Summary: Solutions to Unemployment

          Of all the problems facing this country, the most serious one which needs urgent attention is unemployment. The popular saying is “The devil finds a job for the idle mind”. This saying holds true for all times and in all places. The consequences of unemployment are manifestly visible everywhere in societyThe term society is derived from the Latin word 'socius' meaning friendship or companionship. Society is a community, nation or group of people who share the same traditions, institutions, rules and... More. Most of the cases of robbery, with or without violence, are attributable to unemployment. Prostitution, human trafficking, drug trafficking and many other social vices are traceable to unemployment. For when a person is not gainfully employed, there is nothing he cannot do “to keep body and soul together”.

          What are the factors responsible for this monster that is terrorizing the whole country?

          First and foremost there has been the proliferation of tertiary educational institutions in the last two decades. Apart from those established by the Federal Government, each state government has founded its tertiary institutions. In addition, each religious body has founded or is about to found a university of its own. Highly placed individuals now have private universities (never mind, each hamlet will soon make some attempt to found a university). These tertiary educational institutions turn out graduates in large numbers year in, and year out. Unfortunately, no provision is made to employ these graduates.

          Apart from this, many of the existing industries and factories are folding up as a result of the harsh economic climate. Thus words such as retrenchment, rationalization, trimming of workforce, etc, have entered into the industrial language of the country. This, in plain language, means thousands and thousands of workers have been sacked and more are still going into the unemployment market.

          Unfortunately, the epileptic nature of electricity is not helping matters. Thousands of people who depend on electricity for their means of livelihood do not have access to it. The power supply has been very erratic. Many technicians and artisans have therefore been sent to the unemployment market. Thus, there are armies and armies of the unemployed.

          But then what can we do to get out of the problem? There must be a firm determination on the part of all and sundry to deal with the monster. Nigeria has very fertile land for all types of agriculture. The government should give the necessary encouragement to the youths to take an interest in agriculture which can provide millions of jobs for the teeming population of the unemployed.

          In addition, the government must make spirited efforts to establish many new industries and factories which can gainfully employ the unemployed people.

          Also, power generation must be considerably improved. The constant provision of electricity will provide energyEnergy is the ability to do work. Energy exists in several forms such as heat, kinetic or mechanical energy, light, potential energy, and electrical energy. Units of Energy: The SI unit... More for the millions of artisans and technicians. They will therefore be gainfully employed. If all these measures are taken, the problem of unemployment will be drastically reduced, if not totally eradicated.