TACKLING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA: THE ROLE OF 21ST CENTURY TEACHING AND LEARNING SKILLS

Abstract

Youth unemployment is a major issue threatening Nigeria’s developmental aspiration in the 21st century. Despite various government initiatives and empowerment schemes, the rate of joblessness among youth continues to escalate, primarily due to the persistent gap between the skills acquired through education and those required in the contemporary labour market. This paper explores the pivotal role of 21st-century teaching and learning skills in mitigating youth unemployment in Nigeria. It emphasizes the need for integrating critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, digital literacy, and entrepreneurial skills into the learning process to significantly enhance employability, innovation, and self-reliance among youth.

The paper further highlights the urgency of shifting from traditional teacher-centered pedagogies to learner-centered approaches that foster inquiry, creativity, and practical problem-solving. Drawing from relevant scholarly perspectives, it argues that embedding 21st-century skills in curriculum design and instructional delivery is crucial for repositioning Nigeria’s education system as a driver of human capital development and economic transformation. The study concludes that the adoption of skill-based and technology-oriented teaching practices will empower Nigerian youths to evolve as job creators rather than job seekers, thereby advancing sustainable national development.