LAZY YOUTHS? A DEEPER LOOK TO A LOUD STATEMENT

Let's go back a few years when a statement was made that sent shockwaves across Nigeria: “Nigerian youths are lazy”

Business owners were angry, youths were angrier and here we are, still circling around that question. So, were they right? Well, let's pause for a moment and ask what do you as a business owner see when you recruit?

We'll be honest. At HireRight, we have worked with over 150 companies, placed 500+ professionals, and interviewed thousands of candidates across industries, and here's what we have found:

Nigerian youths are not lazy — many are unprepared

Some lack the right attitude, many lack direction, a good number have never had solid mentorship and too many simply don't understand the realities of the workplace but this isn't laziness, it's a system failure.

There is a gap between what employers expect and what candidates know and every day, we see businesses losing money and time because of this.

We see managers who are frustrated with poor work ethic. We see HR heads battling with hires who don't “get it.” We see businesses hiring for potential, then babysitting poor performance. So what can we do about it? That's the real question.

What we do at HireRight

At HireRight, we believe in building bridges, not burning them. That's why our work goes beyond filling roles. We coach candidates, we educate employers, and we focus on long-term fit not just short-term fixes.

We also push for employer responsibility. Because let's be honest: some companies want magic from underpaid, unsupported staff and that's not sustainable either.

So instead of the label “lazy,” focus on:

• Building better recruitment systems
• Investing in onboarding and training
• Speaking more to young people in a language they understand
• And holding both parties; employers and job seekers, accountable.

Lazy youths? Not quite. But we all have work to do.

If you're serious about building a workforce that works, we are here to help.