SLC-S29/W3-“Thinking and Ideas!| Seeing Problems Differently!”

Hi everyone! I am very interested in participating in this engagement challenge for season 29, week 3, where individuals' opinions matter on the problems affecting our region and how to move forward so that the world can be a better place to live.

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Identify one everyday problem in your community or country and explain some steps in solving them.

The problem we are facing in Nigeria is the issue of unemployment, which has been one of the major problems experienced by Nigerian graduates. Unemployment is increasing day by day because Nigerian universities produce thousands of graduates annually, but securing a good job is a big challenge.

The following are steps I would initiate in order to solve the problem of unemployment:

1. Vocational training skills:

As a person, I will invest in vocational skills so that youth who have just graduated can learn various practical skills such as carpentry, barbering, electrical work, welding, tailoring, and more. Doing this will help them to earn a living.

2. Promote entrepreneurship:

Another thing is to provide funds as well as training for unemployed youth. Loans without interest will be provided so that they can start up any business.

3. Enhance online job opportunities:

This can be done by connecting job seekers with employers who need their services for the smooth running of their organisation.

4. Focus on Labor-Intensive Sectors:

Finally, I will also focus on the industries that require manual labor, such as construction and agriculture. Doing this will help us, as a nation, reduce the unemployment rate.

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Why do you think this problem still exists despite many people noticing it?

This problem will continue to exist if Nigerian schools fail to include entrepreneurship skills in their curriculum. The lack of this skill, which students are expected to learn in school, will not prepare them for the modern workplace, and such individuals will find it difficult to secure employment.

Another issue is that many of private and public sectors are collapsing due to unfavorable working conditions in their communities that host them, leading to a reduction in the growing number of the labor force.

Lastly, insecurity, where banditry and kidnappings occur in some parts of the country, would affect economic development as well as reduce employment opportunities.

In your opinion, what is the most misunderstood part of this problem?

The misunderstood part of this unemployment problem is that people without jobs are viewed as lazy because they choose not to work. They are often seen as instruments that destroy the peace in certain parts of the country, instead of the government implementing policies that favor job seekers.

Unemployed youth are also considered failures because of personal differences; some may say they lack personal skills, while others may classify them as inactive youth. That's why they are left out and not included in job placement policies in any organization.

Moreover, some people may work in an organization that does not allow them to utilize their skills; for instance, a medical doctor may work as a driver. Some people do not have a choice, so they need to accept this job in order to earn a living. Some are also given part-time jobs where they perform better and work more effectively than people who are fully employed; some organizations may not recognize this due to favoritism.

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If you could change one mindset related to this issue, what would it be?

The possible mindset is to think that the government cannot do everything for us. As individuals who find it difficult to secure jobs, we must try as much as possible to learn through apprenticeship, and this is enough for us to rely on ourselves.

I know some young graduates who utilize their education to engage in productivity that would better society. Smart youths always have positive thinking by not depending on government jobs; instead, they prefer to be self-employed, which helps them break the cycle of poverty. An individuals especially young people should use their free time to develop themselves by participating or volunteer in a project that would increase their sense of belonging.

I invite

@saifuddinmahmud
@rossnenye
@ruthjoe