Cost of living tops African youth concerns; 75% of Nigerian youths pessimistic
The Ichikowitz Family Foundation's 2026 African Youth Survey, which interviewed 4,900 young people aged 18-24 across 16 African countries including Nigeria, shows that the rising cost of living has become the top concern for Africa's youth, cited by 27% of respondents as the event with the greatest impact over the past five years, ahead of infectious diseases (22%) and political instability (19%). Economic issues dominate priorities: creating well-paying jobs is seen as the most important task for leaders (27%), followed closely by reducing government corruption (25%). For Nigeria specifically, three out of four youths (75%) believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, yet optimism about the continent's future has risen - those who think Africa is moving in the right direction tripled from 10% in 2024 to 30% in 2026. The survey also notes that young Africans now judge international partnerships by tangible benefits such as investment, infrastructure and trade, rather than ideological alignment. With the UN projecting over 800 million African youths by 2050, job creation is lagging, leaving many vulnerable to unemployment and underemployment amid rising food and fuel prices. Given these pressures, what practical steps can young Nigerians take to boost their earnings or reduce expenses, and how should leaders respond to restore confidence in the nation's trajectory?