To mark International Youth Day 2026, YASIF Nigeria Executive Director, Blessing Ewa, featured in an interview with RAPID TV to address the structural realities, employability gaps, and policy needs facing young people across Nigeria today.
Speaking alongside hosts Victor Ake and Martha Alu, Ewa detailed YASIF Nigeria’s strategic priorities across youth leadership, capacity building, and institutional policy reform.
Ewa emphasized that genuine youth inclusion requires embedding young people directly into policy frameworks rather than offering superficial representation.
Blessing Ewa said:
“Giving young people seats at the table means giving them the opportunity to be part of the decision-making process. Over 60% of our people are young persons… you cannot do that decision outside the generation that would benefit from it.”
She called on decision-makers and local government authorities to build accessible channels starting from grassroots communities to ensure young citizens actively shape national development strategies.
Drawing from YASIF Nigeria’s implementation of programs such as the Reskilling Revolution (Africa Skills Build), Ewa clarified that youth unemployment in Nigeria stems primarily from an employability and guidance gap rather than a lack of willingness to work.
Blessing Ewa said:
“It’s not that they are lazy; it’s that they are not mentored enough to understand what they really want for themselves.”
To solve this, she outlined three essential interventions for workforce development:
- Post-Training Mentorship: Technical skill acquisition must be followed by structured career alignment to help young people target industry-specific roles.
- Job Readiness: Young job seekers require direct preparation in interview performance, CV optimization, and professional positioning.
- Strategic Volunteering: Ewa noted that over 90% of her early professional development came through volunteering, identifying hands-on service as a primary mechanism for building verified industry experience and qualifying for global awards such as the Chevening Scholarship.
On the future of work, Ewa highlighted the necessity of immediate digital adaptation across non-tech and tech sectors alike, while advocating for stronger institutional protections for workers.
Blessing Ewa said:
“You cannot continue with the analog system, not at this age and time… try to see how you can leverage artificial intelligence to drive what you do to achieve your best result.”
Alongside technical adoption, she stressed the enforcement of workplace mental health standards and staff well-being policies to ensure sustainable productivity without damaging employee self-esteem.
At YASIF Nigeria, we remain committed to creating opportunities that equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and support they need to participate meaningfully and build better futures.
We appreciate RAPID TV for the invitations and for creating space for these important discussions on young people and their future.
Watch interview here!