In his recent national address, President Bola Tinubu once again placed Nigerian youths at the centre of his administration’s vision.
He spoke of his administration’s empowerment, job creation, and investment in education, especially the introduction of a scholarship and loan scheme, through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), in which about 510,000 students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria are said to have benefitted so far.
The beneficiaries are in 228 higher institutions across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
However, observers say the current number of students benefiting from the student loan scheme is very small compared to the country’s millions of students.
While the NELFUND has made significant progress in just one year, with over half a million applications received, the scale of the problem and the limited number of beneficiaries relative to the total student population suggests the scheme’s impact is still small.
Many Nigerians say by focusing only on the loans without bringing the entire issue of higher education funding into full focus, the government has only paid attention to the branch, rather than the tree itself.
Despite the Nigerian government’s stated commitment to youth empowerment, critics argue more needs to be done due to rising youth unemployment, insufficient access to quality education and vocation education and vocation training.
Read also: “Turned the corner?” Tinubu’s Independence speech offers numbers, not solutions
The promise vs reality
Even though President Tinubu’s address highlighted his administration’s commitment to the youth, especially his administration’s different initiatives and increased investment in education, skills acquisition, and efforts to stabilize the economy.
These ambitions, on the surface, are commendable. Yet for many Nigerian youths, such promises have become familiar tails — echoed by successive governments, but rarely felt at street level.
For many youths, it is a difficult period, the reforms policies of the Tinubu’s administration have led to rise in cost-of -living.
“It is a difficult period for youth in Nigeria, the current government is not doing enough for youth and they are not sincere,” Tolu Oshukoyi, a lawyer said.
“If Tinubu is serious there should be monthly stipends for the unemployed youth and women, that is how it is done abroad. Even the loan scheme, how many people are benefiting and it is enmeshed in corruption. That is why you see all these social vices and terrorism where our youth are lured into.”
Disillusioned with the state of affairs, in the last one-year, Nigerian youth have hit the streets in Lagos and many other states to protest against the current administration policies against the soaring prices of foodstuff and the high cost of living in the country.
The protesters had called for the reversal of the administration’s policies.
In February 2024, scores of youths protested at Ojuelegba part of Lagos State seeking the reversal of the current administration’s policies.
They were singing, and carrying placards with various inscriptions to make their grievances known about the current economic hardship.
“We are here to protest the anti-liberal governance of Tinubu, the devastating poverty, the removal of fuel subsidy, and the devaluation of the naira.
“Our people can no longer eat, and they cannot pay for their children to go to school. We need them to provide leadership to ease the suffering,” one of the protesters had said.
Another youth led protest was held in late 2024 against the current administration style of governance.
Perhaps, in bid to appeal to the youth, President Tinubu in his New Year’s Day address on January 1, 2025, had pledged to convene a national youth confab within the first quarter of the year.
However, about ten months after that summit is yet to see the light of the day.
Analysts say the initiative appears stalled already, amid fears over its fate, the possibility of politicisation, and eroding credibility among critical youth stakeholders.
A look at the data paints a more sobering picture. Youth unemployment remains staggeringly high in Nigeria, hovering around 40%, according to recent estimates.
Similarly, the exodus of young Nigerians through the “japa” phenomenon — seeking better opportunities abroad — continues to rise.
Sunday Ogunde, a young secondary school teacher said the current administration should tackle youth unemployment and raise the salary structure of those in paid employment.
According to him, Tinubu should create jobs, that is the real issue, a lot of young people finish and there is no work. It is not just for those in Lagos, let his policies touch those even in remote villages. We are hungry and upset.
“What you are seeing now across Nigeria with protests earlier in the year by youth, is a reflection of growing disillusionment with a system that many feels has left them behind”.
Any hope for youth inclusion in 2027?
Observers say perhaps the inclusion of more young Nigerians in governance at all levels can lead to a better address of issues affecting them.
In the wake of #NotTooYoungToRun, several state governments and even the federal government appointed young people into special adviser roles, and a few were made commissioners.
While these appointments were symbolic steps forward, they were often more about optics than impact. Many of these youth appointees lacked real decision-making power or were not placed in roles where they could influence policy.
There is the view among young leaders that as 2027 general election approaches, the situation could change.
There is the feeling that the 2027 general election should not be another cycle where the youth are used for rallies and social media campaigns, only to be discarded after the votes are counted?
The 2020 #EndSARS protests revealed the latent political potential of Nigerian youth. It was a movement driven by organization, technology, and a demand for accountability. While it was brutally suppressed, it planted seeds of civic awakening.
However, pundits have warned that it was imperative that the youth must organise and not just mobilise beyond activism on social media to have a realistic chance of getting themselves into position of power.
Kunle Okunade, political analyst is of the view that if the youth use same energy toward building electoral influence from registering to vote, joining political parties, contesting elections, and holding leaders accountable, 2027 could be the breakthrough year for them and #NotTooYoungToRun envisioned.
However, other political analysts say it would be difficult for youth to have opportunity in government if there is no real reform in the political parties’ structure.
For many there is no hope for youth inclusion in 2027 with the current structure of parties and electoral system in Nigeria.
“Many youths can’t afford the huge money they are charging for forms and others. Parties must adopt transparent primaries, reduce nomination fees, and genuinely support young aspirants.
“Without internal party democracy, the barriers to youth leadership will remain insurmountable for Nigerians,” Temitope Musowo, political analyst and lecturer, said.
