80 Million Nigerian Youths Unemployed, 1,500 Schools Closed in Two Year

A new report by Plan International Nigeria has revealed that nearly 80 million Nigerian youths are jobless, while more than 1,500 schools have been shut down in the last two years due to rising insecurity.

The report, titled “State of the Nigerian Youth Report 2025”, was unveiled in Abuja on Thursday during the Nigerian Youth Dialogue, organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Youth in Parliament to mark International Youth Day.

Jonathan Abakpa, Advocacy and Youth Programme Officer at Plan International Nigeria, who presented the report, described the findings as alarming, noting that about one million children have been forced out of school as a result of the closures.

With over 60 percent of Nigeria’s population under the age of 30, the report warned that the country is squandering its greatest asset. Each year, about 1.7 million graduates leave tertiary institutions, but most are unable to secure employment, pushing many into irregular migration, cybercrime, and other desperate means of survival.

“Insecurity has not only claimed lives but also destroyed opportunities. Over 1,500 schools have been shut in two years, leaving a million children without access to education,” Abakpa said.

The report further disclosed that more than 600,000 people have been killed and 2.2 million kidnapped in recent years, with young people accounting for a large percentage of victims. It also highlighted the devastating impact of violence on farming communities, with 77,000 lives lost to tribal conflicts in the last five years and 2.6 million people displaced, leading UNICEF to warn that 25 million Nigerians now face hunger.

Currently, about 82.9 million Nigerians, 40.1 percent of the population, live in poverty, the report stated.

Abakpa cautioned that unless urgent measures are taken, Nigeria risks losing the trust of its young population. “Many young people no longer believe government policies are designed for their good. That disconnect must be urgently addressed to prevent alienation of an entire generation,” he added.

Despite the bleak statistics, the report emphasised that Nigerian youths remain resilient, innovative, and capable of driving positive change if given the right opportunities. It called on government, the private sector, and development partners to expand job creation initiatives and align vocational training with industry demands.

Chairman of the House Committee on Youth in Parliament, Hon. Ayodeji Alao-Akala, assured that the National Assembly remains committed to youth-focused policies. He stressed that lawmakers have dedicated significant efforts to passing bills and motions aimed at creating an enabling environment for young people.

“As a country, we cannot afford to ignore the aspirations of our youth. They are the future of Nigeria, and our responsibility is to ensure their potential is harnessed for national development,” he said.