Skills Matter: Being Unemployed Is Not an Excuse -By Rilwanu Aliyu

In a country with a population of over 200 million people and limited job opportunities, where more than half of the population lives below the poverty line according to the World Bank report of 2024, rejecting skills development is not reasonable.

Many youths today rely heavily on government job opportunities rather than acquiring skills. This attitude contributes greatly to the increasing rate of unemployment among young people across the country. The dream of most youths after graduation is to secure a “good” job that offers comfort and high income without much stress.

Most youths depend solely on their academic certificates, hoping for a bright future without combining education with a practical skill. These skills could either align with their course of study (soft skills) or be entirely different (hard skills). In today’s world, certificates alone are no longer sufficient. What truly matters is what you can do or produce, especially in terms of innovation and technology.

Nigeria is a country facing a shortage of companies and industries, yet it has a growing number of unemployed graduates. Despite this, new universities are being established every year, student enrollment keeps increasing, and job opportunities continue to shrink. Although the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) introduced entrepreneurship courses to help students learn skills and become self-reliant before securing paid employment, many students still ignore these courses until graduation.

This situation cannot entirely be blamed on parents; rather, it reflects the negligence of many youths who abandon skill acquisition, business strategies, and innovation. The book Skills Rather Than Just Degree by former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, emphasizes the importance of skills over certificates. Similarly, the former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, once stated that the number of job seekers far exceeds the available government jobs and advised Nigerian youths to seek skills and self-employment because the government cannot employ everyone. These views help to draw public attention to the importance of skills, as no organization wants to employ someone who will be a liability.

Developed countries do not depend solely on government jobs, and many successful individuals did not rise through certificates alone. This raises a critical question: what are Nigerian youths waiting for by depending entirely on government employment, especially when such salaries may not even sustain them? Former President Muhammadu Buhari once remarked that many Nigerian youths are lazy, a statement that sparked national controversy. In reality, many youths are idle, and if they devoted their time to learning different skills and business strategies, unemployment would reduce significantly across the country.

Some residents of Gombe State shared their experiences on how skills help them meet daily needs without waiting for government assistance or support from organizations. Usman Adamu, a tailor, explained how his skill enabled him to own a house, become self-reliant, and even employ others. Ibrahim Umar also believes that waiting for government jobs is a waste of time, stating that his current income from business surpasses that of some government workers.

Many youths fall into unemployment because they look down on vocational skills, believing that as degree or HND holders, they cannot work under someone with only an SSCE qualification. Others adopt a luxury lifestyle by imitating the children of wealthy families or celebrities without understanding the effort and sacrifices made before attaining such success. Some youths also pursue dreams without acquiring any skill that could serve as a stepping stone toward achieving those dreams.

In conclusion, combating unemployment in Nigeria is not the responsibility of the government alone. It requires collaboration among religious organizations, youth groups, and NGOs. Although religious leaders try to enlighten their followers through sermons on the importance of skills, there is a need for stronger commitment and encouragement. Youth organizations should also intensify awareness campaigns for those waiting for government jobs, emphasizing the value of skills.

The government, however, carries the greatest responsibility. First, it must revive and strengthen the agricultural sector, which was once the backbone of the nation’s economy. Providing modern farming tools, fertilizers, and support to farmers will significantly reduce unemployment. Second, the government should revive collapsed industries. The decline of government-owned industries has reduced job opportunities, even though a single company once employed over 500 workers. Reviving and modernizing these industries could create even more jobs than before. Third, skill acquisition should be expanded by integrating vocational training into the curriculum of conventional schools from the primary level, just like Mathematics and English. The government should also strengthen skill acquisition centers nationwide and provide startup support to trainees after completion.

Unemployment among youths today is an opinion, not a justification. In most communities, many shop owners and landlords did not rely on certificates to succeed. In fact, some returned to school only after becoming financially independent through skills or business. Let us embrace skills and not focus on certificates alone.