Abuja—Former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has described Nigeria’s reported 80 per cent youth unemployment rate as a damning verdict on the country’s leadership and economic policies.
Reacting to a recent ActionAid/Plan International report, Obi said the figure translates to more than 80 million unemployed young Nigerians, a troubling reality for a country with such a large and youthful population.
In a post on his verified X account, the former Anambra State governor criticised the Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, accusing it of failing to prioritise meaningful investment in young people.
According to Obi, Nigeria now ranks highest globally in terms of the absolute number of unemployed youths, largely because of its population size. He contrasted this with South Africa, where a youth unemployment rate of about 60 per cent amounts to roughly six million unemployed youths—more than 70 million fewer than Nigeria’s figure.
Obi stressed that mass youth unemployment is not a failure of young people but a failure of leadership, blaming political greed and poor governance for the crisis. He noted that about 75 per cent of Nigerians are under the age of 35, making widespread joblessness a national emergency.
He lamented that instead of investing in youths as productive assets—through support for MSMEs and job-creating initiatives—leaders have pursued wasteful spending, corruption, unproductive borrowing, and policies that deepen poverty and limit opportunities, thereby pushing young people toward social vices.
Obi maintained that Nigeria is not short of innovative and hardworking youths but lacks leaders who are committed to deliberately creating opportunities. He called for leadership that focuses on productive investment, prudent and transparent governance, and people-centred policies capable of lifting citizens out of poverty.
He urged Nigerian youths to become more involved in the political process to ensure the election of leaders who genuinely represent their interests and those of the nation.
“Nigeria deserves competent, credible, compassionate, and capable leadership that will empower its youths and create opportunities,” Obi concluded, adding that a new Nigeria remains possible.
