Youth and Unemployment in Africa: A Panacea
by Unemployment has been a perennial problem in Nigeria and Africa at large. Every regime promises to address the issue of unemployment but in the end we see that the problem keeps on increasing.
Unemployment has been a perennial problem in Nigeria and Africa at large. Every regime promises to address the issue of unemployment but in the end we see that the problem keeps on increasing. The rate of unemployment now is alarming and it is obvious that African governments are helpless in the face of this intimidating challenge. The youth in this case are the most affected. The majority of African youths are jobless. They parade around all the cities looking for jobs which are not there. This explains why the number of unemployed is most in the cities in Africa than in the rural areas. Frustrated by lack of job, some of these job seekers resort to crime in order to make ends meet. To them it is either they get a job or they become social misfits. But the fact is that there are no jobs for the teeming youths who are becoming restive by the day. Violence and crime are on the increase.
Most times we blame the government for unemployment. If government will initiate good policies that can boost economic development that will at least increase the rate of employment. Again it is evident that most African governments do not care about the welfare of the masses. In this case, what do the youth do? Should you sit and blame government while you perish in hunger? Even if governments start creating jobs, do you think that governments will employ all the job seekers in the continent? Definitely not. There is no way that can be possible. In the West it is not the Government that employs most workers but companies, corporations, organizations, banks, etc owned by private individuals. Therefore, government alone cannot solve the problem of unemployment. It is individuals that can solve their unemployment challenge and that of others. That is how it is in the West. Individuals establish companies. By that they solve their problem of joblessness. In addition they create job for others.
In Africa the problem of unemployment can only be solved when the youths discard their old and wrong ‘dependency mentality’ that once you are a graduate or school leaver, government will give you a job. It is a dependency mentality. When government does not create jobs, people with this mentality get frustrated and disappointed. No wonder violence is on the increase in Africa. So the first step towards overcoming unemployment is cultivating the right mentality of self employment. You did not go to higher institution to learn how to become a servant. Open your brain and see opportunities all around you.
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