International Youth Day: Expert Calls Out Tinubu, Oyebanji On Unemployment Rate

An agropreneur, Dr. Tunmise Ayodele, has blamed the federal and state governments for the unemployment epidemic in the country.

In a statement on 2024 International Youth Day, Ayodele stated that President Bola Tinubu has not done enough to make the economy vibrant for its young population to thrive.

He also criticised state governors, including Governor Biodun Oyebanji, on their failure to address rising unemployment, food crisis, kidnapping, and other vices, describing them as serious threats to Nigerian youth development.

Osun Defender reports that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated in a February 2024 report that the unemployment rate in Africa’s biggest economy, with more than 200 million people, fell from 5.3 percent in Q4 2022 to 4.1 percent in Q1 2023.

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However, it noted that the country is still in extreme poverty, as most Nigerians cannot afford three square meals or basic necessities, with the plummeting exchange rate, among other issues.

The entrepreneur added that the challenges currently confronting young people in Nigeria are also threatening national development and cohesion.

The community development expert said criminal elements have been exploiting unemployment to lure young minds into kidnapping, drug trafficking, prostitution, and organ harvesting, among other criminal adventures.

He urged both employed and unemployed youths to go into farming, just as he called on government to support plans that would address hunger and food insecurity in the country.

Ayodele also urged the Ekiti state government to support and promote youth initiatives and provide security for investments in the state.