A nation that abandons its young will one day suffer the consequences. Nigeria, once full of hope, now feels like a land of broken dreams. Graduates who once wore their caps and gowns with pride now struggle to survive. What was meant to be a journey to success has turned into a painful battle against unemployment and hunger. “When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). Many have lost faith in God, not because He has failed them, but because humans have destroyed the system that should have helped them. “Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn,” wrote Robert Burns. Today, Nigerian graduates are mourning—not just their dreams, but their futures.
Parents sacrifice everything to send their children to school. They sell land, borrow money, and go hungry, all for the hope that a degree will lead to a better life. But Nigeria has changed the story. A fresh graduate, once celebrated with dancing and prayers, now walks the streets with an empty stomach and a degree that means nothing. The job market is like a locked door—only those with the right connections can enter. Nigerian university degrees, once respected, are now only useful for gaining admission into 100-level in the U.S. Those who lose hope risk their lives, crossing deserts and seas to seek better opportunities. Some make it, but others die, and some are captured, their organs harvested like animals. Those who stay behind struggle daily, drinking garri and wondering if their education was a mistake.
Meanwhile, the government repeats the same promises—skill acquisition, youth empowerment, startup loans. But nothing changes. As Albert Einstein said, “You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it.” How can someone learn skills when they are hungry? How can businesses grow when there is no power, no money, and no support? Apostle Ayo Babalola once said, “A generation without vision is a generation without direction.” This is Nigeria’s tragedy—our graduates no longer dream big. Their only dream now is survival.
Yet, we blame young people for leaving. We call them unpatriotic when they travel through deserts and risk their lives on the sea. But what do you call a country that gives them no future? Bishop David Oyedepo once said, “When purpose is unknown, abuse is inevitable.” Nigeria has abused its brightest minds. It has turned education into a joke, faith into doubt, and hope into regret. One day, the same country that pushed them away will beg them to return. But by then, they may no longer feel at home.
This crisis is not just about jobs—it is about the soul of a nation. A country that destroys the dreams of its young people is digging its own grave. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). We blame God, but the truth is, we are the ones who failed. If things don’t change, Nigeria will not only lose its graduates—it will lose its future. Today, it is cap and gown to hunger and hustle. If nothing is done, tomorrow it will be cap and gown to anger and destruction.
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
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