Youth unemployment threatens Nigeria’s global standing – Expert warns

Policy experts at Nextier, a leading policy and research firm, have raised concerns over Nigeria’s declining diplomatic influence, warning that the country’s ambition to secure a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is at risk.

A new report by Nextier, titled “Nigeria’s Waning Influence: Can the Giant of Africa Reclaim Its Diplomatic Might?”, attributes Nigeria’s diplomatic struggles to domestic challenges, particularly rising youth unemployment.

Authored by legal and policy analysts Olive Aniunoh and Khadijat Shuaibu, the report highlights how soaring unemployment among Nigeria’s large youth population is fueling social unrest, crime, and even militant recruitment, thereby weakening the country’s ability to project itself as a regional and global leader.

“Nigeria’s youth bulge is both a blessing and a ticking time bomb,” the report states. “Soaring youth unemployment has left millions in despair, fueling crime, social unrest, and even recruitment into militant groups.”

Threat to Nigeria’s UN Security Council aspirations

The report warns that Nigeria’s passivity in addressing these issues not only weakens its diplomatic relevance but also undermines Africa’s collective security, economic growth, and geopolitical leverage.

“At stake is not just Nigeria’s diplomatic relevance but its long-standing ambition for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council,” Nextier cautions.

To reclaim its influence, Nextier urges Nigeria to adopt a more proactive role in regional and global diplomacy. It calls for stronger leadership within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) to mediate conflicts, shape policies, and promote Pan-African development.

Furthermore, the report stresses the need for Nigeria to build strategic alliances to support its bid for a UN Security Council seat, leveraging its position as Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation to rally support from African countries and global partners.

Addressing youth unemployment to restore influence

A key recommendation of the report is tackling youth unemployment, which it identifies as a major factor eroding Nigeria’s diplomatic influence.

“The disillusionment of Nigeria’s youth is not just a domestic crisis; it weakens Nigeria’s global standing,” the report notes.

To reverse this trend, Nextier advises the Nigerian government to prioritize job creation, invest in education and skills development, and create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship and innovation.

By addressing these internal challenges, Nigeria can enhance its diplomatic stature and strengthen its case for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, the report concludes.