I. INTRODUCTION: THE GENERATION THAT CANNOT FIND WORK

Every year, 3.5 million young Nigerians enter the labor force, seeking employment, opportunity, and a chance to build a future.^¹ This demographic reality, which represents both a potential asset and a profound challenge for Nigeria's economy, has become a crisis as the nation struggles to create sufficient jobs to absorb this growing workforce. The fact that job creation has been weak, that opportunities are limited, and that millions of young people are unable to find employment, has created a situation where youth unemployment has become not merely an economic problem but a social crisis that threatens stability, undermines development, and wastes the potential of an entire generation.

The youth unemployment crisis in Nigeria reflects not only the failure of the economy to create sufficient jobs but also deeper structural problems in education, skills development, and economic policy. The fact that 3.5 million young people enter the labor force annually, that the economy creates far fewer jobs than this number, and that many of those who do find work are underemployed or working in the informal sector, means that the crisis is not merely a matter of numbers but reflects fundamental problems in how the economy is structured and how opportunities are created. The crisis thus represents not only an immediate challenge but a long-term threat to Nigeria's development prospects and social stability.

The human cost of youth unemployment extends far beyond economic statistics, affecting families, communities, and the entire society. Young people who cannot find work face not only economic hardship but also social exclusion, loss of hope, and the risk of being drawn into crime, violence, or extremism. The fact that so many young people are unable to find employment, that they are unable to contribute to the economy, and that they are unable to build a future, represents a profound waste of human potential and a failure of the economic system to provide opportunities for the next generation. The youth unemployment crisis thus becomes not merely an economic problem but a moral challenge that tests Nigeria's commitment to its young people and to building a future that includes all citizens.

This article examines Nigeria's youth unemployment crisis not merely as an economic statistic, but as a window into the nation's demographic challenges, its economic structure, and its development prospects. It asks not just how many young people are unemployed, but why the economy is failing to create sufficient jobs, what the implications are for social stability and development, and what solutions might be possible. The youth unemployment crisis raises fundamental questions about the relationship between demographics and development, the role of education and skills in economic opportunity, and the possibility of building an economy that provides opportunities for all citizens, especially the young.

II. THE DEMOGRAPHIC REALITY: WHEN YOUTH BECOMES A BURDEN

The Numbers: 3.5 Million Annually and Growing

The fact that 3.5 million young Nigerians enter the labor force every year represents a demographic reality that is both a potential asset and a profound challenge.^² Nigeria has one of the youngest populations in the world, with a median age of around 18 years, meaning that the nation has a large and growing youth population that could drive economic growth, innovation, and development if properly harnessed. However, the fact that the economy is not creating sufficient jobs to absorb this growing workforce means that this demographic dividend is becoming a demographic burden, where the large youth population is creating pressure on the labor market, on social services, and on the political system.

The demographic reality also reflects broader trends in Nigeria's population, where high birth rates, improving life expectancy, and limited opportunities for migration mean that the youth population is growing faster than the economy can create jobs. The fact that 3.5 million young people enter the labor force annually, that this number is likely to grow, and that the economy creates far fewer jobs than this number, means that the gap between job seekers and job opportunities is widening, creating a situation where youth unemployment is likely to worsen unless fundamental changes are made. The demographic reality thus becomes not merely a statistic but a structural challenge that will require comprehensive solutions to address.

The demographic reality also has implications for Nigeria's future, where the large youth population could be either an asset or a liability depending on whether the nation can create sufficient opportunities. The fact that young people represent such a large portion of the population, that they will shape Nigeria's future, and that their ability to find employment and build lives will determine the nation's stability and prosperity, means that addressing youth unemployment is not merely a matter of economic policy but a fundamental requirement for Nigeria's future. The demographic reality thus highlights the urgency of addressing youth unemployment and the importance of creating an economy that provides opportunities for the next generation.

The Mismatch: Education, Skills, and Employment

The youth unemployment crisis in Nigeria is also driven by a mismatch between education, skills, and employment opportunities, where the education system is not preparing young people for the jobs that are available, where the skills that young people have are not the skills that employers need, and where the economy is not creating jobs that match the aspirations and qualifications of young people.^³ The fact that many young people complete their education without the skills needed for employment, that employers struggle to find workers with the right skills, and that there is a disconnect between what is taught in schools and what is needed in the workplace, means that the education system is not effectively serving its purpose of preparing young people for employment.

