Post by Henry Emeka (@Emekus)

Why are youths unemployed?
Youth unemployment in Taraba is driven by seven major factors, and each one is structural — not the fault of the youths themselves.

Weak job‑creating industries
Taraba has very few large employers.
No major factories, no tech hubs, limited private sector.
Most jobs come from:

Government

Small shops

Farming

This cannot absorb the thousands of youths graduating every year.

Skills mismatch
Many graduates study courses that don’t match the available jobs.
Employers want:

Digital skills

Technical skills

Practical experience

But most graduates only have theory.

Poor infrastructure
Bad roads, unstable electricity, and weak internet make it hard for businesses to grow.
If businesses can’t grow, they can’t hire.

Limited access to capital
Young people want to start businesses, but:

Loans are hard to get

Interest rates are high

Collateral is required

So many ideas die before they start.

Insecurity in some areas
Communities affected by banditry or extremist spillover lose:

Farmland

Markets

Investors

This reduces economic activity and jobs.

Overdependence on government jobs
Everyone wants government work because it’s stable.
But government can only employ a small number.

Lack of vocational and technical training
Taraba has huge opportunities in:

Agriculture

Construction

Mechanic work

Welding

ICT

Renewable energy

But training centers are limited.

0 likes · 0 comments · 0 shares