CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1       Background of the Study

Unemployment, both of the educated and the uneducated manpower, has become one of the most topical and thorny issues in contemporary Nigeria. The unemployment situation has changed from previous position marked by prolonged period of unemployment and under-employment, to one which graduates of tertiary institution have to normally wait for a long time before getting a job. Nigeria has one of the highest levels of youth unemployment in the world (60-65%) (Nigeria Federal ministry of Labour and productivity report, 2008) these are mostly young adult that have graduated from universities and polytechnics or institutions of higher learning. Available estimates show that unemployed consist of about 1.6 million persons, mostly young youths. In addition to this number, about 3.8 million others are certificate carrying youth that have no formal education, or have completed primary or secondary school or dropped out from tertiary institution all of which are poured into an already saturated labour market (Nigeria Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity Report, 2008).

Youth unemployment in Nigeria has become one of the most serious socio-economic problems confronting the country. Many of the youth are not productive and have actually been reduced to petty traders and smugglers in many instances, the growth in the phenomenon of trafficking in persons and child labour can be attributed to poverty and joblessness among the youth. For a few who are able to find their way out of the country to work in other countries, their departure has contributed in depleting the quality of human capital resources in the country. The magnitude of this problem can be appreciated if accurate data in the number of jobless young people roaming the streets of Nigeria cities, towns and villages is available. Unfortunately, accurate statistics on youth unemployment are inadequate.

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