“Graduates are Unemployed because they are searching for unavailable jobs” — Olanipekun

Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo has lamented on the increasing rate of unemployment in the country and has said it should be of great concern to governments.

This he noted on Saturday at the 12th and 13th convocation of the university.

Olanipekun, who was a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association also said the country seemed not to be bothered by the threat posed by the huge population of unemployed persons in the country.

“So many graduates are being yearly produced by the 170 universities in Nigeria to join the teeming crowd in the unemployment market, roaming the streets aimlessly and frustratingly searching for jobs which are not in view, and which are not being created or provided by government.

“Yet, governments at all strata in Nigeria surprisingly appear not to be bothered about the dangers latent and inherent in youth unemployment in the country.”

Olanipekun also added the unemployment rate in the country got worsened by the outbreak of Corona Virus which caused massive job loss.

“By data released by the National Bureau of Statistics in August 2020, the unemployment rate in Nigeria rose to 27.1% in the second quarter of 2020, translating to an alarming increase from 23.1% in the third quarter of 2018.

“The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, also raised the alarm that the unemployment rate in Nigeria would reach a crescendo percentage of 33.5% by the end of 2020.

“We are inching towards the end of 2021 and any accurate data, honestly and unbiasedly generated, would put the unemployment rate at not less than 40% as at now.” Olanipekun said.