Practice for the Future: The Aspirational Politics of Nigerian Students

Abstract

In April 2013, an image gained traction within Nigerian social media. In an undisclosed city, likely Lagos or Ibadan, a young man stands by the roadside, raising a cloth banner aloft in an eye-catching shade of neon green. In this part of the world, a young person soliciting passing vehicles with advertisements or goods for purchase is an expected component of the urban scenery. The presence of this young man, however, is curious. Overdressed for petty street hawking, he wears a crisp pair of khaki slacks. A dark cardigan with a white-collared shirt peeks out above his neckline, and a book bag straddles his shoulders. Stamped in red and blue block letters on the canvas sign are the words “I NEED JOB.” Below this, a terse delineation of the graduate’s qualifications: a Bachelors of Science in Public Administration with honors; a diploma in Human Relations; and, membership in two professional bodies, followed by his phone number. The image of the young man peddling his credentials was recirculated as an emblem of the unpromising reality awaiting young Nigerians.