Nigeria’s 80% Youth Unemployment Rate Is a Leadership Failure — Peter Obi

The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has described Nigeria’s reported 80 per cent youth unemployment rate as a damning indictment of the country’s leadership and economic direction.

Reacting to a recent ActionAid/Plan International report, Obi said the figure translates to over 80 million unemployed young Nigerians, a situation he described as alarming given Nigeria’s large population and youthful demographic.

The former Anambra State governor made the remarks in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, where he blamed the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration for failing to adequately invest in the nation’s youths.

“The recent ActionAid/Plan International report, which highlights the devastating fact that over 80 million young Nigerians are unemployed, is an indictment on our leadership and economic direction,” Obi wrote.

He added that Nigeria leads the world in the absolute number of unemployed youths, noting:
“Nigeria tops the world in the absolute number of unemployed youths due to our large population, with over 80 million youths without jobs.”

Drawing a comparison, Obi said:
“South Africa with a youth unemployment rate of around 60 per cent translates to about six million unemployed youths, still more than 70 million fewer than Nigeria.”

According to him, mass youth unemployment reflects governance failure rather than a deficiency among young people.
“When millions of youths are unemployed, it is not a youth problem, it is a leadership failure. This is the direct result of political greed that has failed to serve the people,” he stated.

Obi stressed that with about 75 per cent of Nigeria’s population under the age of 35, unemployment on such a scale should be treated as a national emergency.

“It is deeply troubling that, rather than invest in these youths as our most productive assets, promoting and supporting MSMEs to drive growth and create employment, leaders chose wasteful spending, corruption, unproductive borrowing, and policies that shrink opportunities and expand poverty,” he said.

He warned that such failures have left young Nigerians vulnerable to crime and social vices, adding:
“Nigeria does not lack entrepreneurial and resourceful youths; what we lack are leaders who are intentional about creating opportunities.”

Obi called for prudent, transparent and people-centred governance, arguing that jobs can only be created through deliberate investments in production.

“We need leadership that will see the youth as the engine of productivity and growth of a nation,” he said, urging young Nigerians to become more politically engaged.

“Nigeria deserves competent, credible, compassionate and capable leadership, one that will create opportunities and empower our young Nigerians. A new Nigeria is possible,” Obi added.

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