Pounding the Pavement in Nigeria

Take a close look at this picture. The young man roaming the streets with the raised banner lists his educational qualifications and contact phone numbers, with a heading that reads, "I need Job." It depicts the desperation of millions of unemployed youth across the world pounding the pavement, hoping to find a well-paying job. Or hoping the ideal job finds them.

Someone posted the picture on Twitter, one of the top social networking websites. It was re-tweeted by others, including me. When I re-posted it on my Facebook wall, a few people hit the “like” icon, while some others left the following comments:

Khalifa: I wish he knows that the world, or Government does not owe him a Job. HE CAN CREAT A JOB FOR HIMSELF.

Femi: Hilarious...trust me some of the greatest challenges confronting labour is lack of integrity & zero work ethics on part of d employees. Employers especially SMEs are afraid to commit their resources into d hands of people for fear of fraud...

Abdullah: Aristotle was right when he said, "Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime"

Matthew: This is so touching. Hmmm...

Ehimika: The job issue is so alarming that all Nigerian youths are forced (groomed) to become industrialist. Certainly we will!

Toluwani: I believe the guy is not looking for job. I strongly believe he is just posing or better put, an advocate of solution to unemployment in Nigeria. With the qualifications emblazoned on the banner, he can do something for himself. However, there are two structural shifts needed to tame the monster: political will to introduce system to create more jobs and individual will to be creative, self reliant, to go the extra mile to make ends meet.

Okechukwu: Will a man create job for himself out of no means? Should our lofty status be viewed as related to everyone? Is it not imperative that we should consider the dire situations we once faced in the past, when we seeked job? And if it had never once been rough for for you, how do know the insecurities & frustrations of the unemployed, when there are many responsibilities to cater for. To stay without the basic needs (food & shelter; nobody is talking about clothing anymore) is the fear that engulfs the unemployed. Right, most firms are afraid of fraud, and they need hands, or better still, quit employing, what's the gain? You ask for guarantors, they're provided! You ask for results, they're provided! Now you ask of an experience of five years, with a Masters, AND YOU BLAME THE GUY WITH THE CARD?