Self-Reliance as a Panacea to Youth Unemployment in Nigeria: The Islamic Approach

Abstract

Rising youth unemployment in Nigeria is a serious issue of concern with solution measures being taken every now and then, yet, the problem persists. Self-reliance as a means of combating unemployment has become an essential model in contemporary time. While substantial studies on reducing youth unemployment have been undertaken by researchers in Nigeria but most of these were based on conventional perspectives devoid of religious teachings, thus overlooking the fact that religion is a vital facet of nearly all societies including Nigeria and that religion shapes the mind-set its adherents have toward hard work, consumption, individual duty, and planning for the future. Consequently, many youth in Nigeria do not recognize their religious responsibility to be self-reliant and economically sovereign. Besides, studies on Islamic teachings on self reliance as a strategy for reducing unemployment are scarce.