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Youth unemployment in Nigeria now hits 53 percent, threatening the nation’s future
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Graduates face shrinking opportunities, insecurity, and digital exclusion across regions
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Experts call for urgent vocational training, job creation, and constitutional safeguards for education
More than 80 million Nigerian youths remain unemployed, according to the State of the Nigerian Youth Report 2025, released on Thursday in Abuja by Plan International Nigeria in collaboration with Action Aid Nigeria.
The report, unveiled during the Nigerian Youth Dialogue organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Youth, underscores the gravity of the employment crisis facing Africa’s most populous nation.
Jonathan Abakpa, Advocacy and Youth Programme Officer at Plan International Nigeria, presented the findings, highlighting the social consequences of prolonged joblessness.
“This is not just a statistic; it represents shattered dreams and wasted talent. Unless urgent action is taken, Nigeria risks losing its greatest asset,” he said.
The report notes that approximately 1.7 million graduates leave tertiary institutions annually but face a contracting job market.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicate that youth unemployment rose by 5.3 percent in the first quarter of 2024, with only marginal improvement in the second quarter.
Beyond unemployment, insecurity continues to ravage opportunities for young Nigerians. The report states that over 600,000 people have been killed and 2.2 million kidnapped in recent years, disproportionately affecting youths.
Education has also suffered: 1,500 schools have been shut down in the past two years, leaving one million children without access to classrooms.
Violence has further crippled farming activities, displacing 2.6 million people and threatening food security for 25 million citizens, according to UNICEF. Widespread poverty, affecting 40.1 percent of Nigerians, locks many youths out of economic opportunity.
Poor infrastructure, corruption, and digital exclusion remain additional barriers preventing young Nigerians from translating ambition into enterprise.
The report highlights regional disparities. The North Central struggles with unemployment and insecurity, while the North East and North West face rampant banditry and kidnapping.
The South West and South East contend with inflation and underemployment, whereas the South South suffers from limited access to education.
Despite these challenges, Nigerian youths are a force for change, particularly in technology and the creative sectors.
The report recommends massive job creation initiatives, vocational training aligned with industry needs, social protection for vulnerable groups, and stronger accountability in governance. It also calls for Universal Basic Education to be enshrined as a constitutional right, ensuring no child is denied schooling due to poverty, insecurity, or geography.
Hon. Ayodeji Alao-Akala, Chairman of the House Committee on Youth, emphasised the legislature’s commitment to youth-focused policies.
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“Our task as leaders is to make sure the children of tomorrow inherit a country better than what we met, with more opportunities and less hardship,” he said.
He reaffirmed that the committee would continue collaborating with stakeholders to strengthen youth development programmes and policies that prepare Nigerian youths for leadership, innovation, and economic productivity.