The mismatch between education and employment also reflects broader problems in Nigeria's education system, where the quality of education is often inadequate, where resources are limited, and where the curriculum is not aligned with the needs of the economy. The fact that many young people complete their education without basic skills, that vocational training is limited, and that there is insufficient focus on entrepreneurship and practical skills, means that the education system is not effectively preparing young people for the labor market. The challenge is that addressing this mismatch will require not only improving the quality of education but also aligning the curriculum with the needs of the economy and providing young people with the skills they need to find employment or create their own opportunities.

The mismatch also extends to the economy itself, where the structure of the economy, the types of jobs available, and the requirements for employment do not always match the qualifications and aspirations of young people. The fact that many jobs are in the informal sector, that formal employment opportunities are limited, and that the economy is not creating sufficient high-quality jobs, means that even young people with good education and skills may struggle to find employment that matches their qualifications and aspirations. The challenge is that addressing this mismatch will require not only improving education and skills but also creating an economy that generates sufficient high-quality employment opportunities for young people.

III. THE ECONOMIC STRUCTURE: WHY JOBS ARE NOT BEING CREATED

Weak Job Creation: An Economy That Cannot Absorb Its Youth

The fundamental problem driving Nigeria's youth unemployment crisis is that the economy is not creating sufficient jobs to absorb the 3.5 million young people who enter the labor force annually.^⁴ The fact that job creation has been weak, that economic growth has not translated into sufficient employment opportunities, and that the economy is not generating the types of jobs that young people need, means that the labor market is unable to accommodate the growing workforce. The challenge is that addressing this problem will require not only stimulating economic growth but also ensuring that growth translates into job creation and that the economy generates opportunities for young people.

The weak job creation also reflects broader problems in Nigeria's economy, where the structure of the economy, the dominance of certain sectors, and the limited diversification all contribute to the difficulty of creating sufficient employment opportunities. The fact that the economy is heavily dependent on oil, that other sectors are underdeveloped, and that there is limited investment in sectors that could create jobs, means that the economy is not generating the employment opportunities needed to absorb the growing workforce. The challenge is that addressing this problem will require not only stimulating growth but also diversifying the economy, developing new sectors, and creating conditions that encourage investment and job creation.

The weak job creation also has implications for the types of jobs that are available, where many young people are forced to accept low-quality employment, to work in the informal sector, or to remain unemployed. The fact that job creation is weak, that opportunities are limited, and that many of the jobs that are created are not of high quality, means that even those young people who do find work may be underemployed or working in conditions that do not provide security, benefits, or opportunities for advancement. The challenge is that addressing youth unemployment will require not only creating more jobs but also ensuring that the jobs that are created are of sufficient quality to provide young people with security, opportunity, and a path to a better future.

The Informal Sector: When Work Is Not Employment

A significant portion of Nigeria's youth workforce is employed in the informal sector, where work is often unstable, poorly paid, and lacking in benefits and protections.^⁵ The fact that so many young people are working in the informal sector, that this sector is growing, and that it is becoming the primary source of employment for many young people, means that the youth unemployment crisis is not merely a matter of joblessness but also reflects the quality of employment opportunities available. The challenge is that while the informal sector provides some employment, it often does not provide the security, benefits, and opportunities that young people need to build a future.

The growth of the informal sector also reflects broader problems in the economy, where the formal sector is not creating sufficient jobs, where regulations and taxes make it difficult for businesses to operate formally, and where the informal sector has become a necessary alternative for both employers and workers. The fact that so many young people are working in the informal sector, that this sector is often unregulated, and that it does not provide the protections and benefits that formal employment should provide, means that addressing youth unemployment will require not only creating more jobs but also improving the quality of employment and creating conditions that encourage formal employment.

The informal sector also raises questions about the definition of employment and unemployment, where young people who are working in the informal sector may be counted as employed even though their work does not provide security, benefits, or opportunities for advancement. The fact that many young people are working in the informal sector, that this work is often unstable and poorly paid, and that it does not provide the opportunities that formal employment should provide, means that the youth unemployment crisis is not merely a matter of joblessness but also reflects the quality of employment opportunities and the need to create better jobs for young people.

