PRESS RELEASE/MEDIA PUBLICATION
10th March, 2026
By Comr. Clinton Ogbeide, National Public Relations Officer, Society for the Welfare of Unemployed Youths of Nigeria (SWUYN).
WARRI – The 10th Anniversary and National Unemployed Youths Day celebration of the Society for the Welfare of Unemployed Youths of Nigeria (SWUYN) commenced successfully with a powerful keynote address delivered by Clement Atewe Igbodaro, Professor of Economics at the University of Benin.
The keynote lecture, titled “Youth Unemployment in Nigeria: Challenges, Opportunities and the Next Decade,” was delivered during the opening session of the SWUYN@10 programme held at De Ellis Event Centre, bringing together youth leaders, policymakers, civil society organizations, and stakeholders committed to addressing the growing unemployment crisis among Nigerian youths.
In his address, Prof. Igbodaro described youth unemployment as one of the most serious socio-economic challenges confronting Nigeria, noting that millions of young people remain willing and able to work but are unable to find meaningful employment opportunities. He emphasized that unemployment has severe consequences for young people, including poverty, frustration, low self-esteem, mental stress, and increased dependence on families and friends, while also posing risks to national development.
Providing a global perspective, the economist revealed that Nigeria’s youth unemployment rate remains among the highest in the world, with millions of young Nigerians either unemployed or underemployed in informal and low-paying jobs. He noted that the situation has worsened due to structural challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, weak industrial growth, skills mismatch, insecurity, and an unfavourable business environment that discourages investment.
Prof. Igbodaro further identified several systemic issues responsible for the crisis, including lack of practical orientation in educational institutions, nepotism and lack of merit-based employment processes, rural–urban migration pressures, and insufficient support for entrepreneurship and vocational development.
While acknowledging various government initiatives aimed at reducing unemployment—such as technology training programmes, vocational education schemes, and youth empowerment initiatives—he noted that the gap between the number of job seekers and available employment opportunities continues to widen, largely due to the mismatch between the skills possessed by graduates and the needs of the labour market.
Looking ahead to the next decade, the professor called for comprehensive reforms that integrate entrepreneurship, technology education, and vocational training into Nigeria’s education system, stressing that young people must be equipped with practical skills capable of creating jobs rather than depending solely on government employment.
He also highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between government, the private sector, educational institutions, and civil society organizations, noting that agriculture, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship remain key sectors capable of generating sustainable employment for millions of Nigerian youths.
Prof. Igbodaro concluded by stressing the importance of including young people in policymaking processes that affect them, warning that ignoring youth unemployment could result in increased poverty, social instability, and the rise of social vices among frustrated youths.
The keynote lecture set a strong intellectual tone for the three-day SWUYN@10 programme, which features policy discussions, skills training sessions, mentorship engagements, and advocacy activities aimed at promoting solutions that will transition Nigerian youths from unemployment to employment.
The National President of SWUYN, Comr. Preye V. Tambou, commended Prof. Igbodaro for delivering what participants described as a timely and thought-provoking analysis of the youth unemployment challenge in Nigeria, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to advocating policies and programmes that empower unemployed youths across the country.
The SWUYN@10 Anniversary and National Unemployed Youths Day continues with several training sessions, workshops, and engagement activities designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate today’s evolving labour market.
