Youth empowerment refers to the process of enabling young people to take charge of their lives by acquiring the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to impact their own futures and that of their communities positively.
According to youth unemployment rates released by the National Bureau of Statistics in 2022, out of over 200 million people in Nigeria, youths constitute the largest age group, comprising about 70 per cent of the population. However, their participation in the labour force is minimal, with about 53.40 per cent of this age group unemployed.
In an article tittled ‘Empowering The Nigerian Youth: Effective Strategies for Driving Economic Growth’ sent to NATIONAL ECONOMY, the CEO of Jobberman Nigeria, Ore Boboye said that “innovation and technology have become paramount resources today, providing solutions to global challenges and aiding business growth. The youth are at the forefront of this revolution, leading the way to a more prosperous and inventive economy.”
She noted that “the Nigerian youth still struggle with education, unemployment, access to funds, lack of employability skills, poor government support, and low investment from the public and private sectors. Consequently, they are the most prevalent age group in the Nigerian informal sector.
“Despite the challenges faced by the Nigerian youth, it was recorded that Nigeria had the largest number of startups in Africa in 2022. This highlights the intelligence, industriousness, and creativity of the Nigerian youth.”
She added that “this is why Jobberman Nigeria is heavily invested in tackling youth unemployment to bridge the economic gap between Nigeria and other prosperous African nations.
“A quote said, ‘The true wealth of a nation lies not in its resources, but in the skills of its youth’. This is true! The youths are a dynamic group and a huge untapped source of wealth and positive change in Nigeria. If a nation does nothing to empower its youth, a future of poverty and regression lies ahead.”
Boboye added that “youth empowerment is critically important for driving economic growth in Nigeria. It can yield substantial benefits such as the creation of new businesses and industries, thereby reducing unemployment, driving competition and economic diversification.
“Increased productivity will drive higher GDP growth, while lower crime rates and social stability will attract investments and sustain economic development. There are many benefits to tapping into the potential of our youth. By empowering the Nigerian youth, we will achieve the much-needed progress our economy urgently needs.”
How To Empower The Nigerian Youth
Youth Employment Programs: These initiatives equip young people with the essential skills, knowledge, and opportunities to thrive in the workforce and build successful careers. These include internship programs, vocational training centres, technical and digital skills training, soft skills development, business training, policy reforms, and funding from both the government and private sectors, among other resources. These programs can significantly drive economic growth, reduce youth unemployment and poverty, and improve social stability by offering comprehensive education, targeted skills training, entrepreneurship support, and job placement services.
Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace: Businesses can implement programs to promote diversity and inclusion, specifically targeting and empowering young people in the workplace to help them thrive and contribute meaningfully to the organisation. This includes mentorship and sponsorship programs to offer guidance, support, and career advice to young employees; employee resource groups to provide a platform for networking, support, and advocacy among employees; and career development programs to help them explore different roles within the organisation and boost their professional growth.
Supporting Youth-Led Innovation: These are the creative projects, innovative solutions, and novel ideas from the youth that can drive global social progress, economic development, and technological advancement. By supporting and investing in youth-led innovation, we can reap opportunities that benefit our nation and the entire world, enabling progress and economic prosperity.
Overall, Jobberman Nigeria’s CEO stated that “here are a few of Jobberman Nigeria’s initiatives aimed at tackling youth unemployment: The Soft Skill Training, which has trained over one million individuals in essential soft skills and placed over 300,000 in dignified jobs; our Free Listing offer makes it possible for employers to list job vacancies and gain access to our database of three million plus candidates at no cost; and most recently, the She’s More campaign, in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation.
“This initiative aims to empower young women in marginalised communities by providing vocational and soft skills training to enhance their employability and support their entrepreneurial aspirations. These efforts, among others, demonstrate how businesses and the government can contribute to uplifting the Nigerian youth, enabling them to compete internationally and drive our economic growth.”
Jobberman Nigeria, Nigeria’s leading career development and recruitment solutions company, connecting qualified job seekers with verified employers.
