In Abia State this year, the news did not begin with another scandal or crisis. It began with the governor handing out jobs to young people who had nothing but their effort to thank. For once, it was not whispers of godfathers pulling strings or job slots being sold in backrooms. It was a rare announcement that said, “You worked hard, you earned this, and here is your reward.”
This had happened not once but twice and for many young people, it was a shock to see merit rewarded so openly. It sparked conversations across campuses, workplaces, and WhatsApp groups: could this be a sign that things are beginning to change?
Why This Matters Now
Youth unemployment in Nigeria has reached crisis levels, with thousands of graduates completing NYSC every year only to face a job market with little to offer. For most, the end of service year signals the start of hustling between side gigs, volunteering, or small businesses that barely pay the bills. The competition for scarce opportunities has created frustration and despair.
Government jobs, in particular, have long been criticized for being handed out through influence rather than competence. Against this backdrop, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State made two significant moves in 2025 that captured national attention. By offering jobs directly to young people who had excelled in training or national service, he sent a message that performance could finally matter.
May’s Tech Graduates Get a Break
The first move came in May, when Abia concluded its TechRise programme. This initiative trained more than five hundred young people in digital skills ranging from animation to artificial intelligence. It was the state’s attempt to push its youth into the growing global digital economy.
From that pool, nineteen of the best performers were offered automatic employment in the civil service. The rest were not left behind, as more than five hundred others received laptops to support their entrepreneurial or freelance journeys. For many of the participants, the gesture was a clear link between training and tangible opportunity.
September’s NYSC Heroes Step In
Now this month of September, another group of young people received life changing news. Nine ex Corps members of Abia origin who had won national awards for outstanding performance during their service year were offered jobs on the spot. Their achievements, which had already earned them national recognition, now brought them a career lifeline at home.
Governor Otti instructed the Head of Service to issue their appointment letters without delay. There were no interviews or hidden processes. The employment embargo was lifted temporarily to accommodate them. For the beneficiaries, it was a rare instance where excellence alone opened the door.
The Unanswered Questions
While these announcements brought excitement, they also raised difficult questions. What happens to the thousands of Abians or even Nigerians who did not make it into the nineteen or the nine? Can the civil service absorb many more people if this becomes a regular practice? And how long can the state budget stretch to accommodate such moves?
There is also the question of fairness. Rewarding only the best performers or national awardees can create the impression that opportunities are reserved for an elite few. Many hardworking young people contribute in smaller but meaningful ways, and they still deserve pathways into stable employment. The gestures may be inspiring, but they leave a gap that must be addressed.
The Promise Inside the Gesture
Yet, there is an undeniable opportunity hidden in all of this. By linking jobs to performance, Otti has disrupted the narrative that government employment is only for the connected. It offers a glimpse of what a merit-based system could look like in practice for people in power to emulate.
The TechRise model is especially promising, as training, tools, and employment together create a pipeline that can be expanded over time. If the laptops lead to actual digital businesses, and if civil service roles are matched with the skills gained, the ripple effect could be powerful. Essentially, this action has the chance to become a reference point for youth empowerment in Nigeria.
What Needs to Happen Next
For these initiatives to be more than symbolic, they must scale. The government can partner with private companies to create internships and graduate placements. This would expand opportunities beyond the civil service and spread the impact more widely.
There should also be a need to build trust by keeping the process transparent. Young people should be able to see clearly how beneficiaries are selected and what criteria are used. Equally important is tracking outcomes. If these new employees thrive, and if ICT graduates build careers from their training, the proof will silence doubts.
A Challenge for the Future
These moves by Otti have sparked hope, but they also carry responsibility. If Abia proves that rewarding merit is sustainable, it will challenge other states to follow. If not, it risks becoming just another political headline that fades as quickly as it appeared.
For every graduate still clutching a CV, the dream is simple: to be recognized for effort, not for who they know. If merit is truly becoming the new connection, then perhaps Nigeria’s young people finally have a reason to believe again.
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