The Federal Government has announced plans to create approximately three million jobs for young people annually over the coming years, as part of a renewed strategy to reduce unemployment and harness Nigeria’s large youth population.
The proposal was unveiled during the launch of the Youth Policy Dialogue Series in Abuja, an event organised by CoSPAL and the Legislative Mentorship Initiative to improve implementation of the National Youth Policy.
Henry Nwawuba, head of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, described job creation as a cornerstone of the government’s youth development agenda. He noted that additional opportunities would be generated in agriculture, technology, security, and innovation.
While acknowledging the existing National Youth Policy, Mr Nwawuba lamented that many young people remained unaware of it or were not benefiting from its provisions. He called for greater awareness and improved communication strategies to enable more youths to access government programmes. He also argued that fresh ideas and stronger legislative frameworks could unlock job opportunities, particularly in agriculture and technology.
Youth population as an advantage
The Secretary-General of CoSPAL, Dapo Oyewole, said Nigeria’s youthful demographic represented a significant advantage if properly managed. He stressed the need for better infrastructure and access to resources to empower young people to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Mr Oyewole commended the Ministry of Youth Development for supporting youth-focused programmes and emphasised that government, civil society, and young people must work collectively to ensure policies are effective.
Proposal to raise NYSC age limit
The Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Aliyu Idris Zakari, proposed raising the NYSC age limit from 29 to between 33 and 35 years. He argued that this would allow more graduates affected by economic challenges to participate in the scheme.
Mr Zakari also called for a review of age limits for government employment and recommended that youth-related political positions be reserved for individuals aged 18 to 35 to ensure authentic youth representation.
Participants at the event agreed that stronger collaboration between government, organisations, and young people is essential to translate policies into tangible job opportunities across the country.
