Nigeria is at cross roads. For the past twenty years, the country is at standstill. Virtually, there is no development in all sectors. Education is in shambles, health services is non-existent, corruption is at the highest ebb. There are no good leaders to shepherding Africa's most populous nation to the Promised Land. It is no overstatement that Nigeria scores zero in all the indices to measuring the growth of a nation.
Nigerian leaders have been bereft of ideas that can transform the potentials of the nation to greatness. Added to the myriad of problems confronting Nigeria is the highest unemployment rate among the youth. With the country boasting of over fifty universities and colleges, it is easy to say that thousands of graduates are coming out of the schools every year. The only prospect of job for fresh graduates is his participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).Needless to say that Nigerian youth face bleak future.
With no network of influential Nigerians, it is almost impossible for an average job seeker in the country to think of a shot at job interviews. Merit has been sacrificed on the altar of favoritism and who you know.
The ensued frustrations from the country's problems and joblessness among the youths necessitate the desire of Nigerians to seek greener pastures overseas. Whether it is a wise decision for Nigerians to seek greener pastures overseas is another discussion for another day. Perhaps, some unemployed youths and particularly the government can take cues from it to the betterment of Nigerians. One fact that I can not stress enough for the unemployed Nigerians is that there is no country in the world that has 100 percent employment rate. And this includes the so-called dream country-United states of America. This can be underscored by how President Bush was pounded heavily by Democratic challenger, John Kerry over US's less than six percent unemployment rate during the 2004 presidential campaign.
The point I am trying to convey to the unemployed Nigerian graduates is that there is no way the government can guarantee them jobs. Rather, they have to be innovative and adaptable. An unemployed graduate should not be rigid that he would only pursue jobs in the field he has degree in. Nigerian workers should be able to transfer some of their personal interests, traits and set skills into ideas of generating income.
This is no gainsaying, American with degree in Architecture and who could break into the profession would be proud to take a job as landscaper. A journalist with investigative and writing skills would not think twice to take up a security or policing jobs. This is because investigating and report writing skills are some of the skills needed to be a successful security officer. This is the stark reality in all these developed countries and considerable number of Nigerians living there are quick to adjusting to the situation.
I believe cultural factor is one of the reasons that unemployment rate in Nigeria is so high. Nigerians tend to berate those who work in less fashionable jobs. This culture must change. We must cultivate the culture of the fact that there is dignity in labor. And whether, somebody with a degree works as a janitor or as a bus driver, the bottom-line is that he can generate income that makes him self sustainable. Since the government has failed in her civic duties, the church remains the last hope, I mean the hope of a hopless nation. Church organisation can help to educate the masses on how to be self reliant and even creat some self empowerment projects at both the local, regional and national level to aliviate the suffering masess.
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