In May 2026, Tosin Eniolorunda, CEO of Moniepoint, shared a frustrating reality at The Platform in Lagos that sent shockwaves through Nigerian LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter). He revealed that his company had 500 open jobs that they simply could not fill. He argued that many Nigerian youths are 'unemployable', citing a lack of global skills and a 'get-rich-quick' culture fuelled by social media. While his comments highlighted a massive problem, they only told half the story. If millions are looking for work, why are hundreds of high-paying desks sitting empty? The easiest answer has always been 'laziness', but the truth is a messy mix of a broken system and a changing world.
The Theory Trap: Why a Nigerian Degree Isn't Enough for 2026 Jobs
The biggest hurdle is that a Nigerian degree does not always mean you can do the work. An average Computer Science graduate from a low-tier university who spent four years cramming theories without any real practical guidance is useless in the job market. Nigerian universities often focus on theory and 'cramming' to pass exams, while the modern world needs people who can use Excel, manage projects, write code and employ digital and technical skills. According to News Central TV, youth unemployment is sky-high, yet employers frequently complain about 'half-baked' graduates. As Eniolorunda pointed out, having a Master's degree is great, but if you cannot navigate a basic digital workspace, you are stuck.
The 'Japa' Brain Drain and the Seniority Gap
Brain drain affects every facet of the Nigerian workforce. The people who do have 'global standard' skills are leaving. This 'Brain Drain' means that as soon as a Nigerian becomes highly skilled, they often export their skills to a more favourable region abroad where they are paid and appreciated better. This has created a massive Seniority Gap. Local companies are left with a pool of entry-level graduates who need heavy mentorship, but the seniors who should be mentoring them have moved to the U.S or London. As noted in BusinessDay's analysis of the talent war, Nigerian firms are now fighting over a shrinking pool of top-tier talent, leaving the average graduate behind.
The Pay Gap: Silicon Valley Skills for Intern Salaries
You cannot talk about 'unemployable' youths without talking about 'unlivable' wages. In 2026, with the cost of food and transport hitting record highs, a starting salary of ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 for a high-skill role is often seen as an insult and barely enough to survive on. When the pay is low, the best talent either works for foreign companies remotely for US/UK firms or looks for 'other' ways to make money. A circulating tweet highlighted that Moniepoint itself offered a salary in that range for a Quality Assurance role, sparking outrage.
The 'Hustle' Mentality
The rise of Internet Fraud (Yahoo-Yahoo) and the 'Hook-up' culture mentioned by the Moniepoint CEO are symptoms of a deeper problem: Poverty. Let's be honest: why work 12 hours a day in a toxic office for peanuts when you can see peers making millions on social media or through fraud? The lure of 'easy money' has distracted many from the long, boring process of building a career. When the 'hustle' pays more than the 'job', the job loses every time.
Toxic Culture
Toxic workplace cultures characterized by 12-hour workdays and a lack of respect for work-life balance further drive graduates away from traditional employment toward the gig economy. Emotional and financial abuse is the order of the day at many workplaces in Nigeria, where 'subordinate' is synonymous with 'slave'. A viral tweet contrasted a US client offering words of affirmation with a former Nigerian bank boss calling employees 'goats' and 'cows'.
Poverty Is the Ultimate Barrier to Skill
Becoming 'employable' costs money. To learn any tech or finance skill at a global standard, a graduate needs a high-end laptop (costing upwards of ₦1.5 million), constant electricity (in a country with frequent grid collapses), and expensive data subscriptions. The fee for standard tech schools is no small feat either. For instance, to register for Alt School Africa, you must pay a $20 non-refundable application fee. Tuition for 2026 is approximately $290 (upfront), or payable in instalments (~$30–$80 depending on the plan). For a graduate from a low-income home, these are luxury items. Many people are not 'unskilled' by choice; they simply cannot afford the tools to learn. You cannot be 'employable' in a tech-driven world if you cannot afford the hardware to learn.
Nigerian Employers Are Also Part of the Problem
While CEOs complain about 'unemployable' youths, they ignore their sheer hypocrisy. Nigerian employers have abandoned the culture of training. Most companies are not looking for potential. They want entry-level staff to arrive on Day 1 with five years of experience, a mastery of complex tools, and a global mindset, all without the company having to invest a single kobo in their development. Foreign companies, on the other hand, are often more willing to bet on Nigerian talent than local ones. One professional noted: 'A year ago, a US startup hired me with zero tech experience. I was WFH in Nigeria, earning a seven-figure salary while learning on the job.' If a startup thousands of miles away can groom a Nigerian graduate, why cannot local billion-dollar fintechs do the same? Another example: Microsoft Nigeria once hired a Software Engineer who was still schooling at UNILAG.
In all, fixing the 'unemployable' tag is not just about graduates studying harder. Companies must pay better, the government must fix schools, and employers must invest in people rather than just complain about them. Everyone must collaborate.
