LAUTECH certificate saga: How youths can survive Nigeria’s unemployment conundrum

By Genevieve Aningo

One of the evidence of the deplorable economy of Nigeria is the unemployment rate in the country. For so many years Nigeria has continued to top the charts of nations in Africa with a high rate of unemployment.

In a 2022 data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s unemployment rate is 33.3% and the youths account for 53.4%. The statistics predict that this figure would likely scale up before the end of the year.

As future posterity, Nigerian youths share a greater consequence of ills in the society ranging from political instability to education. 

The country’s unemployment reality has forced many people to venture into business rather than yearn for unpromising job opportunities. The situation is precarious as the  tertiary education sector responsible for producing graduates and certifying the youths academically suitable to gain employment is on strike.

The ongoing 2022 Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) strike has elapsed for more than seven months and efforts to nip it have remained futile. 

Recently, the internet went agog when a 36-year-old man identified as Osunleke Alabi sought to return his certificate to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo state and asked for a refund of his fees.

According to the video, Osunleke graduated in 2015 with a degree in Agricultural Extension but yet to secure a job. He explained that he has ventured into businesses which failed and none of his job applications were granted.

 Osunleke’s resignation is to use the refund from the varsity to develop his skill to create a means of income since his certificate failed to secure him  employment.

His action is symptomatic of the fact that unemployment is encountered by both graduates and non-graduates. It also another evidence of the frustration many youths are going through in Nigeria.

In this chat with CRISPNG, Elom Sunday, a journalist, and Ifeanyi Onyekere, an entrepreneur, reflect on how Nigerian youths can establish a source of income since securing employment has become a far-fetched dream.

For Elom, it begins with the mindset.

‘’It’s all about mindset, the kind of mentality we have in this country is a problem, we should wake up and forget our leaders and create the system on your own. If everybody becomes an employee, then who would be the employer?‘’ he asked.

The journalist lamented  that the country’s employment rate is just a mirror of its unstable and corrupt political system 

He added: “Any country that has a shaky economic atmosphere emanates from the political system’ The tech savvy youths involved in cryptocurrency were frustrated by the leaders when they placed a ban on the business and some of them have become unemployed. How about businesses that have died off due to stringent policies from the government?’’

To address the conundrum, Elom said the youths must be willing to acquire a skill or start a business bearing in mind that in the current dispensation skill overrides certifications

According to him, ‘’Beyond academic certificates academic industries are looking for practical productivity. Some youths want a shortcut and have refused to bend down and learn a skill or trade. We can’t continue to play safe and want wealth. There are one million businesses one can start with N200,000 to N500,000. In Nigeria you need more than a certificate.” 

On his part, Onyekere said youths must be resilient and smart by acquiring skills as well as refrain from depending on either the government or individual.

“Get soft skills and hard skills and if a job neither comes or not you have nothing to lose. We have a lot of skills you can sell across the globe even from Nigeria. The only plan you need to skip being unemployed is you and not the government or anyone,” he said.

Taking a clue from his business journey, Onyekere, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Outlinefashions,  said business may not boom as expected from the outset but with competence and consistency, it will succeed.

“The thing about entrepreneurship is you have to grow a thick skin to take decisions and their consequences. You have to be innovative to stand the test time because many people do the same business or service like you”. 

The entrepreneur and social commentator also said youths need to take leadership roles because the current old leaders have made the country a killer of small businesses .

“When the youths cry foul that leaders are bad they should know that an average African politician is wicked. What are the youths doing when it comes to leadership? The ‘this is Nigeria slogan’ where nothing happens is a trap by the old folks to corrupt you and make you work towards worsening the situation of things,” he said.

“Please prepare yourself for true  leadership positions in any where you may be. Be honest and accountable because tomorrow in your old age the next generation would blame you if Nigeria does not improve.”