UNEMPLOYMENT – THE CURE (Part 1)

I finally decided to write this piece, after having convinced myself that I truly have a solution to the Unemployment plague eating at the large population of Nigerian youths. And indeed, I must point out that, this is a solution that actually works if put to practice.

First of all, to understand the enemy (unemployment), we must totally break it down. Therefore, let’s ask ourselves ‘When did unemployment become an issue in Nigeria’. I’ll let you answer that in your own words, but my answer to it is that ‘Unemployment became an issue the moment education became about securing jobs’.

You must wonder how I came about my answer. Well, I came to that conclusion after I had a chat with my father about how his generation never had a problem with securing jobs.

DISSECTING THE PAST

In the past, in Nigeria, people went to school for the sole purpose of being distinguished from illiterates. Then, there were two categories of people in the society; the educated and the uneducated. But all held one thing in common; they were all gainfully employed.

It’s a fact that most societies, towns, or villages in the past had either a trade or a profession that they were popular for. For example, Epe was, and still is,  a fishing Town, Ikeja people were known for basket weaving while the northerner were basically known for farming and cattle rearing. Thus in every town/village/society/region, the trade/profession is passed on from generation to generation.

Everyone was skilled and there was always something for everyone to do. Always someone who needed an extra-hand to help with excesses from his trade/profession. Even if you had to go to school, you would still have a piece of land to farm or your herd of cattle or atleast, time to go to the market to sell.

So what went wrong?

In my opinion, the misapplication of the concept of Education, and ofcourse, misdirection by the Government.

Watchout for part 2