Youth Empowerment: An Alliance That Is Changing The Tide

By IJEOMA UKAZU

Nigeria’s inability to engage a large proportion of her youth meaningfully through job creation has the potential for social dislocation. The dire unemployment situation many graduates and those with advanced education in the country face is a cause for widespread concern.

World Bank data pinpoints the percentage of unemployed Nigerians with advanced education at 13.69 percent in 2016, and 15.3 percent in 2019.

The National Bureau of Statistics says that 13.9 million youths are unemployed and millions are in unstable employment and also underemployed in Nigeria. It went on to say that in 2022, the unemployment rate in Nigeria is estimated to reach 33 percent. This figure was projected to be at 32.5 percent in the preceding year. Chronological data show that the unemployment rate in Nigeria rose constantly in the past years.

This is worrisome as it translates to a bulging youthful, energetic unemployed population with no contribution to the economic growth of the country. Each academic year, universities and polytechnics admit close to 2 million students and produce about 600,000 graduates.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has linked unemployment in Nigeria to the phenomenon of jobless growth, an increased number of school graduates with no matching job opportunities, a moratorium on employment in many public- and private-sector institutions, and continued job losses in the manufacturing and oil sectors.

In addition, the ILO said the recent economic growth in Nigeria has not resulted in a rapid reduction of poverty or in the creation of sufficient decent jobs for the young and rapidly growing labour force.

World Bank data also shows Nigeria’s population at 206,139,587 in 2020 with approximately 60 percent young, energetic working-age people who could grow the country’s economy.

Young people need the right skills and experience to help them in a rapidly changing economic landscape and the Alliance for Youth Nigeria is committed to continued investment in young people for a better future.

Nestlé Nigeria in partnership with other stakeholders and like-minded organizations has formed an Alliance to change this trajectory.

In August this year, Nestlé Nigeria reported that the collaboration called; Alliance for Youth Nigeria has empowered over 11,000 young Nigerians in one year. It said its aim is to contribute towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8 – to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all by 2030.

It says, through the Alliance for Youth Nigeria, 350 young Nigerians in Lagos and Kano States concluded a vocational skills training program that covered four skillsets – Solar panel installation, Graphics Design (Designs, social media, and web design), CCTV and Cable installation, and Beauty Care (make-up, aromatherapy, and massage), were delivered in collaboration with Whitefield Foundation.

For vocational skills training, one of the projects of the Alliance designed in accordance with the Alliance’s objective targeted at reaching 250,000 young Nigerians with employability and entrepreneurial skills to enable them to secure gainful employment or set up businesses of their own within 3 years.

This objective of the Alliance is in line with their commitment to work together to address the challenges of youth unemployment in the country with the associated social and economic impact.

Alliance is a business-driven movement of organizations passionate about working together to help young people around the country acquire the necessary skills to thrive in the world of work or create their own enterprises.

Members of the Alliance for Youth Nigeria include Nestlé Nigeria, Jobberman Nigeria, Big Bottling Company, the United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, U-Connect HR Limited, and Sterling One Foundation with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and Activate Success International as partner organizations.

To curb unemployment in Nigeria, since its inception, the Alliance has reached over 11,000 young Nigerians with employability and entrepreneurial training, internship, and mentoring opportunities, and job placements.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Shakiru Lawal, Country HR Manager, Nestlé Nigeria PLC said, “Youth is the future of our world and Nestlé is determined and committed to working with stakeholders and likeminded organizations to help young people develop their skills so they can find jobs or create their own businesses.”

“We are delighted with the progress we have made as an Alliance in the past year, reaching 11,000 youth. Yes, we are still a long way from our target, but we have built the framework and alliances that will help us deliver on our objectives. The provision of start-up kits to young people who excelled in vocational skills training is a significant step in the right direction.”

Also speaking at the event, Mr. Lanre Coleman, General Manager, U-Connect Human Resources Limited said, “Youth is the future of the nation. Every investment towards their employability, engagement and empowerment is very critical for the society’s good and sustainable progress”.

According to Innih Ikhide, Youth Engagement and Learning Manager Jobberman Nigeria, “Youth in every society has the potential to stimulate economic growth, social progress, and national development. The Alliance for Youth Nigeria is providing an ecosystem of learning where young Nigerians can upskill by acquiring 21st-century skills that will increase their chances of getting employed or becoming self-employed. The testimonials from beneficiaries will continue to motivate us to do more”.

For Naomi Nwokolo, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network Nigeria, “Our one-year anniversary is proof that advancing decent work for youth requires unprecedented levels of collaboration between key partners. The Alliance serves as a catalyst for reducing unemployment and promoting youth independence in order to increase labour and economic productivity in Nigeria. We urge stakeholders to take collective action in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4, 8, and 9”.

In his comments, ‘Goke Olaleye, Marketing Manager, The Big Bottling Company Limited, said, “Investment in young people supports the economic empowerment of the nation and world at large. The Big Bottling Company Limited, while congratulating Nigerian youths, remains committed to supporting their aspirations for growth”.

The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, the Special Assistant to the Honorable Minister, Oluwakemi Areola, said, “In the next 10 years, jobs would have evolved from the traditional model we are familiar with now. It is imperative that Nigerian youth equip and upskill themselves with the necessary skills (digital and vocational) to give them an added advantage and keep them better positioned for the continuous benefit of decent work. The Ministry commends the effort and investment of the Alliance in promoting economic opportunities for young Nigerians”.

One of the beneficiaries, Oluwakemi Olatunfe, who participated in the training in the Beauty category, commended the Alliance member companies for providing a unique opportunity for the training and upskilling of young Nigerians. Particularly delighted at the start-up kit awarded to her by the Alliance, she promised to fully utilize the training and the kit to start up her business, thereby adding value to herself and her family.

The Alliance said the project highlight includes: “Soft skills training, covering personal effectiveness and time management, effective communication, business etiquette, employability skills, emotional intelligence, for NYSC and fresh graduates in November 2021 reached 590.

“Soft and employability skills training, covering critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and idea generation, developing the right mindset for the world of work, effective communication, etc, in May and June 2022 reaching over 9,600 NYSC members in Lagos, Kano, Ogun, and FCT orientation camps.

“Employability training for fresh graduates in April and June 2022, covering career positioning, personal brand marketing, building winning resumes, developing interpersonal skills, developing an entrepreneurial mindset, etc, and reaching over 610.

“Vocational skills training, covering solar panel installation, graphics design (designs, social media, and web design), CCTV and Cable installation, and Beauty Care (makeup, aromatherapy, and massage), in Lagos and Kano states in August 2022 reaching over 350.”

While stating that the member and partner organizations have positioned themselves to invest in joint and individual projects, the Alliance said its aim is to give young Nigerians meaningful work experience, internships, readiness-for-work training, and mentoring opportunities.

High flyers at the vocational skills training were gifted start-up kits to ensure the immediate take-off of their businesses. High-flyers from the graphics design training were provided laptops, those from the Beauty, massage, and aromatherapy training were provided make-up tool kits and massage beds while high-flyers from the installation training were awarded complete toolboxes for their vocation.

In an interview with Hamzat Lawal, founder and chief executive of Connected Development (CODE) said the government must recognize that times are changing, and the world is transitioning into a digital economy.

“This means that there must be deliberate, all-round investment in education, such that students in tertiary institutions are exposed to tools and knowledge existing in this digital age. There should be an improvement in the school curriculum and courses being offered that should match the relevant skills in demand and jobs that are available, not just in Nigeria but all over the world.”