SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
There can be no meaningful economic growth if the youth population is overlooked – especially in a continent like Africa, where over 60% of the population is under 25.
After years of working across Africa on employability programs, I’ve seen firsthand what happens when brilliant, driven young people are left without pathways to decent work. Not because they lack potential – but because systems haven’t been designed with them in mind.
SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth – depends entirely on solving this issue.
According to the African Development Bank, Africa is home to over 420 million youth aged 15–35:
👉1 in 3 are unemployed or discouraged
👉Another 1 in 3 are vulnerably employed in low-quality or informal jobs
👉Only 1 in 6 has access to stable wage employment
In Nigeria, youth unemployment reached 53.4% in Q4 2020. While recent figures (Q1 2024) show it at 8.4%, this number reflects a redefinition and includes many underemployed youth. Millions remain locked in cycles of underemployment and informal work, with little access to growth.
By 2050, Africa’s youth population will reach 830 million. If we continue to overlook long-term employability, we’re not just delaying growth — we’re incubating instability.
This is why we launched the Skilled for Work Academy to close the gap between education and employment. We teach workplace readiness: communication, digital literacy, emotional intelligence, project management — the skills employers now demand across industries.
We’ve seen graduates move into internships, remote roles, and entrepreneurship. But the truth remains: access is unequal. Many still can’t afford the tools, mentorship, or guidance needed to thrive.
So what do we need?
💎 Governments must make youth employability a core part of national economic policy — with funding directed to nontraditional training pipelines, not just formal degrees.
💎 CSR teams and foundations must move beyond short-term interventions and fund scalable, skill-focused programs with clear outcomes.
💎 Employers must create on-ramps for non-degree talent – including internships, apprenticeships, and job-shadowing programs.
💎 Development partners must prioritize practical, African-led solutions and remove the red tape that slows implementation.
The youth are not waiting. Neither should we.
Dr Aderinsola Adio-Adepoju
Sustainability | Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Global Opportunities | Employability Skills