27-Year-Old Nigerian PhD Holder Protests on Abuja Street Over Unemployment
A young Nigerian academic, Dr. Ayomide Alokun, has sparked conversations online after staging a solo protest over unemployment and the underutilization of qualified youths in Nigeria.
27-Year-Old Nigerian PhD Holder Protests on Abuja Street Over Unemployment
This is the reality of Nigeria right now. A 27-year-old man with a PhD is standing on the streets of Abuja holding a placard, begging for a job. Not because he is lazy. Not because he is not qualified. But because the country that educated him has no place for him.
Dr. Ayomide Alokun is not your average unemployed person. He has a BSc in Political Science, an MSc in Political Science, and a PhD in International Relations. He is 27 years old.,he should be lecturing at a university, consulting for the government, or working in an international organization. Instead, he is on the street with a placard.
His placard read: "At 27, I have BSc, Political Science, MSC, – Political Science, PhD International Relations, and no job. Mr. President, sir, give me a job."
He also made a statement that hit home for many young Nigerians. He said: "I don't know how to do yahoo, I don't know how to sing like Burna Boy, I don't know how to play ball like Osimhen, but I have credentials."
Meaning, he did things the right way. He studied. He worked hard. He got the degrees. And still, he is struggling. Meanwhile, people who took shortcuts are buying cars and building houses.
In a follow-up statement, he revealed that he was recognized nationally during the COVID-19 pandemic for humanitarian efforts involving the distribution of palliatives as an outstanding corps member. So he is not just educatedz he has character. He has served his country. And yet, the country cannot serve him back with a simple job.
Reactions have been intense. Some people are blaming the government for failing the youth. Others are blaming the educational system for producing graduates that the economy cannot absorb. A few are asking why he is protesting instead of looking for opportunities online.
But the truth is, Ayomide's story is not unique. There are thousands of Nigerian PhD holders, lawyers, engineers, and doctors who cannot find work. They are either unemployed or underemployed, working jobs that have nothing to do with their qualifications. And every year, more graduates are churned out, competing for fewer opportunities.
Ayomide has done what many young Nigerians only dream of doing – he took his frustration to the streets. Now, the question is, will anyone
in power listen?
Source: TrendyBeatz
