21 million young Nigerians jobless, engage in crimes Varsity don, Aibinu laments
The Vice Chancellor of Summit University Offa, Kwara State, Prof. Abiodun Musa Aibinu, has decried the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria, linking that to the increase in crime.
According to the Vice Chancellor, over 21 million young Nigerians are without any job to make ends meet.
Of the 21 million unemployed persons, Aibinu said 2.9 million have either graduate or postgraduate degrees from tertiary institutions of learning.
He expressed worries that the majority of unemployed persons fall between the productive ages of 15 and 34.
In his concern, the Professor warned that the high rate of unemployment has continued to lead youths to criminal activities to gain income to feed themselves and their families.
Aibinu spoke at a lecture he delivered during the Elective National Convention and 20th Anniversary of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta Muslim Alumni, (MAPAMA), held yesterday in Abeokuta.
Speaking on the theme, 'Creativity And Innovation: Tools For Solving Economic Crises In Nigeria', the VC lamented that most research projects carried out by students at the end of their academic years were being abandoned on shelves.
He said there was no motivation to turn the ideas in the research works into products that could be sold to the public.
While explaining that there is no link between tertiary institutions and industries, the don said this has created a chasm that discourages the transformation of these academic research projects into products that are marketable.
He regretted that Nigeria, with over 300 tertiary institutions, was ranked 124 in the global innovation rankings in 2021, according to the global innovation index.
Aibinu also complained that though the nation has several agencies saddled with the responsibility of promoting innovation and creativity, the output from the said agencies has never resulted in any significant increase in the country's technological ranking.
He, therefore, opined that the use of innovation and creativity can be implemented to develop the economic situation through what he termed 'Acadoprenuership', which he said is the turning of academic ideas and researches into viable businesses and start-up ventures.
With this, he expressed optimism that graduates would no longer rely on the government for job opportunities, but they would have the creativity and innovation to transform their knowledge and skills into sustainable firms.
Earlier in his speech, the MAPAMA National President, Prince Taofeek Oyeniyi, stated that the association has served as a platform for the growth of members in all aspects.
Oyeniyi disclosed that the body has been implementing key programmes in the area of education, economic empowerment, welfare and institutional capacity enhancement.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Mansur Alfanla Lithium Deposit Ibrahim Bio Iyeru Grammar School Ayobami Akanbi CT Ayeni IsDB General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Ilorin Kwara 2023 Centre For Digital Economy Kisira Bilikis Oladimeji Yusuf Ali Abdulrauf Yusuf Yahaya Jibril Usman Ahman Pategi Aso-ofi Saliu Ajia Kwara University Of Education Sulyman Buhari Ado Bayero Omotosho Guber Aspirant Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone Tsaragi/Share Ilorin General Hospital Afeyin-Olukuta CACOVID ASMAU PLAZA Taibat Ayinke Ahmed Abubakar Aliagan Rapheal Ashaolu Abdul-Rahoof Bello Ubandawaki Maja Michael Nzwekwe Neo Mundo Ltd NIPR Otunba Taiwo Joseph Samuel Adaramola Tunji Folami Plat Technologies Adedeji Onimago Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations Ilorin South Constituency Nigeria Governors\' Forum Kwara State Branch Of The National Library Ita-Ore Share/Tsaragi Kale Belgore Aliyu Muhammed Haleeman Salman Radio Kwara MATTA Girls Foundation Post Utme Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union Sobi Specialist Hospital Alfa Belgore Olayinka Are Yusuf Abdulraheem Vasolar-Kwara Company Ltd Monthly Sanitation Lawan Idofin Jumoke F. Ajao John Olajide Adedipe Jalala Academic Staff Union Of Universities CKNG Ahmed \'Lateef Wahab Egbewole Abdulrasheed Lafia Mujtabah Bature Ileloke Abdulahi Abubakar Bata Abdulmajeed Wahab