Nigeria stands at a demographic crossroads. With over 70 percent of its population under the age of 30, the nation boasts one of the youngest populations in the world. On the surface, this youthful demographic is a promising asset, what economists call a “demographic dividend.” Yet, for Nigeria, this dividend threatens to become a burden if not matched with deliberate and large-scale investment in youth employment. Creating meaningful jobs for Nigeria’s youth is not a social luxury or political promise, it is an economic necessity.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, youth unemployment in Nigeria stood at approximately 40.8 per cent in 2023, a staggering figure that underscores the urgency of the challenge. Millions of educated and unskilled young Nigerians roam without stable jobs or viable income sources. This reality drains the economy of potential productivity, innovation, and consumer power, and instead fuels cycles of dependency, crime, migration, and social unrest.
The economic cost of youth unemployment is enormous. Idle youth represent missed output, skills and energies not converted into productivity. It constrains household incomes, reduces consumption, and limits tax revenues. Worse still, when disillusioned youth engage in criminal activities, insurgency, or fraud, the state incurs massive costs on security, judicial processes, and rehabilitation, funds that could have been used for development.
Meanwhile, countries that have successfully harnessed their youth populations, like India, Vietnam, and Indonesia have done so through strategic investment in industrialisation, digital innovation, entrepreneurship support, and targeted vocational training. Nigeria cannot afford to be different. For a nation seeking economic diversification, inclusive growth, and political stability, job creation for youth is not optional; it is central to national survival.
Agriculture, digital technology, green energy, creative industries, and construction all present immense opportunities for absorbing youth labour. With the right policies, Nigeria can shift millions into productive roles. For instance, the agricultural sector, still largely under-mechanised and dominated by aging farmers, can be revitalised through youth agripreneurship initiatives, access to arable land, and smart financing. The tech ecosystem, despite constraints, has already demonstrated the power of innovation in creating digital jobs, gig work, and service exports.
But the government must do more than provide lip service. Employment policies must be intentional, long-term, and outcomes-driven. This means reducing the cost of doing business, improving infrastructure, reforming the education system to align with market needs, and creating incentive frameworks that reward companies for hiring and training young Nigerians.
Public-private partnerships should be expanded to deliver scalable internships, apprenticeships, and vocational schemes that lead to real employment—not just certificates. Labour-intensive public works, such as road construction, waste recycling, and housing, should be used strategically to reduce joblessness. At the same time, the Central Bank and other financial institutions must improve youth access to credit, enabling more young people to start and sustain businesses.
Beyond economics, youth employment is key to national security. The rise in banditry, internet fraud, political thuggery, and extremism is tightly linked to the desperation that comes from joblessness. As long as millions of youths feel abandoned by the system, national peace and unity will remain fragile. Employment gives dignity, a sense of purpose, and social stability. It binds young people to the promise of the nation.
Nigeria’s future is being written today. If the country continues to fail its youth, it will be forced to reckon with the consequences, economically, socially, and politically. But if it chooses to empower them with jobs, skills, and opportunities, it will unlock a generation of builders, innovators, and leaders who can transform the economy from the ground up.
The choice is clear. Youth employment is not just about tomorrow—it is the smartest investment Nigeria can make today.
