An Examination of the Causes of Unemployment among Youths in Nigeria

Abstract

The rising youth unemployment in Nigeria is indeed disturbing as engagements of unemployed youths in armed robbery, kidnapping, Boko Haram, prostitution and other related social ills in Nigerian society are attributed to high rate of unemployment. The stated involvement in crimes by the unemployed youths does not only constitute social problems to the entire society but obstructs the development of the country. The main objective of this paper is to examine causes of youth unemployment in Nigeria as it relates mostly to moral bankruptcy in public leadership. Secondary sources were being used as the data for this study and it sets its analysis in the context of the neoliberal theory. The results of this study revealed that youth unemployment is caused mainly by corruption among the public office holders that has led to the degrading nature of infrastructures, security, and neglect of agriculture. This study therefore recommends among other things that Nigerian government ought to make its educational system self-reliance for the youths through the introduction of vocational and technical courses. Above all, Nigerian government should insist that its society has the enabling environment for business activities to thrive and that may as well accommodate investors and other businesses globally.