Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed fears that Nigeria will witness a revolution soon unless government takes urgent steps to check growing youth unemployment and poverty.
Speaking at the West African regional conference on youth employment in Dakar, Senegal at the weekend, Obasanjo said the danger posed by an army of unemployed youth in Nigeria can only be imagined.
"I'm afraid, and you know I am a General. When a General says he is afraid, that means the danger ahead is real and potent," he said.Obasanjo added that despite what he called the imminent threat to Nigeria's nationhood "there is absence of serious, concrete, realistic, short and long term solution" to youth unemployment.
He made reference to the doctorate degree holders who applied for jobs as drivers at the Dangote Group, saying Nigerian youths have been patient enough and that this patience will soon reach its elastic limit.
According to the former president, youth unemployment rate which was 72% in 1999 when he took over power had been reduced to 52% by 2004 but that the rate rocketed to 71% by 2011.
Obasanjo left office in 2007, succeeded by Umaru Yar'Adua who died in 2010, and President Jonathan has been in office since then.
The former president lamented that the unemployment situation had given rise to the prevalence of social crimes being perpetrated by three categories of youth whom he identified as area boys, Yahoo boys and, recently, Blackberry boys
He told the diverse audience that in Nigeria people talk of growth without corresponding development, and that what is visible is increased poverty
Obasanjo said national leaders must create incentives that will encourage entrepreneurs to flourish and that special attention should be given to agriculture business as against mere farming.
He reiterated the need for easy access to land and micro credit, while advocating for a review of school curriculum to enable undergraduates spend additional one year to learn entrepreneurship.
At the sub-regional level, Obasanjo called for a review of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) to accommodate issues of youth unemployment and job creation.
The conference, which was sponsored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the African Development Bank, was attended by top bankers from across Africa including the Managing Director of Nigeria's Bank of Industry, Ms. Evelyn Oputu.
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Baba , pls dont forget that you are equally responsible for our problem in this country .
ReplyDeleteCan you ask me in what way ?
By putting Clueless man in Aso rock .
Truth is bitter .
Oga generalissimo, what did you leave behind? What example did you set for your successors to follow? I hate hypocrites and that's what you are!
ReplyDeleteYou killed our industries, a major source of employment when you increased the price of black oil, a key incentive for manufacturing, by over a thousand percent. By that alone, textile industries and other key players started relocating outside the country. Do you know what textile industries mean to an economy? It is the heartbeat of industries.
You, Obasanjo, glamourized political corruption and we are still feeling the effects in every sphere of our lives. Your fears now are that the effect of an uprising will destabilize your business empire. Thank God you know that the youth population in Nigeria is a sleeping giant, which will soon wake up and unleash its force. Arab Spring will be like choir practice. Welcome to our world!
Chief Obasanjo will certainly be one of the victims that will be revolted against because he refused to put the checks and balances in place while in power for eight years.
ReplyDeleteBaba. You are part of the current problem of Nigeria. So, you want us to clap for you or what. Remember you gave away Bakkassi like that and people are there suffering without a place to call their own because you want to be a UN envoy abi.So prosterity will judge all of you who have ruled Nigeria. O to.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteDon’t look the face of the man. Consider the points he has raised:
• There exists an army of unemployed youths in Nigeria.
• Youth unemployment represents a danger that is real, potent, and threat to Nigeria's nationhood
• Statistically, youth unemployment was 72% in 1999. 52% in 2004 and 71% as we speak. Stagnated growth so to speak
• There is no serious, concrete, realistic, short and long term solution on ground to the identified monster.
• Nigerian youths have been patient enough and that this patience will soon reach its elastic limit.
• The unemployment situation had given rise to the prevalence of social crimes
• Growth is not complemented with development but with poverty
OBJ’S SUGGESTED SOLUTION
• National leaders must create incentives that will encourage entrepreneurs
• special attention should be given to agriculture business as against mere farming.
• easy access to land and micro credit,
• review of school curriculum to enable undergraduates spend additional one year to learn entrepreneurship.
• review the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) to accommodate issues of youth unemployment and job creation.
MY OPINION
The National education curriculum is due for overhaul. There should be emphasis on technical education. Let there be 1 technical school to 20 secondary schools in Nigeria. The technical school should teach all manners of simple skill acquisition and Commerce at Certificate or diploma level. The Government should start Teacher Training Polytechnics for Technical Schools and colleges. This will make people to have technical education that can make them to be financially independent and employ people.
There is more than proportionate emphasis on theoretical subjects. People can’t be entrepreneur with such subjects. Apart from technical schools, state governments and local government authorities should, using private-public initiatives, establish large shopping centres, Mechanic villages, Computer Villages, etc for youth to practice trade.
Baba is right.
ReplyDelete