Chommieblaq:
Unemployment discrimination occurs when an employer refuses to consider or offer employment to unemployed individuals due to age, race, religion, nepotism etc, with the age discrimination being at the top in Nigeria.

Unemployment  rate  in  Nigeria  increased  to  14.2%  percent  in  the  last quarter  of  2016, up from 13.9% in the preceding quarter, which  is  roughly  10 million Nigerians. It just keep getting worse.
I graduated at 23 and finished service at 24 got my first job at 28. It is not about graduating early alone but getting connected on time.
It's in Nigeria that a four year course takes up to 5-7 year, as  a  result  of  numerous  strikes  by varsity  lecturers  and  forced  recesses occasioned  by  unrest, except you opportune to attend a private varsity.

Same country that graduate will search frantically for three, four, five or more years for jobs without success. It's inhumane for the employers to put pressure on the already disturbed job seeker as a result of age and other form of discrimination.

Unlike Nigeria, many civilized nations have labour laws that are enacted against age discrimination in employment matters. These Acts makes  it  unlawful  to  deny  any  age  group employment  as  long  as  one is  within  the  legal  working  age.

Employment practices are supposed to be based on skills and competence rather than age. Unfortunately in my dear Country Nigeria, employers deny employment to its citizen, even the government is not left out of this madness.
People have no choice than to falsify their age in other to be eligible for employment (breeding ground for corrupt practices)

Most banks and other notable organizations deny graduate entry level employment if you are above 24 or 26, with Access bank age limit being the worst ( 23 &24). The government is not left out too. Each government that comes to power normally uses "we will create employment for the youth" mantra yet, does same by pegging its vacancy in the EFCC 27 years, thereby shutting out skilled and competent hand from serving their fatherland. Nepotism and back door employments is the order of the day in our government, many people applied for federal jobs (FCSC, DPR Immigration etc), it's running into a year, yet nothing is being said about these so call recruitments.

I had an experience recently at an interview, the lady interviewing me looked at me and asked ;
HR: Miss Chioma how old are you?
Me: 28 year old Ma'am
HR: Sorry, the age limit for this job is 26
Me: Can I ask you ask you a question Ma
HR: Yes you can
Me: Is there anything that a 26 year old person can do that a 28 year old can't do?

Well she gave excuses, that's it's the company's policy but she will see what she can do. It dampened my mood, soiled my self esteem, on the brighter side, it's their loss. They lost the chance of employing a competent, motivated versatile and success hungry young graduate. I graduated at 26, started service 27 and finished at 28, not everyone have the opportunity and luxury of being a graduate at 21-22.

The president and federal legislators should do the needful, issue laws against discrimination towards job seekers, laws that will bring altitudinal change, so  as  not  to  shut  out  talented,  passionate  and  patriotic  citizens.




Chioma Obi

Cc Lalasticlala
Uboma

Delbam:
I totally agree with you. Nigeria has become a ground for inexplicable corruption both in government and private sectors. Age discrimination!!! Sometimes i laugh when i see advert of job and age is placed at the top of requirement. Where in the world do they get that from, skills, competence and qualification are key factors to employment among other things but only in nigeria do we find age as a requirement. Most organizations have missed out on competent candidate cause of this age disparity. Its unfortunate...i guess we are still far from development. Come to think of this, why do we have elderly ones in positions of power and age is not a factor to them or is it just that age disparity is only meant for the followers and most esp the youth. We have over 60 years of age of leaders who can no longer think constructively on the growth of the nation yet same people limit others on age when it comes to job acquisition.
More so nigerian higher institution does not play a good part in student's life, extending the number of years they are suppose to be a graduate. May God help us!!

betty1983:
Nice write up. They also discriminate against gender and marital status. Most companies do not like to employ married women. It's very frustrating!

izzou:
Na the age own dey vex me

With the way ASUU and FG dey use students' destiny dey dance okoso, companies sef no dey get mercy

Chommieblaq:


A young graduate between the age of 21-25 has more chances of getting a job than a young graduate of 26-28.

Could you please shed more light on what you meant by getting connected.

Generaloluseye:

That is the unfortunate thing in this country. Yes. The higher the age the lower the no of invites u get. But there re some job that requires experience. U van leverage on that. In the banking sector IG u know someone that is connected. Age is irrelevant

Chommieblaq:


It's really frustrating. When I advise young people above 20 and still looking for admission to forget school, get and a skill and start making money from it, they can go back to school later, probably as a part time student to get the certificate ( if na very they want), they will look at me as if I'm mad. Even marketing get age limit , funny but sad.

betty1983:
Nice write up. They also discriminate against gender and marital status. Most companies do not like to employ married women. It's very frustrating!

sydneyboss:
Chommieblaq pls check your inbox.