Dr. Victor Dike Raises Alarm Over Rising Youth Unemployment in Umuaka.

A university don, author, and pro-democracy advocate, Dr. Victor Dike, has raised serious concerns over the alarming rate of youth unemployment in Nigeria, describing the situation in Umuaka, Imo State, as “a disaster waiting to happen.”

Speaking with Umuaka Times correspondents in the United States last week, Dr. Dike expressed deep worry about the growing crisis, stating, “Youth unemployment is a disaster waiting to happen. May God help us.”

Dr. Dike, whose 2013 doctoral thesis focused on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET): Understanding the Nigerian Experience, emphasized the urgent need for practical and sustainable solutions to address unemployment among young people.

Dike called on residents of Umuaka popularly known as Akalites to take the issue seriously, noting that youth unemployment is closely linked to rising insecurity. According to him, “In every society, youth unemployment determines the level of criminal activities.”

Highlighting the consequences of widespread joblessness, Dr. Dike pointed out that increasing cases of crime, cultism, drug abuse, and excessive involvement in commercial motorcycling in Umuaka are largely driven by lack of employment opportunities for youths.

To tackle the problem, he urged the government to conduct comprehensive data collection on unemployed youths across all states, invest heavily in vocational and technical education and promote skills acquisition programs that equip young people with employable skills.

Drawing from his research and experience, Dr. Dike maintained that such measures would significantly reduce unemployment, poverty, and crime in the society. He reiterated the popular saying that “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop” to stress the dangers of neglecting the youth population.

He further recommended the introduction of unemployment stipends for both youths and adults as a form of social support, while also advocating for reforms in Nigeria’s education system. According to him, vocational and technical training should be fully integrated into secondary school curricula to better prepare students for the workforce.

The university don concluded by noting that youth unemployment has severely hindered development in many parts of Igboland, particularly in Umuaka, where some young people now view crime as an escape from poverty and drug use as a coping mechanism for frustration and depression.