Topic: Using Media & Social Platforms to Amplify Youth Issues and Influence Policy.

Focus: Equipping Young Nigerians With Actionable Knowledge And Tools for Entrepreneurship and MSMEs for Modern Economy.

Protocol

Good day, members of the Society for the Welfare of Unemployed Youths of Nigeria, Happy 10th Anniversary celebration to you! Distinguished guests, members of the press, proud parents, the vibrant, unstoppable youth of Nigeria, ladies and gentlemen.

Let me begin by saying that ten years of advocating for unemployed youths in Nigeria is not a small achievement. It shows courage, sacrifice, and dedication to the future of young Nigerians.

Please let us give the leadership of this organization a big round of applause.

Before I continue, let me ask the youths here a simple question.

How many of us here have a smartphone?

Almost everyone.

Now another question.

How many of us use social media ( Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or X) every day?

Again, almost everybody.

Now here is the most important question.

Are we using these platforms only for entertainment, or are we using them to change our lives?

That is the conversation we must have today.

Let me share something I strongly believe: “In today’s world, a smartphone in the hand of a determined youth is more powerful than a CV.”

Why did I say so?

Because that smartphone can become:
A classroom
A marketing office
A broadcasting station
A business platform
A workshop, etc.

What matters is how we use it.

We all know the situation in Nigeria today. Thousands of young people graduate every year from universities, polytechnics and colleges. But no jobs for them.

Many youths submit CVs for years without success. This can create frustration and hopelessness.

But let me say something very important. “Unemployment does not mean uselessness.” Sometimes it simply means we must begin to create opportunities instead of waiting for opportunities.

And some of the biggest tools available for us to create opportunities today are media and digital platforms.

How can we use them?

Let me tell you a short story.

A young Nigerian graduate spent two years looking for a job. He applied everywhere but nothing worked.

One day he decided to try something different. He loved repairing phones, so he began posting phone repair tips on social media.

At first only a few people watched his videos. But he continued posting every week.

Gradually more people followed his page. Soon people started bringing their phones for repair.

Today he runs a small phone repair business, he does pay charge and trains other youths. He has started his micro business. He is now an entrepreneur.

What changed his life?

Not a government job.
Not a miracle.
What changed his life was knowledge, persistence, and the power of social media.

Now, how can Media Platforms Help us start our MSMEs ( Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises ) and become entrepreneurs?

(1). First, we must Tell Real, Raw Stories. In the modern economy, you don’t need a shop anymore to start a business.

Post what you do on social media. Use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and WhatsApp to show your craft. (Make short video and post)(write something and post).

Whether you bake, you code, you sew or you fix phones, or whatever you do, the world is ready to watch it.

The internet allows you to sell your skills to people anywhere in the world while sitting in your room. So tell stories of your activities on social media. Mention statistics, mention facts, mention figures.

SHARE the voice note of customers who feel satisfied about your services. SHARE pictures and stories of those who have been helped by your business. Stories touch hearts! Stories are what go viral! Stories are what people remember!

(2). Secondly, use the ‘Power of 10’ rule. What do I mean? As you post about what you can do, get 10 friends to post that content at the same time, for example, 10 p.m, and ask them to tell 10 more people to post it.

This ‘burst’ of activity tells the social media WORLD that that your post is important! That this content is trending! Then, comes what may, the post will surely trend and go viral. And you will get patronage from a large audience.

(3). Tag people in any of your post. This will get the platform’s algorithm moving.
—Tag influencers and advocates who speak on business issues.
—Tag Job platforms,
—Tag business Agencies.

If you are looking for support for your business online, then,
—Tag Philanthropists, your LGA chairman, your governor, the ministry of labour, etc.

How does tagging people work? When you tag people, they get notifications.

Also, persuade people to LIKE, COMMENT and SHARE your post. This will tell the platform’s algorithm that “this post is important”. That` will make the social media platform to show your post to more people. So you are likely to get more views, more followers and more customers.

(4). Another thing you must do to sell your business is to Use the Power of the Hashtag.

Using hashtag is simple but very effective. Create Catchy Hashtags like:

AuthenticProduct

JobHuntNigeria

GraduateStruggle

YouthEmpowerment, etc.

How does hashtag work? Hashtags help social media platforms to understand what your post is about and show it to people who are INTERESTED in that topic.

It also help your post to appear in the search results for that tag. This means that people who don’t follow you can still find your content.

Another way hashtags work is that modern Apps like Instagram and Tiktok use Ai to categorise contents. So Hashtags give the Ai hints.

For example, if you hashtag a content with “BusinessSkills,” the algorithm knows how to show it to people who watch such contents.

This will give you the chances of getting high engagement, and your post will have higher chances of reaching a wider audience, which may definitely means more patronage.

(5). Lastly, keep your post Consistent. One post is not enough. Continue to create contents about what you do or what you can do and post. Continue to write about your business and post. Escalate your issues. You must talk about your business online every day or week.

Dear unemployed youths of Nigeria, Nigeria is rich in talents. WE ARE THE TALENTS. Social media will change the game for us.

Customers will see our products and place orders. Those who want to help us set up our businesses will see our talents and call us. In all your posts, please include your contacts so that you can be reached.

So build trust by Showing how you make your products, Post customer reviews, share appeals for sponsorship, share success stories and Interact directly with customers.

You can also Learn Business and digital Skills on Social media. Skills like Digital marketing, Graphic design, Photography, Online sales, Video editing, Business management, Nursing, Ai skills etc on the internet.

Thousands of tutorials are available online for free and for a small amount of money. So instead of commenting on unnecessary issues that will not create businesses for you, while not learn a digital skill through social media?

Dear unemployed youths, let me say this clearly:

Your smartphone is not just for entertainment. It is not just for chatting. It is not just for WhatsApp or to view trending dances on social media. ” IT IS A TOOL FOR SUCCESS. Use it to create opportunities.”

It can become:
Your office
Your classroom
Your marketing platform and
Your business tool.

That is the mindset we must carry from today.

The difference between success and struggle is often how we use the tools already in our hands.

So, as we celebrate ten years of this organization, let this anniversary not only be about celebration alone.

Let it be the beginning of a new movement.
A movement where Nigerian youths use media and digital platforms to:
-Amplify their voices
-Solicit for business sponsorship
-Learn valuable skills
-Build businesses
-Create jobs and
-Empower others

The future of Nigerian youths will not only be determined by government policies — it will be determined by the creativity, the courage, and digital power of young Nigerians themselves.

So I leave you with this challenge:

If the tools for success are already in our hands, then the responsibility for change is also in our hands.

Let us rise.
Let us innovate.
Let us build.

And together let us create a Nigeria where youths are not only looking for jobs — but creating jobs and becoming entrepreneurs.

Thank you.