Recent figures and statistics emanating from the ongoing recruitment into various service in Nigeria such as the Nigerian air force, economic and financial crime commission (EFCC), the Nigerian army as well as the police force is mind boggling. Of special note is the latest figures from the Nigerian Police recruitment which indicates that as at May 2nd, a total number of 843,008 Nigerians has so far indicated interest in joining the force.
This figure has also given the true picture of unemployment and lack of jobs for the teaming youths. Every year thousands of graduates join the hunt for the limited jobs in the country, and for an advertised 10,000 slots to receive up to a million applications is scary for the future of undergraduates.
Two weeks before the commencement of the Police recruitment, the Federal government lunched the Youth Entrepreneurship Support Programme (YES-Programme), which was expected to generate 36,000 jobs for the nation. the programme was targeted at young aspiring entrepreneurs within the age range of 18-35 years, who have a minimum educational qualification of Ordinary National Diploma (OND) or its equivalents.
The YES-programme online registration portal went live on March 17 and closed on May 1st and received only 40,000 applications from Nigerian youths. A total of 1,200 young aspiring entrepreneurs with the highest scores based on the outcome of the evaluation of their performance in the training programme are expected to emerge for funding by BOI subjects to a maximum of N5 million each. The 1,200 businesses that would eventually be created are expected to generate 36,000 jobs. The number of would-be loan beneficiaries was subsequently increased from 1,200 to 4,000, thereby giving applicants 10% chance of success.
These figures when contrasted with the police recruitment applicants reveals the huge gap between prospective entrepreneurs and those who just want a salary. This trend if proved to be true is counter-productive to the job creation agenda as well as youth empowerment policies of the federal government which is targeted at producing more entrepreneurs that will create jobs in Nigeria thereby decreasing the unemployment rate in the country.
This also has a lot to do with attitude and the general orientation of Nigerian youths which is linear in nature, namely: “go to school, after which apply for a job…..”. It is also a reflection of our educational system which lacks a life-based approach. A life based education inculcates practical life theories to students, teaching them how to identify problems in the society and proffering solution to them.
For the few entrepreneurs that applied for the YES program congratulations, for you have chosen a sustainable path that will create jobs and contribute to the overall economic development of Nigeria.