Unemployment - The African Mirror

Jan

2024

Uganda’s battle for the youth vote – how Museveni keeps Bobi Wine’s reach in check

UGANDA is one of the youngest countries in the world, with an average age of 15.9 years. Young people aged below 30 make up about 77% of the country’s population of 47 million people. Young people have legitimate and wide-ranging grievances, from unemployment to disenfranchisement. Opportunities remain limited, with two-thirds of Ugandans working for themselves or doing family-based agricultural work. REBECCA TAPSCOTT, Lecturer, University of York ANNA MACDONALD, Associate Professor, Global Development, University of East Anglia Yet, young people in Uganda haven’t coalesced as an electoral bloc. This is despite the emergence of a presidential candidate who champions youth issues.…

Jun

2023

By MACDONALD DZIRUTWE

Analysis: Nigeria’s Tinubu faces daunting hurdles after reform sprint

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

NEW Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has moved at lightning speed in his first month in office, implementing a raft of radical changes aimed at finally unleashing the full potential of Africa's sluggish economic giant. But while his rapid headway on reforms has wowed investors, some analysts, observers and business leaders warn that bigger challenges await and question whether the 71-year-old - viewed by many as part of Nigeria's old guard - is really the man to take them on. "There has been a big policy shift (but) I think there are things that investors would like to see happening to really be convinced…

Oct

2022

By The African Mirror

Johannesburg’s informal traders face abuse: the city’s ‘world class’ aspirations create hostility towards them

NEWS

UNEMPLOYMENT and the rising cost of living force many people to make a living in the informal economy, particularly street trading. While it is difficult to measure the size of the informal economy, some studies show that more than 60% of employed people in the world work in the informal economy. It’s over 80% in Africa, and the trend is increasing. But many governments discourage informal trading, considering it the antithesis of development. In their view, informal trading causes street congestion, contributes to crime and grime and threatens public order. Author MAMOKETE MODIBA, Researcher, Gauteng City-Region Observatory This is often…

Jul

2022

By The African Mirror

Schools can be a great resource for mental health in South Africa

EDUCATION

IN the face of deep inequality, unemployment, high rates of crime and violence, and the social and economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health trajectory for young South Africans looks bleak. Mental health is multi-faceted. It enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. When people face social and economic adversity, their risk of developing mental illness increases if they don’t have support that could protect them. Author SARAH SKEEN, Associate Professor, Global Health, Stellenbosch University Data on the exact burden of child and…

Apr

2022

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s COVID relief measures mostly excluded refugees: a neglect of duty

COVID-19

THE early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa saw the government impose a lockdown in a bid to save lives. It introduced several interventions to cushion the impact of the crisis caused by the shutdown of economic activities on citizens. Among the measures were food aid as well as unemployment and debt relief. Refugees and asylum seekers expected similar protection. Their expectations flowed from the fact that the South African government has a responsibility to protect them according to the Refugees Act 130 of 1998. Author CALLIXTE KAVURO, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Public Law, Stellenbosch University The act…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

African researchers make headway in getting decisions made based on evidence

SCIENCE, TECH AND INNOVATION

THE COVID-19 pandemic has added to the challenges facing African countries, including poverty, inequality and unemployment. RUTH STEWART, Professor: Evidence-Informed Decision-Making, University of Johannesburg SIZIWE NGCWABE, Senior Manager: Operations and Research Associate, University of Johannesburg Solutions exist. But they must be based on the best available evidence. That allows governments and policymakers to ensure scarce resources are carefully, transparently allocated where they can do the most good. Around the world, there is a community working to develop and support mechanisms that increase the use of research in decision-making. This is what is called evidence-informed decision-making. The community works in many…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Effects of COVID-19 on millions of Nigerians

COVID-19

LIBBY GEORGE and ESTELLE SHIRBON SHEHU Ismaila Gbadebo has worked as a barber for two decades. The money he made at his rented stall in a bustling suburb of Nigeria's megacity, Lagos, used to be plenty for him to pay bills and set aside some savings. Now, he relies on donated food and sometimes skips meals to feed his family. Since COVID-19 hit Africa's most populous nation and biggest economy, prices for some staples such as eggs, onions and palm oil, have risen by 30% or more. Fewer people can afford a haircut, and those who can are demanding discounts…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Buhari tells youth to ‘behave’ if they want jobs

NEWS

LIBBY GEORGE PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has told young Nigerians that they must "behave" in order to attract jobs and investment. Buhari, speaking on Arise TV, said security was essential in order for investment in the country, where unemployment rose to 33.3% in the fourth quarter. "Nobody is going to invest in an insecure environment. So I told them, I said they should tell the youth that if they want jobs, they will behave themselves," Buhari said. "Make sure that the area is secure. So that people can come in and invest." Nigeria has struggled with high unemployment and rapid population…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

‘Stagflation’ stalks Nigeria as food prices, unemployment soar

BUSINESS

CHIJIOKE OHUOCHA NIGERIAN inflation hit a four-year peak in February as food prices jumped more than 20%, heaping financial pressure on households already faced with a shrinking labour market and a stagnant economy at a time of mounting insecurity. Inflation, in double digits since 2016, reached 17.33%, driven by the impact of a coronavirus epidemic that has also induced a drop in the price of oil, Nigeria's main export, and weakened the naira currency. Tuesday's inflation reading was the highest since the 17.78% touched in February 2017. The economy was in a slump then and is teetering on the brink…

Jan

2021

By The African Mirror

COVID-19 fuels youth unemployment in Nigeria

NEWS

ADAOBI TRICIA NWAUBANI FROM hotels and schools to the navy and police force, Nigerian graduate Ene Adejo has looked for a job just about everywhere since she finished her studies eight years ago, but she is still unemployed. "Sometimes they tell me the course I studied doesn't relate to the job I'm applying for ... Sometimes they tell me I don't have experience," Adejo, 34, who studied adult education and business studies, said from her home in the capital, Abuja. The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled youth unemployment in Africa's largest economy, which has risen for five consecutive years to about…