During the recent graduation ceremony at Milestone Institute of Professional Studies (MIPS), where 600 graduates were awarded diplomas and certificates in various disciplines, the graduates made an urgent appeal to the government to prioritize job creation. The youth highlighted that unemployment is driving them towards antisocial behaviors such as drug abuse, alcoholism, and crime.
Isabela Mugechi and Stephen Njoroge, representing the graduates, emphasized the need for the government to establish sustainable job opportunities that would allow the skilled youth to earn a decent living. “The dire unemployment situation many graduates face is disturbing. The youthful and energetic unemployed population is pushing us to demand solutions from a government that promised answers to our challenges,” Mugechi stated.
Mugechi further expressed that despite their significant investment in higher education, many graduates find themselves frustrated and losing hope, often sinking into depression. She urged the government to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles that hinder access to state funding, which would enable them to start their own income-generating ventures. “We have skills and technical know-how, but the major problem is securing seed capital to start our enterprises. There are numerous government funding opportunities, but accessing the funds is usually a tall order. We want the process to be eased so we can establish our enterprises and become job creators,” Mugechi added.
Njoroge also pleaded with the government to simplify the process of obtaining travel documents, such as visas and passports, to allow graduates to seek employment opportunities abroad. “Despite the government’s assurance of a seamless process through enhanced bilateral and diplomatic relationships with other countries, the problem has continued to recur, forcing many of us to remain in the country jobless and hopeless,” Njoroge remarked.
The graduates’ appeal underscores the urgent need for the government to address unemployment and its associated social vices by creating job opportunities and easing access to funding and travel documents. Their plea is a call to action for the government to fulfill its promises and provide tangible solutions to the challenges faced by the skilled yet unemployed youth.
