Every six months or thereabouts the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) passes out a crop of new corps members. The big question, however, remains: what lies ahead for these youths in terms of employment?
The unemployment situation in the country is alarming. Apart from the dwindling oil revenue, other critical sectors of the economy are almost comatose. Although in recent times, renewed emphasis has been placed on the development of the agriculture sector, much still needs to be done before agriculture can fully become the employment-generating venture that it used to be.
One section of the country that is really bearing the brunt of the current economic downturn in the country is the youth population. The youths represent the most vibrant and adventurous group in any society. Usually, if the prevailing condition in a given society does not offer the youths the needed platform to channel their bursting energy into positive use, they readily embrace rebellious predisposition. It is a well-known fact that nature abhors a vacuum. Sadly, the high unemployment situation in the country, coupled with the not-too-impressive state of the economy, naturally makes the youths vulnerable in many ways.
Recent statistics show that 60 percent of the country’s population are youths, while youth unemployment rate is estimated to be over 50 percent. Similarly, figures from the National Bureau of Statistics indicate that an average of 1.8 million youths find themselves in the labour market annually, out of which 250,000 to 300,000 are graduates. Today, unemployment has become a major concern in the country. Official figures from the NBS put the unemployment rate at about 20 percent (about 30 million), but this number still did not include about 40 million other Nigerian youths captured in World Bank statistics in 2009. By implication, if Nigeria’s population is 140 million, then 50 percent of Nigerians are unemployed, or worse still, at least 71 percent of Nigerian youths are unemployed. This is particularly disturbing and counterproductive because at least 70 percent of the population of this country are youths.
It, therefore, becomes imperative for governments at all levels in the country to creatively device means of addressing youth employment before the situation degenerates into a time bomb. Being the window through which the world views Nigeria, in addition to being the economic and commercial nerve centre of the country and, indeed, West Africa, Lagos State holds the key to the reduction of unemployment in the country. As a result of its strategic importance to the overall national economy, if Lagos gets it right, Nigeria will, undoubtedly, get it right.
It is in view of this that one is calling on the new Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to focus on issues, policies, programmes and projects that would lead to the creation of more jobs for the ever-rising teeming population of unemployed youths. Fortunately, Ambode anchored his campaign agenda mostly on the need to offer the youths a better platform to impact the society.
One area through which this could become a reality is tourism development. Tourism is a veritable instrument for socio-economic development. It impacts directly on the economy through the provision of resources and income that could be deployed to enhance economic growth, accelerate development and reduce poverty. Similarly, it is a good public relations mechanism through which a city, state or country could attract needed foreign investment. Having come to terms with the socio-economic benefits of tourism, some states in the country are now drawing from the examples of cities such as New York, Hong Kong, Nairobi, Rio de Janeiro, among others that have fruitfully utilized tourism for positive economic ends.
In Africa, Kenya, South Africa and Egypt are renowned for their rich and economically viable tourist sites. Thus, it is now fashionable for states in the country to identify and project the positive aspects of some of their communities to the attraction of people within and without their domains. For instance, the Calabar carnival staged every yuletide reflects the Christian influence in the city; the Osun Oshogbo festival addresses the spiritual attachment of the people of Oshogbo and the Yoruba beyond the city of Oshogbo to the Osun deity; the Eyo Festival as well as the Lagos (Fanty) Carnival reflect the history and culture of Lagos.
Without doubt, Lagos offers a wide variety of tourist attractions. These include its historical sites, extended and roomy river and ocean beaches ideal for relaxation and other water sports, rich and varied handicraft and other vibrant products depicting or expounding of native arts and lifestyle. However, many of these attractions are still mostly unexploited. It is, therefore, important for Governor Ambode and his team to focus on these unexplored potentials to better the lot of youths.
Related to tourism is the entertainment industry. This is one area that is being overlooked in the country. Ironically, in places such as the United States, Mexico, India, among others, the entertainment industry is a multi-billion dollar enterprise. The American Hollywood is renowned to work on annual budget that dwarfs the annual budget of most African nations. Fortunately, there are thousands of Nigerian youths who are naturally gifted to succeed in various aspects of the entertainment industry. There are talented singers, actors, models, presenters, comedians among Nigerian youths. All they need is a platform and the enabling environment to profitably make use of their talents. Hopefully, Ambode would provide the leadership that would make this happen. Luckily, he promised, during his campaigns, to lift the youths through the revival of the entertainment industry. Now is the time to fulfil that pledge.
Sports development is another area where Ambode could harness the potentials of the youths. It is quite clear that, globally, sport has become a money-spinning venture. Indeed, across the world, all sorts of professionals – doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, grass men, scouts, etc – are employed by the various sporting clubs in their drive for sporting glory. Football, in particular, has gone beyond the mere recreational activity that it is in Nigeria. As a result of the excellent manner it is managed in Europe, youths across the continent have found in football a means through which they could use their talents to escape poverty. Young players such as Wayne Rooney, Cesc Fabrigas, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi among others, thanks to football, have become multi-millionaires. Being an ardent football lover, as he supports Chelsea FC of England, Ambode must evolve policies and programmes that would use sports as a job creation platform for the youths. If it is possible in Europe, it could be replicated in Nigeria.
The youths represent the future of every nation. Any nation that is desirous of progress must not joke with her youth. Being a young and dynamic leader, one sincerely hopes Ambode’s era as the governor of Lagos State would usher in a new dawn for the youths. Corporate organisations, NGOs, individuals and other related institutions should partner with Ambode to give the youths a new lease of life. This is the right thing to do. This is the way forward.
Susan Olije
