Living a Productive Life in a Nation Ruled by Unemployment

Living a Productive Life in a Nation Ruled by Unemployment

By Michael Chikamso, for the GOA Community Services

“A lazy man says, ‘There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion in the streets!’” — Proverbs 26:13
But a wise man says, ‘Though the ground is dry, I will dig until I find water.’

We live in a time when the most talented hands are idle, the brightest minds are anxious, and the strongest youth walk the streets searching for where to begin. The weight of unemployment is no longer just a statistic — it is a silent funeral. It buries dreams, weakens families, and opens the gates of crime, depression, and corruption.

But in every crisis, there is a calling. And in every lack, there is hidden light.

1. The True Meaning of Productivity

To live a productive life is not merely to be busy — it is to be fruitful. A productive life means using time, skill, and energy to build something that lasts — no matter how small it begins. It is sowing what you have and refusing to die with your gifts buried.

You may not be employed, but are you useful?

There is a difference. Employment is a platform, but productivity is a lifestyle. And those who live productively — even in scarcity — will one day create platforms for others.

2. What’s Truly Wrong: The Youth Are Not the Problem

Let’s say this clearly: our youth are not lazy. They are under-equipped, under-supported, and often mentally drained by years of rejection, fake promises, and systems that favor only the powerful.

Unemployment is not just a lack of jobs — it’s a symptom of:

• A broken education system that teaches theory, not reality.

• A culture that values certificates over creativity.

• A government that funds survival, not innovation.

• A spiritual environment polluted by greed and selfishness.

3. What Can Truly Fix It

We cannot wait for the system to change. The change must begin within us. These are the pillars that can lift our youth:

🔹 Skill Before Salary

Learn a skill that solves problems. The one who solves problems will never remain broke for long. Start with these:

• Phone/software repair

• Welding, carpentry, tailoring

• Graphic design, digital marketing

• Agro-processing or poultry

• Haircutting or beauty crafts

• Writing, editing, content creation

Every city needs food, shelter, light, beauty, and security. Pick one and master it.

🔹 Start Tiny, Think Long

Stop waiting for ₦1 million to begin. If you cannot manage ₦10,000 well, ₦1 million will still vanish. Begin small, but plan deep. Sell akara, write resumes, sew for children — let it grow. Add value, and your name will go ahead of you.

🔹 Partner With People, Not Pity

Don't beg; collaborate. Find someone with a shop but no time. Offer to run it and split profits. Join hands with friends and sell pure water, foodstuff, mobile services — do something that gets you moving. Pity doesn’t pay; partnership does.

🔹 Spiritual Clarity and Courage

Seek divine clarity — the kind that opens your eyes to what others walk past. Prayer is not a substitute for laziness, but a compass for the right path. Many destinies are stuck because they’re running on human maps instead of divine instruction.

4. Building Sustainable Income in a Broken World

We must teach our youth to create income that is independent of politics and unaffected by praise.

Here’s how to build income that lasts:

✅ Monetize What You Know

Can you teach maths? Cook? Organize events? Translate? Clean houses? Someone is willing to pay for it. Package it, brand it, share it.

✅ Go Digital — Even with Local Skills

Use WhatsApp, Instagram, or Google Business Profile to list your services. You can start earning from content creation, tutoring, or selling second-hand products online.

✅ Repeat What Works — Don’t Get Distracted

One great mistake of many youth is quitting too early. Stick to what works. Build it. Polish it. Expand it slowly.

✅ Use Every Small Profit to Reinvest

Don't spend like you're rich when your business is still crawling. Delay pleasure. Buy tools, train more, advertise wisely, and let the seed become a tree.

5. A Word to the Mentors, Churches, and Leaders

You are the answer someone is praying for. Train someone. Share tools. Fund one person. Create small groups. A life that helps others to rise will never fall without help.

God is watching what we do with our power.

If you are blessed, use it to multiply others — not just maintain your own comfort.

🛐 Final Reflection

A nation is not destroyed by poverty — it is destroyed by hopelessness.

And today, God is raising men and women who will sow in famine and reap in plenty. You may be reading this now with nothing in your pocket — but if you begin with the little you know and stay consistent, help will meet you halfway.

Your hands are not cursed.
Your future is not forgotten.
And your journey is not over.

You were born for more.

🔚 Final Words from Michael Chikamso: A Call for Rise

I call on you — dear reader, brother, sister — do not let the shame of lack bury your dreams. Your hands are still useful. Your brain is still working. And heaven still sees your tears. Stand up. Start something. And even if it shakes, don’t stop.

The God of Armies still provides manna in deserts.
He still multiplies jars of oil.
He still remembers those who dare to rise in hard times.

May He remember you.

🩺 Health & Lifestyle Talk

Theme: Stress and Mental Health in Unemployed Youth
Unemployment doesn’t just affect the pocket — it harms the mind. Long-term stress can lead to:

• Anxiety and depression

• Substance abuse

• Insomnia and high blood pressure

Health tips to stay balanced while searching or building income:

• Walk outdoors for 20 minutes daily

• Drink at least 2 liters of water each day

• Sleep 6–8 hours — stress is worsened by exhaustion

• Avoid overthinking — write your plan, act one step daily

• Talk to someone — don’t isolate your pain

🧠 Your mind is your capital. Protect it while you build your future.

ARE YOU INSPIRED? FIND OUT FIVE SKILLS THAT WILL FEED YOU FOR LIFE EVEN IN HARD TIMES.

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