IMPLICATIONS OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper investigates the implications of youth unemployment in Nigeria. These implications are social, economic and political. It is highlighted in the paper that youth unemployment is potentially dangerous as it sends disturbing signals to all segments of the society. The rate of youth unemployment in Nigeria is high, even during the periods of economic normalcy, i.e. the oil boom era of the 70s, unemployment was at (6.2%), 1980s (9.8%) and the 90s (11.5%). According to the National
Bureau of Statistics Nigeria's unemployment rate increased to 23.9% in 2011, compared to 21.1% in 2010 and 19.7% in 2009. The country has a youth population of 80 million, representing about 60% of the total population with a growth rate of 2.6% per year, and the national demography suggests that the youth
population remains vibrant with an average annual entrant to the labour force of 1.8million between 2006 and 2011. In 2011, 37.7% of Nigerians were aged 15-24 years and 22.4% of those between 25 and 44 were willing to work but did not get jobs (Olabanji, Ese 2014). Ignoring the political, economic and social roles they play amounts to threatening the very survival
of Nigeria. The paper further sees hope for Nigeria only if youths are mobilized by way of genuinely socializing them into their roles in the stratification system. It therefore recommends educational system restructuring, representing sector, provision of enabling environment among the ways that
will bring qown to the barest minimum the youth unemployment level.