A 27-year-old Nigerian academic, Ayomide Alokun, has drawn widespread attention after staging a solo protest in Abuja over unemployment among qualified youths in the country.

In a video that circulated online, the young scholar was seen holding a placard detailing his academic qualifications, including a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Political Science, as well as a PhD in International Relations, while appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for employment.

The protester lamented that despite years of academic achievement and national service, he had remained without a job, adding that many Nigerian youths who followed the path of education and hard work were still struggling to secure meaningful opportunities.

Speaking in the video, Alokun said he lacked the alternative means through which some young people gain wealth or fame, stressing instead that he possessed educational credentials and a willingness to contribute positively to society.

He also disclosed that he received national recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic for humanitarian activities carried out as a corps member, particularly in the distribution of relief materials across parts of the country.

The incident has since generated reactions on social media, with many Nigerians expressing concern over rising youth unemployment, underemployment and the increasing number of highly educated graduates unable to secure work opportunities.

Others described the protest as a reflection of broader frustrations among young professionals, amid growing conversations around migration, brain drain and the state of employment in the country.