Youth unemployment in Nigeria has climbed to 53%, posing the single greatest threat to Africa’s most populous nation, according to a new report released on Thursday.
The State of the Nigerian Youth Report 2025, published by Plan International Nigeria in collaboration with Action Aid Nigeria, was unveiled in Abuja at a youth dialogue organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Youth to mark International Youth Day.
The report, presented by Jonathan Abakpa of Plan International, said millions of young Nigerians face shrinking job opportunities, rising insecurity, and weak governance, driving many into irregular migration, cybercrime, and other risky survival strategies.
“This is not just a statistic—it represents shattered dreams and wasted talent. Unless urgent action is taken, Nigeria risks losing its greatest asset,” the report said.
About 1.7 million graduates leave universities annually, but the report said most struggle to find work. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed youth unemployment rose 5.3% in the first quarter of 2024, with only a marginal improvement in the second.
Beyond joblessness, insecurity has deepened the crisis. The report estimated that more than 600,000 people have been killed and 2.2 million kidnapped in recent years, with young people most affected. Around 1,500 schools have been closed in the past two years, leaving one million children out of classrooms. Violence has also crippled agriculture, displacing 2.6 million people and threatening food security for 25 million Nigerians, according to UNICEF figures cited in the report.
Poverty remains widespread, with 82.9 million people—40.1% of the population—living below the poverty line. Poor infrastructure, corruption, and digital exclusion further limit opportunities for young Nigerians, the report added.
Findings from a nationwide “We Listen Survey” highlighted regional variations: unemployment and insecurity dominate the North Central; banditry and kidnapping plague the North East and North West; inflation and underemployment weigh on the South West and South East; while lack of access to education is acute in the South South.
Despite the bleak outlook, the report said Nigerian youths remain resilient, particularly in technology and the creative industries. It called for large-scale job creation, industry-linked vocational training, social protection for vulnerable groups, and stronger governance accountability. It also urged the government to enshrine Universal Basic Education as a constitutional right.
Chairman of the House Committee on Youth, Ayodeji Alao-Akala, pledged continued parliamentary support for youth-focused policies.
“Our task as leaders is to make sure the children of tomorrow inherit a country better than what we met, with more opportunities and less hardship,” he said.
Alao-Akala said the committee would work with stakeholders to strengthen youth development programmes aimed at preparing young Nigerians for leadership, innovation, and economic productivity.