ICT and Unemployment in Nigeria

A number of telecentres have been established in places like shops, schools, community centre, police stations and clinics. The population of Nigeria, according to the national population commission (NPC) figures stands at over 140, 000,000, and 60% of this number is made up of unemployed youths. With the institutions of learning in Nigeria churning out graduates of various levels and degrees on a yearly basis, a rising trend has seen these graduates coming out of the nation’s universities and polytechnics to join those who graduated ahead of them but without any means of livelihood for years. This chapter examines the role played by unemployment on the making of the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for a period of nine years (2000 - 2008). The objectives of the study are to examine the effects of unemployment on the Nigerian GDP for the selected years, to observe the kind of association that existing between the unemployment and the makings of the Nigerian GDP. Data was collected and analyzed using the regression analysis. Findings showed that unemployment has an enormous effect (over 65%) on the making of the Nigerian GDP, and there exists an inverse relationship between the model (unemployment) and the GDP - increase in the model leads to decrease on the GDP and vice versa. The role of ICT on unemployment and GDP is reviewed. In addition ICT as a tool of combating unemployment corruption is discussed. Recommendations are proffered based on the study that unemployment can be combated through the public sector reforms and the use of ICT.