A Brotherly Message to the Graduate Youth of Somalia

photo from Google

Thousandsds of youths graduate every year from universities in Somalia. There are also graduates from abroad universities. The number of graduates is increasing year after year. In addition to that, a considerable number of youths graduate from secondary schools and join local and outside universities.

Our educational institutions produce more graduates, although their quality is not sufficient. But producing such a huge number every year is good omen for a recovering country like ours. The graduate youths encounter a range of circumstances after the graduation. The most important one is unemployment. 

According to ILO, the global rate of youth unemployment is estimated at 13.1 percent, and 71 million youth worldwide were jobless in 2016. In Somalia, 70% (two-third) of the population is approximately under the age of 30 years. Somali youth unemployment rate is estimated at 67%. Lack of social services, and the absence of basic economic infrastructure fueled high unemployment.

Degrees have a little value in Somalia. Furthermore, getting a job is not easy due to  factors, and we don’t have a government which directs our human capital.     

Since Somali youths are facing the above mentioned  challenge and others, I may recommend to the youths to the following:

a)    Continuous Learning: it’s not wise to persuade yourself that the little thing you have earned from your college is rather enough. In front of you, there are more chances. We can improve and renovate ourselves throughout the internet since we can get free courses. I may recommend you dear peers to avail from these chances.

b)    The second point I am going to recommend to you is to join the world of entrepreneurship. Creating your own job and being the boss of yourself may make you an independent person and may reduce the unemployment rate in our country.

c)    Use your time wisely: every one of us knows the value of time and with that awareness we waste it aimlessly. Time is the most precious thing you have. It is good to plan how you use it because if you don’t plan it you are planning to fail.

d)    The last point I want to suggest to the graduate youth is to earn market-driven skills. There are perceptions which state that the local learned youth do not have enough skills to be hired. In order to eliminate or reduce that perception and to gain opportunities in the market, youth have to earn skills.

Last but not the least, I will be joining the graduated youths by the end of this year. I may encounter what my peers have already experienced, so  I will practice the above points, and I am anticipating from you to practice it.