By Abbas Nazil
The Federal Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have called for a major rethink of Nigeria’s youth employment strategy, urging stakeholders to create a market-driven framework that gives young Nigerians relevant skills, decent work and sustainable livelihoods.
The call came Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during the Southern Zonal Consultative Meeting on the review and update of the Nigeria Youth Employment Action Plan (NIYEAP) 2025–2030.
The consultation, organised by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development with development partners including UNICEF, brought together government representatives, private-sector stakeholders, development organisations and young people from the South-west, South-east and South-south geopolitical zones.
Representing the Minister of Youth Development, Chief Youth Development Officer Bakare Abayomi said the review was necessary to strengthen Nigeria’s response to widespread youth unemployment and underemployment.
He said the process would enable stakeholders to evaluate existing interventions, identify gaps and develop practical strategies capable of delivering better employment outcomes for young Nigerians.
Abayomi maintained that government could not solve the youth employment crisis alone, stressing the need for closer cooperation between federal and state governments, employers, private-sector organisations, civil society groups, development partners, training institutions and young people.
He identified the creative economy, technology and digital services, agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing, maritime activities, oil and gas, tourism, construction and the wider services sector as major areas capable of generating jobs for young people in the Southern region.
He urged state governments and State Youth Employment Action Committees to take stronger ownership of the employment agenda and ensure that policies reflect conditions at state and local government levels.
According to him, the revised NIYEAP must be inclusive, coordinated and evidence-based while responding to changing labour-market conditions and the evolving nature of work.
The ministry said recommendations from the southern consultation would be incorporated into the revised national employment plan, with particular consideration for young women, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Speaking on behalf of UNICEF Representative in Nigeria Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, Adolescent Development Specialist Ngozi Izuora said young Nigerians should not merely be viewed as beneficiaries of employment policies but as strategic partners in shaping their economic future.
Izuora said many youths still struggle to acquire market-relevant skills, move successfully from school into employment and obtain the capital required to establish or expand businesses.
She said the barriers were more pronounced among adolescent girls, young women, youths with disabilities, rural youths and those outside employment, education or training.
She called for the revised action plan to directly address these inequalities and create fair opportunities for vulnerable young people to participate in the economy.
UNICEF also urged stakeholders to prepare young Nigerians for emerging opportunities in artificial intelligence, digital employment, the green transition and changing regional business models.
Izuora said stakeholders must identify sectors and value chains with strong potential to provide dignified, productive and sustainable jobs before 2030.
She further stressed that the review must result in concrete implementation rather than remain at the level of policy discussions, calling for clear accountability mechanisms and sustainable financing.
She specifically advocated stronger coordination of State Youth Employment Action Committees to ensure that the national employment blueprint produces measurable results at the grassroots.
Addressing young participants, Izuora urged them to actively contribute to the process, saying they should challenge existing approaches and offer practical solutions for improving Nigeria’s youth employment system.
The outcome of the Southern Zonal Consultative Meeting will form part of the recommendations to be considered in the revision of NIYEAP 2025–2030, which is expected to provide a more responsive framework for tackling youth unemployment across Nigeria.