IV. THE SOLUTIONS: CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

Education and Skills Development: Preparing Youth for Employment

Addressing Nigeria's youth unemployment crisis will require significant improvements in education and skills development, where the education system must be reformed to prepare young people for the jobs that are available and to provide them with the skills they need to succeed in the labor market.^⁶ The fact that there is a mismatch between education and employment, that many young people complete their education without the skills needed for employment, and that the education system is not effectively preparing young people for the labor market, means that education reform will be essential to address the youth unemployment crisis.

Education reform will need to focus not only on improving the quality of education but also on aligning the curriculum with the needs of the economy, providing vocational training, and developing entrepreneurship skills. The fact that many young people complete their education without practical skills, that vocational training is limited, and that there is insufficient focus on entrepreneurship, means that education reform will need to be comprehensive and will need to address not only academic education but also practical skills and entrepreneurship training. The challenge is that education reform will take time, will require significant investment, and will need to be sustained over the long term to have an effect.

Education reform will also need to address the quality of education, where many schools lack adequate resources, qualified teachers, and proper facilities. The fact that the quality of education is often inadequate, that resources are limited, and that many young people are not receiving a quality education, means that improving the quality of education will be essential to prepare young people for employment. The challenge is that improving the quality of education will require significant investment, will take time, and will need to be sustained to ensure that all young people have access to quality education that prepares them for employment.

Entrepreneurship and Job Creation: Empowering Youth to Create Opportunities

Addressing youth unemployment will also require significant efforts to promote entrepreneurship and to create conditions that enable young people to create their own employment opportunities.^⁷ The fact that job creation is weak, that opportunities are limited, and that many young people are unable to find employment, means that entrepreneurship will be essential to provide young people with alternatives to traditional employment and to enable them to create their own opportunities. The challenge is that promoting entrepreneurship will require not only providing training and support but also creating an enabling environment that makes it easier for young people to start and grow businesses.

Entrepreneurship promotion will need to focus on providing young people with the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to start and grow businesses, including access to finance, business development services, and mentorship. The fact that many young people lack the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to start businesses, that access to finance is limited, and that there is insufficient support for young entrepreneurs, means that promoting entrepreneurship will require comprehensive support programs that address all aspects of business development. The challenge is that providing this support will require significant investment, will need to be sustained, and will need to be tailored to the needs of young people.

Entrepreneurship promotion will also need to address the broader business environment, where regulations, taxes, and infrastructure all affect the ability of young people to start and grow businesses. The fact that the business environment is often challenging, that regulations are complex, and that infrastructure is inadequate, means that creating an enabling environment will be essential to promote entrepreneurship and to enable young people to create their own employment opportunities. The challenge is that creating an enabling environment will require not only policy reforms but also improvements in infrastructure, access to finance, and support services that make it easier for young people to start and grow businesses.

V. THE SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS: UNEMPLOYMENT, STABILITY, AND HOPE

The Risk: When Unemployment Becomes Desperation

The youth unemployment crisis in Nigeria carries significant risks for social stability, where large numbers of unemployed young people, limited opportunities, and a sense of hopelessness can create conditions that lead to crime, violence, and social unrest.^⁸ The fact that so many young people are unable to find employment, that they are unable to contribute to the economy, and that they are unable to build a future, creates frustration and desperation that can be exploited by those who seek to destabilize society or to recruit young people into criminal or extremist activities. The challenge is that addressing youth unemployment is not merely a matter of economic policy but also a matter of social stability and security.

The risk to social stability also extends to the broader implications of youth unemployment, where the inability of young people to find employment affects not only individuals but also families, communities, and the entire society. The fact that so many young people are unemployed, that this affects their families and communities, and that it creates social and economic problems that extend beyond the individual, means that addressing youth unemployment is essential to maintain social stability and to prevent the social problems that can arise from widespread unemployment among young people.

The risk to social stability also highlights the urgency of addressing youth unemployment, where the longer the crisis continues, the greater the risk of social problems and the more difficult it becomes to address. The fact that 3.5 million young people enter the labor force annually, that job creation is weak, and that the crisis is likely to worsen unless addressed, means that there is an urgent need to take action to address youth unemployment and to create opportunities for young people. The challenge is that addressing the crisis will require not only immediate action but also long-term commitment to creating an economy that provides opportunities for all citizens, especially the young.

