Youth and Unemployment in Africa: A Panacea

Unemployment has been a perennial problem in Nigeria and Africa at large. Every regime promises to address the issue of unemployment but in the end we see that the problem keeps on increasing. The rate of unemployment now is alarming and it is obvious that African governments are helpless in the face of this intimidating challenge. The youth in this case are the most affected. The majority of African youths are jobless. They parade around all the cities looking for jobs which are not there. This explains why the number of unemployed is most in the cities in Africa than in the rural areas. Frustrated by lack of job, some of these job seekers resort to crime in order to make ends meet. To them it is either they get a job or they become social misfits. But the fact is that there are no jobs for the teeming youths who are becoming restive by the day. Violence and crime are on the increase.
Most times we blame the government for unemployment. If government will initiate good policies that can boost economic development that will at least increase the rate of employment. Again it is evident that most African governments do not care about the welfare of the masses. In this case, what do the youth do? Should you sit and blame government while you perish in hunger? Even if governments start creating jobs, do you think that governments will employ all the job seekers in the continent? Definitely not. There is no way that can be possible. In the West it is not the Government that employs most workers but companies, corporations, organizations, banks, etc owned by private individuals. Therefore, government alone cannot solve the problem of unemployment. It is individuals that can solve their unemployment challenge and that of others. That is how it is in the West. Individuals establish companies. By that they solve their problem of joblessness. In addition they create job for others.
In Africa the problem of unemployment can only be solved when the youths discard their old and wrong ‘dependency mentality’ that once you are a graduate or school leaver, government will give you a job. It is a dependency mentality. When government does not create jobs, people with this mentality get frustrated and disappointed. No wonder violence is on the increase in Africa. So the first step towards overcoming unemployment is cultivating the right mentality of self employment. You did not go to higher institution to learn how to become a servant. Open your brain and see opportunities all around you.
Some are looking for job in banks, companies, firms, etc. Have you asked yourself: who founded those banks, companies and firms? Are they superior beings? If they are human beings like you, then why can you not found one? The rich dad in Robert Kiyosaki’s ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ will always advise his son to put his brain to work. That is all you need. If those people who are not graduates can be making it on their own, what about you? Use you brain. Think of what you can do - a service you can render and people will be happy to part with their money in return. That is it. You have something you know how to do best. You have talents, potentials in you. Do not allow them to rust where you are looking and desiring to work in the ‘brain child’ of others. I may not wish to tell you the disappointments and frustrations that follow job seekers as well as employees. You may have known them already but let me tell you that there is fulfillment in self employment. There is freedom and there is prestige in being independent.
Right mentality leads to right attitude. The worst thing that can happen to a man is self rejection. Dependency mentality has elements of self rejection in it. It makes you not to believe in your abilities to create jobs. So you resign your happiness to whims and caprices of government, who as it appears, has rejected your service. That is too bad.
Obstacle to self employment is not lack of money as some have believed. It is lack of good ideals/goals and pride. Most unemployed youths have no plan of working for themselves. First of all, set goals for your life, meditate on them, and I tell you, where there is a will there is a way. Goal setting is the starting point of every achievement and not money. Another obstacle is pride. Many believe that because they are graduates they cannot start small. It is a lie. You have to start from somewhere. Before you become a graduate you passed through nursery/primary school. That is how the journey is. Bury your pride (what is your pride when you have no job and are without money). According to Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, the world has the habit of making room for the man whose actions show that he knows where he is going. It is not where you start from that matters but where you are going. Therefore develop good ideals/goals for your life and start from somewhere so that you can actualize your goals.
Your generation is looking up to you. So think and create a job for yourself and others or sit and wait until government gives you a job. The choice is yours!