Stop Training Young Job Seekers. Start Building Job Creators

Youth unemployment is not just an economic problem—it is a ticking social time bomb. Across our country, thousands of young people leave school each year with hope, qualifications, and ambition, only to confront a labour market that has little room for them. For many, the result is not just joblessness, but frustration, disillusionment, and, in some cases, social instability.

For decades, our response has followed a familiar script: expand access to education, improve skills training, and hope that jobs will follow. But the truth is increasingly clear—this model is no longer working.

The global economy has changed. Technology, automation, and globalization are reshaping the nature of work. Stable, salaried jobs are no longer guaranteed, even for the well-educated. Yet our education system remains largely unchanged, still designed to produce job seekers rather than job creators.

We are preparing young people for an economy that no longer exists.

It is time for a fundamental shift in mindset.

Instead of focusing almost exclusively on preparing students for paid employment, we must begin to equip them for self-employment and entrepreneurship. This is not about abandoning formal jobs, but about expanding the range of possibilities available to young people.

One practical and scalable way to begin this shift is through the introduction of Entrepreneurship Clubs in Senior High Schools (SHS).

These clubs would provide students with early exposure to the world of business—offering a space to explore ideas, solve real problems, and learn what it takes to build something from the ground up. Participation should be voluntary, ensuring that those who join are genuinely interested, rather than simply chasing grades.

This distinction matters. Entrepreneurship cannot be reduced to a classroom subject. It is a mindset—one built on curiosity, resilience, creativity, and the willingness to take calculated risks. These are not qualities that flourish through rote learning or examinations. They are developed through practice, experimentation, and even failure.

Critics may argue that entrepreneurship cannot be taught at the high school level, or that young people lack the maturity to engage in such activities. But this underestimates both the capacity of our youth and the urgency of the challenge we face. Around the world, young innovators are building solutions to real problems—from digital platforms to small-scale enterprises—often with minimal support. What they need is not perfection, but opportunity.

Entrepreneurship Clubs can provide that opportunity.

With modest investment, schools can create basic incubation spaces where students test ideas, develop prototypes, and receive mentorship from local business leaders. Partnerships with the private sector and development organizations can further strengthen these initiatives, providing resources, guidance, and exposure.

To amplify impact, regional and national SHS Entrepreneurship Showscould showcase student-led innovations, attract investors, and celebrate young enterprise. Such platforms would not only inspire participants but also signal a broader cultural shift—one that values initiative as much as academic achievement.

Importantly, this approach does not dismiss the importance of formal employment. Rather, it recognizes a simple reality: there are not enough jobs for everyone. Continuing to train young people solely for a shrinking pool of opportunities is neither practical nor fair.

We must begin to see our youth not just as future employees, but as potential employers.

This is how real transformation happens—not by waiting for jobs to appear, but by empowering individuals to create them.

The question is no longer whether we can afford to rethink our education system. The question is whether we can afford not to.

Shaibu A. Gariba
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaibu-gariba/

Email: [email protected]

April 9, 2026.