Youth Unemployment in Nigeria: Causes and Related Issues

This article has highlighted the causes of youth unemployment in Nigeria. It has observed that many young people in Nigeria are redefining themselves by creating their own social worlds such as youth streetism and gangsterism because of unemployment occasioned by deepening socio-economic crises. The study has identified increasing population growth, high degree of geographical mobility, lack of employable skills, non involvement of youth in decision making processes and the perception of policy makers and the youth themselves about employment as the major causes of youth unemployment in Nigeria. It has thus recommended that young Nigerians should be trained to possess skills that are congruent with the real labour market demands. The youth should be involved in all the decision-making processes so as to minimize the costs of their exclusion and to ensure the successful implementation of youth policies and programmes. Credit and loan schemes should be put in place to enable young Nigerians secure loans to set up their small enterprises. Sincere policies should be formulated to enable youth pursue sustainable livelihoods.