The National Orientation Agency (NOA), has said about 70 per cent of Nigeria’s 80 million youthful population are without jobs.

Richard Abimiku, Benue State Director of the agency, made the remark at a national youth summit held in Makurdi, the state capital.

“It will interest you to know that Nigeria has a youthful population of about 80 million, which is about 60 percent of its entire population. Although about 70 percent of the 80 million are unemployed, it is no doubt that the most productive years of an individual’s life are when he/she is still a youth”, he said.

He, however, stated that given the large number of youths and their role in the country’s development, the youths are yet to fully demonstrate the will to positively deploy their God-given talents and resources available toward national development.

“While acknowledging the efforts of some youth in various professional fields like sports, academic, ICT and entrepreneurship among others, it is important to keep youth on their toes, helping them to think and act positively despite the challenges,” Abimiku added