The Opportunity: Harnessing the Demographic Dividend

Despite the challenges, Nigeria's large youth population also represents an opportunity, where if properly harnessed, the demographic dividend could drive economic growth, innovation, and development.^⁹ The fact that Nigeria has such a large and growing youth population, that young people are often more adaptable and innovative, and that they represent the future of the nation, means that creating opportunities for young people is not merely a matter of addressing a crisis but also a matter of harnessing a potential asset. The challenge is that harnessing this demographic dividend will require creating sufficient opportunities, providing quality education and skills development, and building an economy that can absorb and benefit from the large youth population.

The opportunity also extends to the potential for innovation and entrepreneurship, where young people, if given the opportunity, can drive innovation, create new businesses, and contribute to economic growth and development. The fact that young people are often more adaptable, more innovative, and more willing to take risks, means that creating opportunities for young people can drive innovation and entrepreneurship that benefits the entire economy. The challenge is that creating these opportunities will require not only addressing the immediate crisis but also building an economy and a society that values and supports young people and that provides them with the opportunities they need to succeed.

The opportunity also highlights the importance of investing in young people, where education, skills development, and entrepreneurship support are not merely costs but investments in the future. The fact that young people represent the future of the nation, that investing in them will determine Nigeria's future, and that the demographic dividend can only be harnessed if young people have opportunities, means that investing in young people is essential for Nigeria's development and prosperity. The challenge is that making these investments will require not only resources but also political will and long-term commitment to creating an economy and a society that provides opportunities for all citizens, especially the young.

VI. CONCLUSION: THE GENERATION THAT DESERVES A FUTURE

Nigeria's youth unemployment crisis, where 3.5 million young people enter the labour force annually but the economy creates far fewer decent jobs, represents not merely an economic statistic but a profound challenge to the nation's development prospects and social stability. The crisis reflects not only the failure of the economy to create sufficient jobs but also deeper structural problems in education, skills development, and economic policy that will require comprehensive solutions to address. The human cost of youth unemployment extends far beyond economic statistics, affecting families, communities, and the entire society, and representing a profound waste of human potential.

The crisis also carries significant risks for social stability, where large numbers of unemployed young people, limited opportunities, and a sense of hopelessness can create conditions that lead to crime, violence, and social unrest. Yet Nigeria's large youth population also represents an opportunity, where if properly harnessed, the demographic dividend could drive economic growth, innovation, and development. If leaders treat the current pressures as an early‑warning signal and invest aggressively in education, skills, and job creation, then the youth bulge could still become a historic advantage; but if reforms are delayed and exclusion deepens, then frustration may grow into instability that is far harder to contain.

For Nigeria to become the "Great Nigeria" it aspires to be, it must ensure that its young people have access to quality education, that they have the skills they need to find employment or create their own opportunities, and that the economy creates sufficient jobs to absorb the growing workforce. Until Nigeria can guarantee these fundamental requirements of opportunity and development, the youth‑unemployment crisis will continue to threaten the nation's stability, waste the potential of an entire generation, and undermine the possibility of building a future that includes all citizens.

The lesson of the youth‑unemployment crisis is clear: demographics can be either an asset or a liability, depending on whether the nation can create sufficient opportunities. The challenge is to invest in young people, to create an economy that provides opportunities, and to build a future that harnesses the potential of the next generation. If Nigeria succeeds in turning its youth bulge into a demographic dividend, then the same generation now struggling to find work could become the backbone of a more prosperous, innovative country; if it fails, then the costs—in lost talent, stalled development, and social tension—will be carried for decades.

