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.
Kawu Ajike People Support Centre Aisha Ahman-Pategi Bamikole Omishore National Broadcasting Commission Idris Amosa Saidu Fatai Adeniyi Garba Taofeeq Olateju Oloyede Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf Fola Consultant Garba Ado Sanni Salman Alada Fatimah Abdulkadir Ademola Kiyesola Henry Olaosebikan Toyin Saraki Pakata Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi AbdulKareem Yusuf Danhawa Baboko Galland Marcias Abubakar Usman Jos Yusuf Lawal Isiaka Abdulrazak Shade Omoniyi Shehu Jimoh Sidikat Uthman Ajibola Abdulmajeed Wahab KWAFFA Haliru Dantoro Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye Folaranmi Aro Jumoke Monsura Gafar IEDPU Zaratu Umar Amos Sayo Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir Forgo Battery Company Limited Abdulsalam A. Yusuf Tosin Saraki Universal Basic Education Commission Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari Oladimeji Thompson Iponrin Abdulwahab Ololele Offa Poly Pius Abioje NURTW Kwara Central MINILS Apado Lasiele Alabi Yahaya Saad Omo\'ya Kwara State Government National Democratic Congress Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed Okin Biscuits Jare Olatundun Ahmed Bolaji Nagode Justina Oha Babs Iwarere Saraki Oro Grammar School Yusuf Zulu-Gambari Apata Ajele Secondary School Yusuf Aiyedun Kayode Oyin-Zubair Cornelius Adebayo Summit University Bolaji Nagode Ajayi Okasanmi Bayo Lawal Royal FM Aso-ofi Elerin Of Adanla Irese

