where an alliance for youth is needed, it is today.
“Yes, our youth are confronted with multiple challenges, but the critical challenge is that of a lack of opportunities. The alliance seeks to create opportunities for our youth to attain their highest potential as productive and contributive members of society.”
The Chief Executive Officer, Jobberman Nigeria, Rolake Rosiji, said through the alliance, youths would gain access to high-quality training, and be able to gain the critical skills needed to swiftly enter the workforce, as well as grow in their respective fields.
The Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network Nigeria, Naomi Nwokolo, said that it is no longer fashionable to ignore the youth. She added that: “the time is now for all stakeholders to pivot toward harnessing the powers and potentials of the youth demographic.”
Before birthing as a Nigerian initiative which other corporates are now keying into, the Alliance for Youth initiative has been launched on a global scale.
Youth unemployment is a serious global issue, affecting millions of young people and contributing to global poverty. But as a major employer, Nestle has recognised that it can make a positive difference by providing employment opportunities and skills development.
As a global brand, the company offers apprenticeships, training schemes and initiatives to equip young people with the skills required for the workplace. Through these schemes, it wants to play a significant role in tackling youth unemployment.
For instance, through its Alliance for YOUth initiative, 30 157 job opportunities and 11 710 apprenticeships and traineeships have been offered to people under the age of 30. Similarly, 3815 readiness-for-work events have been organised to help prepare young people for work, with 10 764 employees volunteering for such events. The initiative has continued to grow, reaching 331 partners.
Chris Oguntoyinbo, a career coach, told this newspaper that the impact of the initiative would help in providing relief for many young people amid the social and economic effects of Covid-19.
“These initiatives would help give hope to people and empower young Nigerians and non-Nigerians in this period of socio-economic disruption and uncertainties,” he said.
