For many Nigerian graduates, completing the National Youth Service Corps programme is expected to mark the beginning of working life. Instead, for thousands of young people, it can be the start of another difficult journey — searching for a job.
Each year, universities and polytechnics produce large numbers of graduates who enter the labour market with certificates, expectations and hopes of becoming financially independent. After NYSC, however, many discover that getting a stable job can be far more difficult than earning a degree.
The problem is not simply the number of graduates looking for work. It is also the gap between what many young Nigerians study in school and the skills employers are looking for.
Some graduates spend months applying for vacancies, attending interviews and completing recruitment tests without receiving an offer. Others accept temporary, low-paying or unrelated jobs because they cannot afford to remain unemployed.
For some, the situation has pushed them into entrepreneurship. Young graduates are increasingly turning to online businesses, freelancing, digital services, sales and other small ventures to generate income while continuing their search for formal employment.
The pressure is particularly strong because many families expect graduates to begin contributing financially after NYSC. Instead, young people may remain dependent on their parents for longer, even after completing university and national service.
“After NYSC, you expect to start building your life, but getting a good job is another struggle entirely,” said Adedipe Temilade, a young Nigerian who believes many graduates are being forced to rethink what employment means.
The challenge also raises questions about the relationship between education and Nigeria’s economy. Producing graduates without creating enough quality employment opportunities can leave young people frustrated and underutilised.
Employers, meanwhile, often demand experience from applicants who have only recently completed their education. This creates a difficult cycle: graduates need jobs to gain experience, but many jobs require experience before they can be hired.
Experts and young professionals have increasingly called for stronger links between universities, vocational training institutions and employers. More internships, apprenticeships and practical training could help students develop workplace skills before graduation.
Government policies that support businesses to expand and employ more young people could also play an important role. A growing private sector would give graduates more opportunities beyond the limited number of formal openings available each year.
For Nigerian graduates, NYSC may end the mandatory national service period, but it does not necessarily open the door to employment. For many, the real struggle begins the day after receiving their discharge certificate.
Until the economy creates enough productive opportunities for its growing young workforce, the question facing many graduates will remain simple but difficult: after NYSC, what next?
