The challenge of youth unemployment in Nigeria

Amrit Virk*, Ediomo Ubong Nelson, Ini Dele-Adedeji

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Nigeria is home to a significant and growing "youth"population, over a third of it below 24 years of age. The demographic potential for productivity and growth this group represents occurs alongside large-scale unemployment among young people of working age. The "unemployment crisis"has deep historical roots and exists within a wider context of poor governance, insecurity, conflict, and poverty. Policy norms and practices to address youth unemployment in Nigeria largely centre on skill development and job creation, with complementary schemes selectively targeted to specific groups of vulnerable and poor individuals. Measures are typically ad hoc, detached from a coherent programme of sustainable reform. Pre-existing structural factors and capacity constraints also shape the effectiveness of these programmes. While a productivist focus within current policy is potentially empowering in giving young Nigerians "worker"status, it also detracts from attending to deep-rooted structural problems seen to affect young people in disproportionate ways. Securing meaningful choices and lives for Nigerian youth requires reframing youth unemployment beyond labour markets alone, and embedded in ideas of equality and collective action.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)319-329
JournalJournal of International and Comparative Social Policy
Volume39
Issue number3
Early online date22 Mar 2024
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 22 Mar 2024

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Nigeria
  • social policy
  • unemployment
  • West Africa
  • youth

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