The average age of Nigerians is 19.2 for male and 19.3 for females. In statistical terms over 55% of Nigeria’s total population should be working and developing the nation. This should be good news in any language.

However, Nigeria is one of the hardest places in the world to be a young person because of the inaccessibility to work. In general, children born into poor families are at risk of recycling poverty.

Parents have to work extra hard in order to be able to pay for their children’s education, in the hope that such investments will pay off. More often than not, these hopes are dashed by the reality that a huge percentage of graduates are available for very few jobs.

These jobs will usually go to the exceptionally intelligent or to people from affluent families. In between these two sides of the divide are millions of young people who remain idle for years to come.

Official figures from the Ministry of Finance put the unemployment rate in the country at just 19.7%. However, some critics argue that this figure could be grossly understated.

A drive through Nigeria’s commercial cities reveals blank faces of a growing army of jobless people. They can be seen begging, hawking or loitering. Others walk from company to company submitting resumes, taking employment tests that sometimes invite 1,000 people and recruits 10 or less.

These are defining moments for Nigeria, and as such the need for change is imminent. Expectations of young people in Nigeria have reached a peak, as they hope once again that the newly democratically elected Government led by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, will develop infrastructures and create an investment friendly environment.

Enough of the often meaningless rhetoric, Nigeria's youth want action.