If School Is Not a Scam, Then Why Are Our Graduates Jobless?

A heart-wrenching photo has emerged on social media showing a young Nigerian corper standing on Oshodi Bridge in Lagos, holding a cardboard sign that reads:

"If school is not a scam, after months of finishing service (NYSC), I haven't gotten a job."

The image, shared by Twitter user @fw_cas, has stirred a wave of emotion and sparked heated conversations online. The tweet reads:

“Met this corper on Oshodi Bridge today, crying out after NYSC with no job. Let’s stand together for #JusticeForNigeriaGraduates! Help a graduate—share their story! 🇳🇬 #SupportOurYouth”

This heartbreaking scene paints a stark picture of the growing frustration among Nigerian youths who, despite spending years in school, enduring strike actions, and finally serving their country through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), still find themselves unemployed and hopeless.

It’s a scene too familiar. Every year, thousands of graduates finish NYSC with dreams of landing decent jobs. But reality slaps hard. Companies are not hiring, experience is demanded from fresh graduates, and many are left to roam the streets, facing rejection after rejection.

This is more than a photo. It's a cry for help. A symbol of the broken promises and the systemic failure in Nigeria's educational and employment system. Young Nigerians are asking the hard question: “What was the point of going to school?”

The sign this corper held is not just a cardboard. It is a mirror to the nation. A mirror reflecting our broken economy, the neglect of youth empowerment, and the ever-widening gap between education and opportunity.

We cannot continue to ignore the cries of our young people. Their voices matter. Their struggles are valid. The government, private sector, and stakeholders must come together and take urgent steps to create real opportunities for the graduates this nation produces every year.

Until then, we will keep seeing more heartbreaking scenes like this. And one day, the silence will cost us all more than we can imagine.