It is true that the rate of unemployment in Nigeria is very high. This figure keep increasing as thousands of graduates are added yearly, and there is no tangible effort towards job creation. This has contributed to the hardship and underdevelopment in the land. Some students are getting discouraged in their studies, Haven seen their colleagues who graduated many year back still unemployed or underemployed. Who can save Nigeria from the scourge of unemployment? let us consider the solution to unemployment in Nigeria.
(1) Diversification of the economy.
Although it is a common agenda of our government during their campaign but nothing has been done about it! Our country still remained a mono-product economy. ''Oil, Oil, oil'' that has been the focus, no wonder we have been worse hit by the fall in oil price. The oil sector is limited in job opportunities.
Determined effort should be made in developing other neglected sectors such as agriculture, solid minerals, tourism, and technological development . These sectors if well developed will create many jobs for our teaming population.
(2) Provision Of Infrastructures. The poor state of infrastructures such as power, road, social amenities has crippled many businesses. It has driven many investors off the land. It has increased cost of production, thereby making the businesses unable to compete favorably with others in foreign nations where these factors facilities are available. Our country has then become a dumping ground of foreign goods. This has robbed us of many jobs opportunities. The government should provide an enabling environment for businesses to strive. Top on the list is power, this is the engine of other developments. How can a country of about 150 million people be generating less than 5,000MW of electricity? It is far too low! Other Substainable source of power such as solar, chemical, wind should be annexed. The ongoing attacks on gas lines which has rendered most power station dormant, should be tackled.
(3) Self Employment.
The tradition has been, to look for a job after graduation. In this time, it is not the best approach. Students should be trained on how to be self employed. The educational system should be revamped to equip students to start up on their own after graduation. Government should also support them with soft loan to enable them start small scale Enterprises.
(4) Enforce the local content law.
With the high influx of foreigners into the country, our citizens are being denied of many jobs which are taken up by these foreigners. Most of these jobs can be done by Nigerians, then why give it to foreigners. Developed countries have Labour laws which protects the interest of their citizens and they are well enforced. The government should ensure that the local content law is enforced, and Nigerians are given their place in the Labour market.