Introduction
Unemployment remains one of Africa’s most pressing socio-economic challenges. In Nigeria, and particularly in states like Lagos, thousands of graduates flood the labour market yearly, yet companies complain they cannot find the right talent.
The paradox is clear: jobs exist, but job seekers are unemployable. Why? The missing link is the intrapreneurial mindset.
Intrapreneurship means thinking and acting like an entrepreneur within an existing organization. It is the ability to solve problems, create value, and take ownership even when you don’t own the business. Most job seekers approach employment with a “salary-first” mentality instead of a “value-first” mentality. Until that changes, unemployment will remain rampant.
*1. The Current Reality of Unemployment in Nigeria*
According to NBS data, youth unemployment hovers above 40%. In Lagos State, graduates from UNILAG, LASU, and polytechnics often spend 3-5 years searching for jobs. The public sector cannot absorb them all. The private sector is lean, struggling with power, FX, and taxation.
Yet, within those same private firms, CEOs complain: _“We hire staff, but we still have to do their thinking for them.”_ The gap isn’t always technical skill. It’s mindset.
*2. What Is an Intrapreneurial Mindset?*
An intrapreneur treats his job like his own business. He asks:
1. _What problem am I hired to solve?_
2. _How can I do this faster, cheaper, better?_
3. _What new income line can I create for this company?_
4. _If this were my company, what would I do differently today?_
This is the opposite of the “9-to-5, just-get-paid” approach. Intrapreneurs are obsessed with results, not attendance.
*3. Why Job Seekers Without This Mindset Stay Unemployed*
Employer Need Job Seeker Without Intrapreneurship Intrapreneurial Job Seeker
Problem solving Waits for instructions Identifies gaps and proposes fixes
Revenue growth “That’s not in my JD” Brings ideas to increase sales
Cost saving Wastes resources Finds ways to cut waste
Adaptability Resists change Learns new tech/tools fast
Ownership Blames the system Takes responsibility for outcomes
Employers hire assets, not liabilities. When a CV shows no evidence of initiative, innovation, or impact, it goes to the bottom of the pile.
*4. The Economic Cost of an Employee-Only Mindset*
When graduates only hunt for “ready-made jobs,” three things happen:
1. _Pressure on Government_: Everyone looks to civil service. But government can’t employ everyone.
2. _Stagnant SMEs_: Small businesses stay small because staff don’t grow them. The owner is the only thinker.
3. _Brain Waste_: Talented youths spend years idle, losing confidence and skills, while opportunities in value chains rot away.
In Lagos, tech, logistics, entertainment, and retail are goldmines. But without intrapreneurs inside fintechs, shipping firms, studios, and stores, those sectors can’t scale to absorb labour.
*5. How to Build an Intrapreneurial Mindset Before You Get the Job*
_For Job Seekers:_
1. _Volunteer Strategically_: Offer to solve a specific problem for an SME for 3 months. Document results. That becomes your CV.
2. _Learn to Sell_: Every business needs revenue. If you can bring customers, you’ll never be jobless.
3. _Master One Digital Tool_: Excel, Canva, Meta Ads, QuickBooks. Be the person who saves the company time/money.
4. _Think in Projects_: Don’t say “I need a job.” Say “I can grow your Instagram from 1k to 10k buyers in 90 days.”
5. _Study the Business_: Before interviews, read the company’s website. Come with 2 ideas to improve profit.
_For Schools & Parents:_
NYSC and SIWES should be redesigned around intrapreneurial projects. Grade students on value created, not just attendance. Parents should reward problem-solving at home, not just certificates.
*6. What Employers Must Do Differently*
Intrapreneurship is two-sided. Companies must create room for it.
1. _Share the Numbers_: Staff can’t grow what they can’t see. Open-book management builds ownership.
2. _Reward Initiative_: Give bonuses for cost-saving or new income ideas, not just tenure.
3. _Allow Small Failures_: If staff are punished for every mistake, they’ll never try anything new.
4. _Hire for Attitude, Train for Skill_: A curious, hungry mind learns fast. A certificate without drive is dead weight.
*7. Case for Lagos: From Job Seekers to Value Creators*
Imagine 5,000 Lagos graduates entering the market with intrapreneurial training:
– _In Tech_: They join startups not to “write code only” but to launch referral systems that cut CAC and drive user growth.
– _In Retail_: Shop attendants don’t just sell; they set up WhatsApp stores and same-day delivery that increase basket size.
– _In Logistics_: Dispatch staff design route-optimization plans that save fuel and double daily deliveries.
One intrapreneur can justify 3 new hires. That’s how unemployment drops.
*8. The Role of Government, NGOs, and Philanthropists*
1. _Government_: Make “Intrapreneurship Readiness” a course in all tertiary institutions. Give tax breaks to firms that run intrapreneur internship programs.
2. _NGOs_: Run 6-week “Value First” bootcamps in each LGA. Teach problem-spotting, not just CV writing.
3. _Private Sector_: Adopt 10 intrapreneurs yearly. Give them targets and profit-share. Success stories will shift youth culture.
4. _Individuals_: Mentor one unemployed youth. Help them reframe from “hire me” to “here’s how I’ll help you make money.”
*Conclusion: From Unemployment to Unstoppable*
Unemployment is not just about lack of jobs. It’s about lack of job creators inside jobs. The intrapreneurial mindset turns employees into partners, and partners build companies that hire more people.
If you’re a job seeker reading this: stop asking “Is there vacancy?” Start asking “What value can I add that’s so strong, they’ll create a vacancy for me?”
That shift is how Lagos, Nigeria, and Africa will move from rampant unemployment to rampant productivity.
The future won’t be given. It will be built by those who think like owners, even before they earn the title.
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About the Author.
Olubunmi Oluwadare is a renowned expert in entrepreneurship development, a National Business Development Service Provider (NBDSP), and business growth strategist. As the founder of http://www.uni-preneur.com and http://www.getajob.ng, he has empowered thousands of entrepreneurs and job seekers across Nigeria and Africa. As Chairman of BEEXO GROUP http://www.beexogroup.com, he continues to drive business growth and innovation in the region. His book, _”I SEE MONEY IN AFRICA”_, highlights the vast opportunities for entrepreneurs in Africa.
*Get in Touch*
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: 0816 474 2609
http://www.olubunmioluwadare.com