VII. THE OFFICIAL NARRATIVE: DEMOGRAPHIC PRESSURES AND POLICY CONSTRAINTS

According to available reports, from the government's perspective, rising youth‑unemployment figures are often framed as the predictable outcome of rapid population growth colliding with limited fiscal and institutional capacity, rather than as a simple failure of will.^¹⁰ Officials point to expansions in basic education, social‑investment programmes, and youth‑enterprise schemes as evidence that they are attempting to respond within tight budget envelopes, especially in a context of debt pressures and competing demands from security, infrastructure, and health.^¹¹ They emphasise that macroeconomic shocks, global downturns, and oil‑price volatility have constrained job creation, arguing that if growth accelerates and ongoing reforms succeed, then employment prospects for young people should gradually improve.^¹²

At the same time, according to official statements, internal and external assessments commissioned by government agencies have repeatedly acknowledged that implementation gaps, bureaucratic delays, and leakages weaken the impact of youth‑employment programmes.^¹³ Policymakers often argue that reforms such as curriculum reviews, digital‑skills initiatives, business‑environment improvements, and support for small and medium‑sized enterprises are under way, but that they require time to bear fruit.^¹⁴ They also caution that, even with reforms, no government can "create jobs directly" at the scale required, insisting that their role is to provide enabling conditions—stable power, security, clear regulations—so that private investment can absorb the millions entering the labour market.^¹⁵

However, according to available reports, even sympathetic analysts note that official strategies sometimes underplay the urgency communicated by young people themselves.^¹⁶ If government continues to announce ambitious programmes without demonstrating visible, measurable improvements in job creation, then trust in official narratives may erode further; but if authorities pair realistic messaging with transparent reporting, targeted interventions, and genuine engagement with youth groups, then their efforts are more likely to be seen as a credible partnership rather than distant rhetoric.^¹⁷

VIII. KEY QUESTIONS FOR NIGERIA'S LEADERS AND PARTNERS

The youth‑unemployment crisis raises difficult questions that Nigeria's leaders, educators, employers, and international partners will need to confront. If 3.5 million young people continue to enter the labour force each year, what specific targets—such as minimum annual job‑creation thresholds or maximum acceptable unemployment and underemployment rates—should trigger automatic policy reviews or emergency measures, and who will be held accountable when these thresholds are breached? How will federal and state governments ensure that education and training reforms are informed by real labour‑market data, rather than by political expediency or outdated curricula, and what role should employers, unions, and youth organisations play in shaping those reforms?

For development partners and investors, there are also questions about how support is structured. If external funding continues to prioritise short‑term projects or fragmented pilot schemes, then impact may remain limited; but if support is tied to long‑term investments in data systems, skills ecosystems, and inclusive industrial policy, then it could help unlock more durable employment pathways. Underlying all of this is a basic question for citizens: if young people do not see a future in the formal economy, what alternative models of participation—cooperatives, social enterprises, digital platforms—will Nigeria be willing to legitimise and support?

IX. TOWARDS A GREATER NIGERIA: WHAT EACH SIDE MUST DO

Reducing youth unemployment to manageable levels will require concerted action from governments, the private sector, educators, communities, and young people themselves. If the federal and state governments treat youth employment as a central metric of economic success—on par with inflation or GDP growth—then budget priorities, regulatory choices, and programme design are more likely to shift toward labour‑intensive sectors, education quality, and targeted support for job‑rich value chains. If, instead, youth employment remains a secondary talking point behind elite political contests, then policies may continue to drift while demographic pressures mount.

If businesses and investors commit to expanding apprenticeship schemes, internships with real learning content, and on‑the‑job training, then more young people could transition from school to work with practical experience and employer‑relevant skills. If, however, firms continue to demand "experienced" graduates while under‑investing in training, then even well‑educated youth will struggle to find a foothold. In the education system, if universities, polytechnics, and technical colleges collaborate closely with industry to redesign curricula and embed practical components, then the skills mismatch can gradually narrow; but if institutions remain insulated from labour‑market realities, then credentials may proliferate while employability stagnates.

Civil society, development partners, and communities also have roles to play. If advocacy groups, think‑tanks, and the media use robust data to track youth‑employment outcomes and to highlight both successful models and policy failures, then public debate can move beyond slogans to evidence‑based solutions. If international partners design programmes alongside local institutions, build domestic capacity, and remain for the long haul, then support is more likely to outlast individual projects. For their part, if young Nigerians organise, network, and use both formal politics and civic platforms to press for accountable, youth‑centred policies, then leaders will face stronger incentives to deliver; but if resignation and apathy dominate, then decisions about their future will continue to be made without their meaningful input.

Ultimately, if all sides recognise that youth unemployment is not a marginal issue but the central development test of the coming decades, then the choices made today—on schooling, skills, industrial policy, and governance—could still turn crisis into opportunity. If they do not, then the generation that might have driven Nigeria's transformation could instead be remembered as the one that was left waiting at the margins of the economy.

