As COVID-19 fuels youth unemployment, Nigeria doles out jobs
Published 2 months ago
By Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
ABUJA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – From hotels and schools to the navy and police force, Nigerian graduate Ene Adejo has looked for a job just about everywhere since she finished her studies eight years ago, but she is still unemployed.
“Sometimes they tell me the course I studied doesn’t relate to the job I’m applying for … Sometimes they tell me I don’t have experience,” Adejo, 34, who studied adult education and business studies, said from her home in the capital, Abuja.
The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled youth unemployment in Africa’s largest economy, which has risen for five consecutive years to about 14%, prompting the government to launch a huge public works scheme to create jobs.