Unemployment: Kano must create 300,000 jobs annually – Economist

A renowned economist and university don, Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi of the Dangote Business School, Bayero University, Kano, has revealed that Kano State needs to generate at least 300,000 new jobs annually to effectively confront its growing youth unemployment crisis. Speaking at the fifth edition of the Purple Bow Youth Leadership Conference, organised by the […]

A renowned economist and university don, Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi of the Dangote Business School, Bayero University, Kano, has revealed that Kano State needs to generate at least 300,000 new jobs annually to effectively confront its growing youth unemployment crisis.

Speaking at the fifth edition of the Purple Bow Youth Leadership Conference, organised by the Worldwide Initiative for Community Development and Global Healthcare (WIFCOH), the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) member said the recommendation was drawn from a comprehensive study conducted more than a decade ago.

According to him, successive administrations in the state failed to implement the findings.

“We conducted a study over 10 years ago and recommended that no fewer than 300,000 jobs should be created annually to reduce youth unemployment in Kano. Sadly, neither the past nor present governments made use of these recommendations,” he stated.

Sagagi expressed concern that nearly half of Kano’s estimated eight to nine million residents are young people, many of whom remain unemployed and unengaged, posing long-term socio-economic risks.

He noted that while states like Lagos, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River have integrated job creation into development planning, most northern states are yet to adopt such strategic approaches.

He commended WIFCOH for providing a platform that inspires youths toward creativity, innovation, and problem-solving, likening the initiative to the youth-driven economic transformation witnessed in India.

In her remarks, WIFCOH founder, Senator Baraka Sani, said the annual conference was designed to equip young people with leadership skills, self-awareness, and mental resilience.

She urged youths to embrace versatility and develop multiple competencies to thrive in an economy where government jobs are becoming increasingly scarce.

Sani, a former adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and a former Commissioner for Agriculture in Kano State, stressed that the era of waiting endlessly for government jobs was over. She encouraged young people to take responsibility for shaping their future through self-reliance and continuous learning.

The conference, themed “Awakening the Leader Within: From Self-Discovery to Service,” attracted more than 1,000 participants and also addressed mental health concerns among the youth. Organisers said the goal is to nurture a generation of innovative, responsible, and independent young leaders who can contribute meaningfully to society.