Unemployment: ActionAid asks FG, others to implement youth policies, boost innovations

The ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has urged the federal government and other stakeholders to implement the various youth policies as part of measures to drastically reduced unemployment in the country, especially among the youths. The Country Director, AAN, Ene Obi, made the call on Friday in Abuja, at a roundtable, commemorating this year’s International Youth Day […]

The ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has urged the federal government and other stakeholders to implement the various youth policies as part of measures to drastically reduced unemployment in the country, especially among the youths.

The Country Director, AAN, Ene Obi, made the call on Friday in Abuja, at a roundtable, commemorating this year’s International Youth Day with the theme, “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”.

According to her, implementing the various policies would support and empower youth-led social enterprises and entrepreneurs in improving the lives of vulnerable communities and building back better.

She stressed the need for government to promote active youth involvement in agriculture for national food security, social development and job security for present and future positive impacts.

“Government must provide Nigerian youths with equal opportunities to realize their dreams and ambition irrespective of their background in the interest of the nation, the way we see it being done in other countries.

“As the country evolve into the ‘new normal’, young leaders, social change agents and innovators will need all the support they can get to build back better and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Young people are indispensable in achieving a future that is sustainable and resilient. ActionAid is worried that if level of underemployed youth, out of school and work remains unchanged, national development will not be achieved,” Obi said.

Also, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, represented by Mr. Agoro Olayiwola of the Bioresources Technology department, assured of government determination to help the youths played their parts in national development.

On her part, a developmental, Mrs. Eunice Emmanuel-Agada, said, “Public policies aimed at investing in youth and directed at addressing youth development and unemployment face a further challenge of lack of a proper monitoring and evaluation framework. Resources that have been allocated towards youth investments and development have left a lot to be desired in terms of assessing the impact on youth development and unemployment, especially considering the data from the National Bureau of Statistics.

“Policy formulation and its implementation appear to be mutually exclusive in the Nigeria context as efforts by successive governments to invest in youth and tackle youth unemployment have ended with little to show in terms of impact, largely due to poor implementation of the said programmes.”

Also, the National President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Solomon Adodo, urged the youths and all Nigerians to end lamentations and take practical measures to over the challenges facing the nation.

He said that youths are making changes across the world and Nigeria should not be an exception.