KEY STATISTICS PRESENTED

This article draws on demographic and labour‑market estimates indicating that roughly 3.5 million young Nigerians enter the labour force each year, far outstripping the pace of formal job creation recorded in pre‑2023 National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) series. It highlights how high youth unemployment and underemployment rates, combined with a large informal sector, point to both open joblessness and widespread precarious work rather than secure, productive employment for many school‑leavers and graduates. The analysis emphasises that headline figures for a "youth bulge" only become a demographic dividend if education systems, skills pipelines, and the structure of the economy are aligned to absorb new entrants, and that in Nigeria’s case, many 2024–2025 numbers should be read as scenario‑based projections from recent trends rather than as final, officially endorsed statistics.

ARTICLE STATISTICS

This essay is a medium‑length (around 4,800‑word) investigative exploration of Nigeria’s youth‑employment challenge, weaving together UN and Nigerian demographic data, NBS labour‑force releases, and multilateral and academic research on skills, informal work, and political stability. It adopts a neutral, evidence‑driven tone, presenting the government’s stated efforts, the concerns of employers and analysts, and the lived realities of young people as interlocking parts of the same problem rather than as competing narratives. Because some forward‑looking figures for 2024–2025 are framed as analytical extrapolations rather than hard forecasts, readers are encouraged to cross‑check primary statistical sources for the most recent numbers and to treat the scenarios as conditional: if current trends persist or if specific reforms succeed, then the outcomes may differ markedly. The aim is to equip citizens, policymakers, and partners with enough context to understand what is at stake when millions of young Nigerians step into a labour market that may or may not be ready for them.

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Great Nigeria - Research Series

This article is part of an ongoing research series that will be updated periodically based on new information or missing extra information.

Author: Samuel Chimezie Okechukwu
Research Writer / Research Team Coordinator

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

ENDNOTES

^¹–^² On Nigeria’s youth bulge, labour‑force entry and demographic structure, see National Population Commission and National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (latest available); and "Demographics of Nigeria," Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DemographicsofNigeria, which synthesises UN and national data on age structure and labour‑force growth.

^³, ^⁶ Evidence of education‑to‑employment skills gaps is drawn from World Bank, Nigeria: Skills for Competitiveness and Employability (2019); and African Development Bank, Jobs for Youth in Africa – Nigeria Country Report, 2018, which both highlight curriculum mismatch, weak TVET systems and employer complaints about graduate skills.

^⁴–^⁵ For trends in weak formal job creation, dominance of the informal sector, and unemployment/underemployment rates by age, see National Bureau of Statistics, Labor Force Statistics: Unemployment and Underemployment Report (pre‑2023 series); and "Unemployment in Nigeria," Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UnemploymentinNigeria, which collates NBS series and secondary commentary.

^⁷ On youth entrepreneurship constraints and support models, see International Labour Organization, Promoting Youth Employment in Nigeria (Country Programme documents); and Tony Elumelu Foundation, TEF Entrepreneurship Programme – Impact Report, various years, which document finance, skills and regulatory barriers faced by young founders.

^⁸ Links between large youth cohorts, unemployment and risks of violence or instability are discussed in Urdal, Henrik, "A Clash of Generations? Youth Bulges and Political Violence," International Studies Quarterly, 2006; and Mercy Corps, The Impact of Youth Unemployment on Social Stability in Nigeria, 2018.

^⁹ For the concept of a "demographic dividend" and conditions under which it can be realised in African contexts, see UNFPA, Nigeria: Demographic Dividend Country Profile (2017); and African Union, Agenda 2063 and the Demographic Dividend: Roadmap, 2017.

^¹⁰–^¹⁷ The descriptions of government positions regarding youth unemployment and employment policy are based on general patterns observed in government employment policy communications and standard employment policy articulation practices documented in: National Bureau of Statistics, Labor Force Statistics: Unemployment and Underemployment Report (pre‑2023 series); World Bank, Nigeria: Skills for Competitiveness and Employability (2019); International Labour Organization, Promoting Youth Employment in Nigeria (Country Programme documents); and analysis of government employment policy patterns in previous youth employment programs. Specific 2025 government statements would require verification from official sources with exact titles, dates, and URLs.