Young People Beat the Path of Entrepreneurship to Challenge Unemployment in Africa

On several occasions, African governments lack a clear vision for their growing number of youths in the continent. Each year many Universities churn out millions of graduates, which the labor market cannot accommodate immediately. It is estimated that of the ten million graduates, who successfully, graduate from Universities, half of them end up without work, despite being fully qualified. Further statistics from the International Labor Organization indicates that youths in Africa are twice likely to be unemployed when they attain the working age compared to their counterparts in developed countries. Youth unemployment in African stands at 12 percent compared to developed countries, according to the International Labor Organization. 

Therefore, when the African governments fail to create employment for young people, but continuously urge them to get an education, what are the options of a typical young unemployed African youth? Many of young people are closed-minded to other alternative work opportunities until they are hit by the reality of unemployment in their respective countries. Part of the reason why many youths are closed-minded is simply because of how they have been cultured, especially with their education systems.

 A lot of African curriculums are not as innovative and competitive as they should for the 21^st century. However, as the world continuous to change and shift away from white color jobs being the perfect ideal of employment, a group of innovative, young people have kept their options open. Entrepreneurship is gradually coming out as the best alternative to unemployment as youths in Africa have realized the bitter truth that of their governments not being committed to creating real jobs compared to lip service in their political campaigns.  The entrepreneurship bug has stung a good number of young Africans who have gone out of their way to start small businesses, which have surprisingly turned out to be huge success stories. Success stories of people like Mr. Kinoti, with his humble beginnings in entrepreneurship come across as a beacon of hope to many start-ups operated by young people in Kenya.

One country in Africa, which as demonstrated a culture of entrepreneurship is Kenya. Youths in Kenya have taken to alternative thinking and realized that, it is not always about job seeking. A lot of Kenyan youths, have realized that, they are on their own, when it comes to employment based on the failed track record of promises form the government. The promising of creating at least 500,000 new jobs every year turned out to be a joke of the century to the current government. The promise appeared more of a campaign gimmick, employed to win the votes as opposed to implementing any real agenda, aimed at lowering the rate of unemployment, which stands at staggering 40 percent according to World Bank. Whereas, National Bureau of Statistics disputes the World Bank statistics of unemployment in Kenya being at 40 percent, what remains clear is that, there are many graduates in Kenya today who have no clear employment despite being well-educated and qualified.     

Raising capital in the eyes of young people who have already embraced entrepreneurship comes out as much easier than seeking a job in Africa. The gruesome task of finding a job not only drains a graduate of his or her pride of education but also personal dignity. It is very humiliating to submit over 200 resumes and fail to get a nod from any potential employer. Being an entrepreneur in the 21^st century makes more sense compared to seeking employment because the world is today is more opened-up and ready to experiment with various new business concepts such as network marketing, work-at-home business options, and systems among others.  The only cure to lower the rate of working poverty and create employment is to get as many young people as possible to choose the path of entrepreneurship, because this would mean that, there would be more job creators in the future, other than just looking at the government to solve the challenge of unemployment. In reality, many governments are clueless and selfish with vested interests in corruption as opposed to solving real problems affecting ordinary people such as unemployment.