SELF-EMPLOYMENT WEAPON TO UNEMPLOYMENT

            SELF-EMPLOYMENT WEAPON TO UNEMPLOYMENT

              BY NUHU FLORENCE U14MCM2021

 As the saying goes; ”an idle mind is the devil’s  workshop,” undoubtedly and it is only when the mind and hands create a vacuum that any  filthy negative thought can COME in and stay.

Issues have been raised and question asked about why the number of employed adults and youth continue to soar in the country. Despite the series of programmes and schemes aimed at tackling the dreaded epidemic called unemployment by the past and present government of the federation of Nigeria supported by some private organization and agencies. The problem continues unabated.

Currently research has shown that unemployment rate is at  23.9% and unemployed youth population is put at 20.3 million and Nigeria has been living on the edge  for the past five  years .a report  compiled in December 2008  by the federal ministry of youth and development ‘state as of then that Nigeria generates  about 4.5million new entrant into the labour market annually .this statistics was made up of one million people out of the school system 22million primary school leavers not proceeding to the secondary school leavers not proceeding to the tertiary level and 300,000 tertiary graduates looking for placement  anywhere for productivity.

The federal ministry of youths and development in 2011 reported that 42.2% of Nigeria’s youths and population was out of jobs .before then, House of Representatives committee on youth and social development announced that 23 million unemployable youth in the official statistical presentation is nothing compared to the reality of the situation

In an attempt to tackle this dreaded epidemic of  unemployment confronting the country ‘the government often in collaboration with the private sector ‘have embarked on youth employment  programmes’ leading to the establishment of national directorate of employment [ NDE]the small and  medium enterprises scheme and  medium enterprises schemes; the poverty alleviation programme, subsidy reinvestment and empowerment programme [sure-p ;and the youth enterprise with innovation in Nigeria [YOUWIN]. All these efforts are to no avail as there are yet thousands of unemployed youth including the graduates.

However, these employment and empowerment programmes have been largely coloured by favouritism and nepotism because they are tied to political partisanship and benefited by few individuals. In this regard, there were complains by some graduates who commented at Nairaland forum (www.nairaland.com/1278778) that they applied for some months and there was no reply. For example, Netebo jones who registered with the SURE-P as Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) on January 28, 2013 comments that “pls naira Landers wish to know more bat this gis tin, cos i have got the unique beneficiary code since January bt still wish to get attached to any company, any person with thesame prob. In the house?”                                                                                                                               

Notwithstanding, the question is. Must everyone be employed? Cannot a Nigerian or a Graduate be self-employed? In Nigeria the concept of self-employment is not well regarded, as it has become a culture that as Graduate, it is expected for one to either be employed by the government or a private company .  the idea of entrepreneurship is seen as an affair of the rich who have enough capital to start up a company or any large establishment , but for someone to start up a little business is seen as boring and time wasting

 To be self employed is for one to work for himself instead of working for an employer that pays a salary or wages. A self-employed individual ‘earns his income through conducting profitable operation from a trade or business that he operates directly,                                                                                                     think of selling recharge cards, frying of “akara” cooking indomie and egg with tea ,roasting of meat popularly known as “tsire” and balango and lots of other things which need a little capital to start as that itself is self-employment, even for a graduate.

Coupled with the efforts of the government to tackle unemployment cases in Nigeria, self-employment serves a major role in calming of angry and desperate unemployed youth prowling cities and the ending influx of youth into the urban centre eke out a living. A situation which poses further threat to an already precarious state of national security.

If you are considering self-employment and do not already have an idea of what you want to do, you could consider something which your wealth of experience or skills could be an added advantage and be a plus for the business because you had previously done it as a hobby for example, as a graduate who takes pleasure in cooking, he or she can open a restaurant. As a self-employed person, you will need some money live on as well as money to start up this business and keep it going. You may be able to get money from family or friends, loan from family or friends, grants from charities or trust, loans from banks and building societies. It is high time for people to look inwards, take stocks of their abilities and start up something instead of looking up to government or any private sector. You can employ yourself and even employ others. Nigeria is a blessed country with several opportunities which need to be identified and utilised. As advised by entrepreneurship experts, there are many unutilised opportunities around but people tend not to realise and make use of them.

However, to be self-employed is to initiate an idea and act on it to earn a living which goes a long way in reducing the population of unemployed youths in the country. And also, it does a lot in giving employment opportunities to other unemployed individuals.