If the information provided by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is accurate, indicating a decrease in Nigeria’s unemployment rate from 33.3 to 4.1 percent, one would expect a significant reduction in the number of unemployed youths, especially those with tertiary education degrees…CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

However, the stark reality on the ground contradicts this optimistic outlook, as hundreds of thousands of Nigerian graduates, spanning from north to south and east to west, continue to grapple with unemployment.

Despite the anticipation that obtaining higher education degrees, including master’s degrees, would enhance their employment prospects, many graduates find themselves without jobs. The prevailing challenge is that employers often overlook them due to the lack of practical experience, leading to demands for higher salaries that employers are unwilling to meet.

For the average unemployed Nigerian graduate, the societal landscape has devolved into a state reminiscent of Hobbesian philosophy, characterized by a life that is harsh, impoverished, brief, and brutal, with only the most resilient managing to survive.

The precarious situation has forced many graduates to embrace unconventional employment avenues, undertaking jobs traditionally associated with artisans merely to sustain themselves. Surprisingly, vocations such as riding motorcycles or tricycles, driving cabs, engaging in house cleaning and laundry services, generator repairs, running restaurants or car wash businesses, and participating in estate agency services and petty trading have become the refuge for unemployed graduates, who hold onto the belief in the dignity of labor.

Some, driven by the desire for quick wealth, resort to illicit activities such as kidnapping, armed robbery, internet fraud, advance fee fraud, ritual killing, and other illegal pursuits.

Nevertheless, a segment of graduates has chosen an honorable path, shedding the label of unemployment and adopting a survival instinct. Despite facing challenges, these individuals remain optimistic that with support from the government, philanthropic individuals, or non-governmental organizations, they could establish businesses and generate employment opportunities for their fellow unemployed citizens.

Investigations by Nivo News have uncovered varied stories, revealing that some graduates entered specific professions due to the inability to secure white-collar jobs after years of relentless job hunting. Others, with a predisposition toward entrepreneurship, decided to be self-employed from the outset.

One example is Johnson Ademola, a Philosophy and Sociology graduate with both master’s and doctoral degrees. Despite his academic accomplishments, Ademola derives satisfaction from repairing generators, a job typically associated with individuals with lower educational qualifications. He credits his education for distinguishing his work from that of unqualified practitioners, attracting customers and establishing his business.

His success has extended to the point where technical schools send students for internships at his workshop. Ademola not only repairs generators but has also ventured into generator sales, employing several individuals and paying them monthly salaries.

While Ademola’s story reflects resilience and success, other graduates have taken diverse paths. James Okezie, a Sociology graduate, found solace in tricycle operation after unsuccessful job searches. He emphasizes the need for financial support to expand his tricycle business, calling on the government to provide soft loans and ensure a steady power supply.

Nivo News further explores stories of graduates engaged in various occupations such as selling honey, offering house cleaning and laundry services, and working as estate agents. Despite facing challenges, these individuals express a willingness to remain in their chosen fields if provided with financial support and conducive environments.

In summary, the narrative reveals the complex and diverse experiences of Nigerian graduates navigating the challenging landscape of unemployment, showcasing resilience, adaptability, and a spectrum of responses to the pressing issue.