The failure of both the government and the press in their supposed responsibilities to rouse the teeming populated unemployed graduates to entrepreneurship is the paramount reason for the current high rates of crimes, social vices and violence as the products of high unemployment in Nigeria. Nigerian graduates, especially those from the lower class, the poor, are now treated like nonentities that are stack illiterates. These underlying problems ground this study.
The study is aimed at exploring the extent to which government and the press have roused the interest of Nigerian youths, particularly the unemployed graduates, to entrepreneurship. The study reveals that: the government of all levels and the press have done little or nothing to rouse the interest of the unemployed graduates to entrepreneurship; existing entrepreneurs of this class often suffer severe capital issues, which discourages intending entrepreneurs, other unemployed graduates, as the government only aids those who have ‘people in Government House(s) and other high class offices’.
It maintains (recommends) that the best way for the government to rouse their interest to entrepreneurship is to drop lip-service and practically mobilise and support jobless youths to become self-employed and thus become automatically detached from all forms of social ills, having taking to it as an alternative. Then, the Press takes it up from there by making entrepreneurship a splash to the unemployed graduates and the general masses. The study is anchored on the psychological or entrepreneurial trait school and the managerial skills school cum the economic development theory. This study concludes that until the government and the press turn a new leave and practically and actively begin to rouse the interest of the unemployed graduates to entrepreneurship, as a practical alternative, unemployment would continue to increase alarmingly, with its devastating menace. The non-participant observation, oral interview and intuition are the primary sources employed, while closely related literature formed the secondary sources.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Entrepreneurship and its Essence
Theoretical Framework
Nigerian Unemployed Graduates’ Plights
Rousing Graduates’ Interest to Entrepreneurship by the Government and the Press
Conclusion
References
Research Objective and Core Themes
The primary objective of this study is to investigate the extent to which the government and the press have successfully motivated Nigerian youths, specifically unemployed graduates, to embrace entrepreneurship as a viable alternative to white-collar employment. The research explores the systemic failures in both governmental support and media advocacy that contribute to widespread unemployment and social unrest in Nigeria.
- The theoretical relationship between entrepreneurship, economic growth, and poverty reduction.
- The structural barriers and socio-economic challenges faced by unemployed graduates in Nigeria.
- The critical role of the press in social mobilization, education, and agenda-setting for entrepreneurial development.
- Government responsibility in providing an enabling environment, infrastructure, and financial support for small and medium enterprises.
Excerpt from the Book
Nigerian Unemployed Graduates’ Plights
Dibie (2014) expresses the incessant woes of Nigerian graduates who suffer for jobs amidst many jobs, all because only a few belong to the bourgeoisie, the ‘big gun’ tree, the political and intellectual elite classes, oligarchic and absolute monarchical classes, the top military lineage, religious and ethnic lords circle and demonic societies. Gone are the days Nigerian graduates had prestige and shared equal rights and privileges. Although certificate grade is greatly emphasised even at the expense of talent, prowess, dexterity and pragmatic product (performance output), those outside the folks have their First Class and Second Class Upper (Lower) neglected, relegated and contemplated. For the Third Class, no matter how brave, clever and productive, it only takes the grace of God for them to get jobs, unlike those the First Class and Second Class that they are even better/more than (Dibie, 2014).
Jobless graduates are on the high increase in recent times and only God, the Almighty, knows when the reverse will be again. Then there was nothing like job middlemen (agents) and securing of job was not based on ‘who knows who’, tribe, religion, class or group basis (Besong, 2016). Most Nigerian graduates now regret ‘wasting’ four, five or so years on education, with nothing to show for the years in the long run. The Igbo ones in specific, who are business-minded or conscious of entrepreneurship, regret most, noting that such years would have been fruitful if spent on apprenticeship or sole-proprietorship, using the school fees. Even most parents of the middle and average classes now regret sponsoring their wards/children with all difficulties in anticipation of betterment at graduation. Some graduates have stayed over ten years after graduation without any (reasonable) employment yet most firms and institutions now ask for recent graduates of between three and five years, worsening the whole situation with almost impossible criteria, like this or that number of years of experience/s.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter highlights the crisis of theoretical education in Nigeria and the resulting scarcity of white-collar jobs, arguing for a shift toward entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship and its Essence: This section defines entrepreneurship as an engine for economic growth and poverty alleviation, detailing its role in creating employment for the populace.
Theoretical Framework: The chapter explores various schools of thought on entrepreneurship, contrasting the 'born' trait theory with the 'made' managerial skills perspective.
Nigerian Unemployed Graduates’ Plights: This section details the harsh realities faced by graduates, including the influence of favoritism and the "who-knows-who" culture in the Nigerian job market.
Rousing Graduates’ Interest to Entrepreneurship by the Government and the Press: This chapter examines the specific roles and failures of the government and the media in promoting entrepreneurial culture among the youth.
Conclusion: The final chapter synthesizes the study's findings, emphasizing the need for proactive government support and media advocacy to mitigate the unemployment crisis.
References: This section lists the scholarly works and secondary sources that underpin the study’s arguments.
Keywords
Government, the Press, Unemployed graduates, Entrepreneurship, Nigeria, Economic growth, Poverty alleviation, Vocational Education, Joblessness, Social mobilization, Small and medium enterprises, Youth restiveness, Mass media, Self-reliance, Business development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on the failure of the Nigerian government and the press to effectively encourage unemployed graduates to pursue entrepreneurship as a practical solution to unemployment and social unrest.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the mismatch between educational curricula and labor market needs, the lack of enabling environments for startups, the "white-collar job" mentality, and the role of the media in social and economic development.
What is the central research question?
The study aims to determine the extent to which the government and the media have actively roused the interest of Nigerian youths, particularly unemployed graduates, toward entrepreneurship.
What methodology does the author use?
The study utilizes non-participant observation, oral interviews, and intuition as primary sources, supplemented by an analysis of closely related literature.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body examines the theoretical foundations of entrepreneurship, the specific struggles of Nigerian graduates in the current job market, and the functional responsibilities of the press and government in promoting self-reliance.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The paper is defined by terms such as entrepreneurship, government, press, unemployed graduates, poverty alleviation, vocational education, and economic growth.
How does the author characterize the role of the "Press"?
The author views the press as an essential agent of mass communication and education that has failed to fully utilize its agenda-setting and social mobilization roles to promote entrepreneurship.
What specific obstacles do young entrepreneurs in Nigeria face according to the study?
Obstacles identified include a lack of startup capital, land ownership difficulties, inadequate infrastructure, political interference, and an educational system that is predominantly theoretical.
What does the author propose as a solution to youth restiveness?
The author argues that the government must move beyond rhetoric to provide tangible financial support and training, while the media must aggressively market entrepreneurship as a dignified career path.
- Quote paper
- Odey Robert (Author), 2017, The Place of Government and the Press in rousing unemployed Graduates’ interest to Entrepreneurship, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/354591
