Dear young woman
Dear young woman, I hope you find what you deserve. I see all the armour you wear, all the kindness, smiles and wisdom you share. Don’t let the pressure convince you that you are not worthy of being who you have set out to be. You might not know it yet but you have a multi-dimensional set of eyes waiting for you, so trust that what is meant for you is relying on you to show up. Young woman, I wish you enough time for all of your skills and talents. I wish you more revelations than disrespect and regrets and I beg you to believe in yourself. Carry out your curiosities in spite of the corruptions you experience. You let yourself free when you let yourself forgive and so when you do and I know you will, I hope you find you”.
These are words that I have used to console myself over the years in order not to lose hope in my great country
Nigeria, but the situation has been prolonged for so long that it has left me bitter, and thinking that I may never be able to land that dream job, I may never break through the circle of a few elites who hold the country in the palm of their hands, thinking that they decide the fate of each and every citizen.
My story is just one out of many as it is evident from statistics that a high number of Nigerian youths are unemployed or under-employed. This is disheartening knowing the fact that Nigeria is a rich country both in human and material resources. The youths should be the drivers of the economy if given the opportunity. Youth unemployment has resulted in incessant crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, militancy, oil bunkering, internet scam, car snatching, prostitution, murder, cultism, abduction, rape, drug trafficking and abuse, among other social vices. The youths engage in these nefarious activities as a way to make ends meet and in a way to protest their ill-treatment by the society. This has resulted in the breach of peace and security of the nation and consequently the growth of the country.
Employment in Nigeria is usually not based on merit but based on how connected you are with the few elites who hold power. This leaves many highly qualified people in poverty as seemingly no one cares to know what they are capable of achieving. Many graduates are left to roam the streets without anything reasonable to do for a living.
When for God’s sake will the government of Nigeria wake up and realise that no country thrives in an atmosphere of insecurity and instability? The inability of the government to productively engage unemployed youths that have been trained to contribute to the development and to enhance national security is a shame on the face of the nation and leaves these youths in state of disillusionment and also frustrated and as such the situation constitute a threat to national security. The energy, skills and aspirations of young people are invaluable assets that no country can afford to waste and holding them to realize their full potential by gaining access to employment is a precondition for poverty eradication, sustainable development and lasting peace.
As I console myself, I can’t help but wonder if it will ever get better or if I am just delusional thinking that it ever will, however, dreams they say do come true so until mine do, I remain on course, on my journey to create change and have a better future. One-day young woman, one day you shall reap the fruit of your labour.
Nabila Sani Mohammed wrote from Abuja