Nigeria Economy | |
Nigeria Economy | |
1442 VIEWS | |
![]() | |
PROSHARE | |
PROSHARE |
Sunday,
December 13, 2020/ 7.00AM / Ayomide Oguntoye for WebTV/Header Image
Credit: WebTV
The
Governor of Ekiti State His Excellency, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, Chairman of the
Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has highlighted ways in which Africa could
benefit from its youth demography.
Giving the keynote address at the maiden Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association Africa Policy Dialogue which discussed "Harnessing Africa's Demographic Dividend for Peace, Security, and Productivity Through Investments In Youth", Fayemi listed the following points that should be considered in harnessing Africa's youth demography for development and transformation of the continent:
a. Create a functional education system
Governor
Fayemi said Africa has continued to see a geometric population increase
in the last 50 years. For instance, in 1960 the total continental population
was estimated at 200 million people, but according to the United Nations on
December 8, 2020, the total population of Africa was 1,354,376,737 people,
representing about 17% of the world's total population.
With
projections of increasing population growth in Africa, especially in Nigeria,
he highlighted major problems as a youth bulge contending with rising
unemployment. According to Fayemi, Africa's demography indicates a highly
youthful population, unfortunately, 60% of the unemployed are represented in
this demography.
He
went further to say that statistic has shown that 70% of the workforce are 'working poor' i.e. a great number of people who have been working for decades
still see themselves as underemployed, due to poor pay, lack of job
satisfaction, or wrong job placement.
Despite
the surge in unemployment, the Governor noted that many of the youths milling
into urban centers are without employable skills and knowledge and it is no
wonder that African was plagued by social problems such as drug abuse, high
crime rate, adolescent pregnancy, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, ethnic
militancy, internet fraud amongst other emerging issues.
Regardless
of this, Governor Fayemi said that there was high illiteracy, presenting a
varied situation from one region to another, but the countries with the highest
level of illiteracy remain in Africa, despite the 9 years of basic education
which is universally mandatory.
Another
demographic issue stated, is gender inequality. The Governor noted that despite
the notable progress in most African countries in addressing issues around
gender inequality, the challenge is such that, with half of the population as
females with a low representation in key decision-making organs of the society,
women continue to face discrimination that has interfered with the kind of
benefits that the population should gain from.
He
posed the question "Is a huge population a curse or a blessing?" noting that it
could be beneficial and injurious, and the answer is dependent on the way the
surplus-labour is used.
Mr.
Frank Nweke, President, Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association of Nigeria,
in his opening remarks, stated that Africa had the youngest population in the
world and according to the United Nations figures in 2015, 256 million youths
aged between 15 and 24 had homes in Africa, representing almost 20% of the
world's youth population.
He
alluded to the fact that Africa was faced with the challenge of unabated
population growth.
According
to projections, he said that by 2030, the population of the youth demography in
Africa would grow by 42%. He noted that this may be good for Africa,
considering situations in other developing countries that have had to import
manpower to meet their domestic needs and to optimize productivity in their
economy, a situation actively encouraging migration around the world.
He
further noted that the seeming demographic advantage in Africa can be said to
be meaningless, given the rather suboptimal investment in education, skill
development, and healthcare sector in Africa, which has contributed to the high
level of illiteracy, unemployment, drug abuse, poverty, poor health status and
low skills amongst African youths.
According
to him these conditions have led several youths into frustration, anger, and
insecurity across Africa and threatened the sovereignty of some nations in the continent.
There has also been an increasingly high level of unemployment in Africa which
has left several youths discouraged.
"The
truth however is, that very little change can be made in an atmosphere of
despondency filled with insecurity and lack of opportunities. Policymakers and
citizens must therefore find the right policies to catalyze Africa's industrial
and manufacturing sector to provide jobs and ignite the productive capacity of
citizens" Frank Nweke said.
The
President of the association called on all Alumni of Harvard University to use
the tools and resources, skills, and network garnered to lead a better society.
The
dialogue featured a panel session moderated by Mr. Olufemi Awoyemi, FCA,
Chairman, Proshare, with other panelists, Mr. Jude Abaga (M.I) Performing
Artiste & CEO, Tasck Creative Company, Uche Pedro, Founder/CEO Bellanaija,
Maryam Bukar Hassan(Alhanislam) Poet, Motivational Speaker, & Entrepreneur
joined Governor Kayode Fayemi as discussants.
Watch Video
Related News
1.
Harvard Kennedy School Alumni
Association to Host the Maiden Edition of the Africa Dialogue Series
2.
FAAC Disburses N639.90bn in
October 2020 - NBS
3.
PMI Reading No 92: Recovery
from the Protests
5.
Was Minimum Wage in Nigeria
Actually Increased?
6.
GDP by Expenditure: Household
Consumption Expenditure Contracts By -0.08% in Q2 2020 - NBS
7.
CBN Governor Says Economy
Could Emerge from Recession by Q1 2021
8.
Another Decline in the
November 2020 FAAC Monthly Payout