“Work hard and you will make it.”
It is advice many young Nigerians hear from parents, lecturers and older colleagues.
But there is another part of the conversation that is often left unsaid:
Who do you know?
For a young graduate searching for a first job, an entrepreneur looking for an introduction or a professional trying to enter a competitive industry, connections can matter.
That does not mean talent is irrelevant.
It means that sometimes, getting the opportunity to prove your talent is the first challenge.
Hard work does not happen in a vacuum
Nigeria has a huge young population, but the journey from education to decent work remains difficult.
The International Labour Organization’s 2026 employment report says young people around the world are facing a tougher labour market. Global youth unemployment reached 12.4% in 2025, while 20% of young people were not in employment, education or training. The ILO also noted that young workers in developing economies often enter informal jobs because they cannot afford to remain unemployed.
Nigeria is part of that wider challenge.
The World Bank’s latest modelled estimate puts Nigeria’s youth unemployment rate for people aged 15–24 at about 5.3% in 2025. But unemployment figures alone do not tell the whole story. They do not capture every young person who is working informally, underemployed or struggling to find work that matches their skills.
So telling young people to simply “work harder” can miss the bigger picture.
Connections can open the first door
There is nothing inherently wrong with networking.
A former lecturer may tell you about an opening. A friend may introduce you to a hiring manager. Someone you met at a conference may recommend your business.
That is a connection.
It does not necessarily mean corruption or nepotism.
In fact, professional networks are part of how labour markets work. People recommend people they trust. Employers often want candidates whose abilities or character have already been vouched for.
The problem begins when connections become a substitute for competence.
If a qualified candidate is repeatedly overlooked because they lack the “right person” to call, the system becomes much harder to navigate.
The danger of pretending merit is enough
This is where the conversation gets uncomfortable.
Young Nigerians are often told to build their CVs, learn skills, collect certificates and keep applying.
All of that matters.
But what happens when two equally qualified people apply for an opportunity and only one has direct access to the decision-maker?
The answer will not always be unfair. Sometimes the person with the connection is genuinely the better candidate.
But when relationships, family ties or influence consistently determine who gets considered, qualifications can become less important than access.
That can discourage young people who are already struggling to enter the labour market.
Nigeria is trying to widen access
There are also signs that the conversation around opportunity is changing.
In August 2026, the Federal Government launched the “Hire From Nigeria” campaign, aimed at connecting Nigerian professionals with international employment opportunities without requiring them to relocate. The government said the initiative is intended to expand access to global work and strengthen the country’s skills pipeline.
That idea matters because access does not always have to come through someone’s personal network.
Technology can connect employers and workers directly.
Skills platforms can create visibility.
Professional communities can introduce people who would never have met otherwise.
But these systems only work if opportunities are genuinely open and selection processes are credible.
Maybe the real advice should be different
Young Nigerians should still work hard.
They should learn useful skills. Build relationships. Ask questions. Attend events. Find mentors. Share their work. Apply for opportunities.
But society should also stop pretending that success is determined by effort alone.
Hard work matters. Connections matter. Access matters. Timing matters. And sometimes, luck matters too.
Acknowledging that does not encourage laziness.
It simply gives young people a more honest picture of how careers and businesses actually develop.
The goal should not be a society where everyone needs a powerful person to get through the door.
It should be a society where connections can help you find the door, but your ability determines what happens after you enter.
Sources: International Labour Organization, Employment and Social Trends 2026; World Bank, World Development Indicators; Federal Government’s Hire From Nigeria initiative.
