Newly elected President of the Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC), Comrade Jethro Annum, at the weekend, decried the worsening level of youth unemployment in the country.

Annum, in his acceptance after he was inaugurated alongside NYC executive members from across the country by the Mr. Yakubu Shendam-led Board of Trustees (BOT) of the NYC held in Abuja, assured that NYC will collaborate with the government, private sector, and international partners with reputable development partners across the globe to create sustainable programmes to empower youth with skills, resources, and opportunities.

Decrying the challenges of unemployment, underemployment, limited opportunities, and a yearning for platforms faced by youths, he insisted that the slight decrease in youth unemployment from 8.00 per cent to 7.50 per cent rate is unacceptable.

This, he said, is in addition to the fact that youth underemployment, which is equally inimical to youth development, is over 10.00 per cent.

He warned that an unempowered youth is not only a minus but a danger and threat to the country, adding it behooves well-meaning Nigerians to fix the problem by solving what he termed “the Nigerian youth question.”

He pledged that from vocational training to entrepreneurship hubs, from tech innovation labs to agricultural empowerment projects, NYC will build pathways for every young Nigerian to thrive, making sure all youths are carried along, irrespective of their tribes or religion.

He further stated that NYC, under his leadership, will not only create jobs but also nurture creators of jobs, since the future of Nigeria lies in the hands of its youth.

“To the teeming Nigerian youths: this is your Congress. Your dreams, your struggles, and your aspirations will shape our journey. I promise an inclusive platform where your voices will be heard, your ideas will be valued, and your potential will be unleashed. Together, we will work to ensure government policies align with the needs of our youth, fostering an environment where innovation, creativity, and hard work are rewarded,” he stressed.

“To my fellow leaders, stakeholders, and partners, I extend a hand of collaboration. Let us unite in building a Nigeria where no youth is left behind, where every young person has the tools to succeed, and where our collective energy transforms challenges into opportunities.”

Earlier on, Shendam charged the new leadership of the NYC to negotiate a better deal with politicians, irrespective of their political leanings, ahead of the 2027 poll to improve the well-being of the teeming population of youths in the country.