The word “unemployment” has become a common creed in Nigeria especially amongst the youth, that comprises of graduates, undergraduate and uneducated ones.
Now, what does unemployment or being unemployed means?
As culled from the English dictionary, Unemployment simply means “The state of having no job; joblessness.” Equally it can also be referred to as “The phenomenon of joblessness in an economy”
Bringing the narrative down to our country further, unemployment occurs when graduates or people who are in the “working range” and are highly skilled and ready to work are not offered any at all. As a result of this, the number of unemployed people keep rising annually coupled with the fact that students graduate yearly.
The question still remain. “What should be done to curtail unemployment?”
So many controversial have arise as a result of the massive “unemployment” in the country. Some group of people strongly believe that the Government is the sole proprietor of the unemployment issue in our country.
A handful of people also argued that the youths shouldn’t depend on the government or anyone for job. They affirmed that the youths should be capable of equally creating more jobs in the country. Now, this leads to the Entrepreneurship.
Having said all those, let’s read further for a list of solutions to the unemployment situation in Nigeria.
1. Population control: as silly as it may sound or look, over population in any country is a catastrophe. Coupled with the fact that Nigeria is a developing country, an off shoot in her population could sky rocket the seemingly unemployment issue in Nigeria. Moderate population will really go a long way to equate the country’s resources by creating a balance between the two.
2. Industrialization: Yes! you heard right. According to investopedia, industrialization is the process by which an economy is transformed from primarily agriculture to one based on the manufacturing of goods. Industrialization is usually associated with increases in total income and living standards of a country. Nigeria as a developing country would deeply minimize unemployment by producing major goods aside agricultural produce that are transported from other country. Creation of more industries simply means more employment opportunities.
3. Agriculture: Agriculture remains a huge source of income and employment in our country. But, it’s sad most of us would rather remain unemployed than work in a farm. Now, here’s the thing, agriculture should be more advanced, wages and salaries should be made attractive. This way, it would encourage more people to the field and thereby curtail unemployment in the country.
4. Developing Rural Areas: Majority of the rural areas have been left in shambles and as such encouraging migration to the urban areas which results to overpopulation of the latter and in turn, unemployment. Rural areas should be developed as well, with the basic amenities such as good road, electricity, hospital, schools and markets. This would encourage youths to reside also in the rural areas.
5. Restructuring the Educational system: As such, this is very important. New and relevant skills should be added to the school’s curriculum. Skills like woodwork, mechanics, tie and dye, art and others. This in turn would make graduates self employed, thereby reducing the rate of unemployment in the country.
6. Strategic Developmental Plan: Again, students should be taught and nurtures based off of the the current need of the country. The eduacational system should be shuffled from time to time to sieve off irrelevant courses while at the same time introducing new ones that would make school leavers have useable, life-solving and reliable skills.
The government majorly have so many roles to play in providing solutions to unemployment rate , I hope your mindset on unemployment would change over night with all the points mentioned above.
