Abstract

Youth unemployment in Nigeria is alarming. It increases annually, coupled with the increase in the number of higher institutions in Nigeria that produce many graduates yearly. The resultant effect on the Nigerian society is an increase in social vices. This situation of youth unemployment serves as an obstacle to economic, political and social development of the Nigerian state. Youth unemployment leads to high rates of poverty among the youth, and poverty in return has negative implications on the social well-being of the youth. It can lead to psychological effects, for example frustration. This study examines the causes of youth unemployment in Nigeria. The study relies solely on secondary sources data and presents its analysis in the context of the Failed states’ theory. The findings reveal that the failure of the state to provide improper school curriculum, corruption among public office holders, lack of an enabling environment for economic activities are some of the causes of youth unemployment in Nigeria. Due to the aforementioned causes of youth unemployment in Nigeria, the study recommends the state is duty bound to provide among other things more vocational and skills acquisition institutions as well as to enforce adequate governance to instill integrity. More so, priority should be given to security by the government as a way of attracting foreign investors to Nigeria.