From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
A Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Anambra State, Chief Ikeagwuonwu Chinedu Klinsmann, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a national emergency on unemployment.
In a statement, Klinsmann, citing what he described as a “triple jobs crisis” facing Nigeria, unveiled a comprehensive strategic blueprint that outlines immediate and long-term solutions to tackle unemployment, stimulate entrepreneurship, and reposition Nigeria’s youth as economic drivers.
“Nigeria is sitting atop a demographic goldmine that can either be our greatest advantage or our biggest risk,” he warned.
“We are at a crossroads, and bold, coordinated action is urgently needed.”
Klinsmann regretted that the country was currently facing a demographic explosion, a skills mismatch, and a shrinking opportunity landscape.
He cited alarming records from the National Bureau of Statistics and the World Bank, which showed that over five million new job seekers enter the Nigerian labour market annually, while 87 per cent of graduates lack employable skills and only 17 per cent of start-ups survive beyond five years.
“This is not just an economic crisis; it’s the foundation of insecurity, mass migration, social unrest, and long-term economic stagnation,” he added.
The APC chieftain came up with a nine-pillar blueprint, he said anchors on global best practices and adapts them to Nigeria’s socio-economic realities.
These include reviving labour-intensive manufacturing, overhauling technical and vocational education, establishing digital and creative job hubs, providing targeted youth business grants and mentorship, and expanding access to microfinance and SME loans.
He also called for entrepreneurship to be embedded in school curricula and emphasised the importance of behavioural training, job portals, and public-private partnerships.
Drawing inference from successes recorded by Germany, China, Bangladesh, South Africa, Benin Republic, and Egypt, Klinsmann stressed that Nigeria could replicate and even surpass these successes with the right mix of police,y will, coordination, and investment.
“These aren’t theoretical proposals,” he emphasised. “Every single recommendation is backed by verifiable global success stories. We just need to act”, he said.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda has ignited a national awakening, but to translate hope into prosperity, we must act swiftly and systemically.
“We need a Presidential Youth Jobs Summit, a National Youth Enterprise Trust Fund, partnerships with global donors, and an immediate Presidential Jobs Task Force”, he added