Bridging the Gap: Balancing Innovation, the Gig Economy, and Job Security for Inclusive Economic Growth in Nigeria

My contributions to the SDGs and my plan for the Nigerian GIG economy are as follows:

As a youth leader passionate about Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), my mission is to promote an economic system that includes and uplifts the most vulnerable, especially in Northern Nigeria, where I’ve led transformative campaigns to combat protein deficiency. While my work began in the realm of nutrition, I quickly discovered that hunger is not just a food issue—it is an economic issue. Malnutrition, underemployment, and job insecurity are interconnected challenges rooted in structural inequality. This revelation guided me to adopt a broader vision: inclusive economic development through the integration of innovation, the gig economy, and job security.

From Protein Deficiency to Economic Empowerment

In 2022, I spearheaded the nationwide “Right to Protein” campaign, targeting communities suffering from severe protein deficiency. My team and I reached over 10,000 people—particularly women and children—across Northern Nigeria with awareness drives, nutritional education, and the promotion of locally accessible, protein-rich diets. We empowered women to cultivate and market crops like soybeans and groundnuts, which not only improved community health but also created new income-generating opportunities.

The biggest challenge we faced was resistance to change due to cultural dietary norms, and limited economic agency among women.

To overcome this, we partnered with local leaders, ran culturally sensitive awareness campaigns in Hausa, and organized community nutrition fairs. These events became platforms not only for health education but for entrepreneurship—several women began to package and sell protein-rich snacks, developing micro-enterprises. The ripple effect was profound: families ate better, women earned more, and youth began to see agriculture and nutrition not just as survival tools, but as opportunities for innovation and employment.

The Gig Economy: Blessing or Barrier?

Nigeria’s youth population is booming, yet 53.4% of young people are either unemployed or underemployed (NBS, 2023). Many turn to the gig economy—digital freelancing, delivery services, ride-hailing—as a survival strategy. While it offers flexibility and immediate income, gig work often lacks job security, social protection, and long-term growth. I’ve worked with numerous youth who find themselves trapped in a cycle of instability, unable to access housing, credit, or healthcare due to the informal nature of their work.

I believe we need a new model that integrates the innovation of the gig economy with policies and platforms that protect workers and reward sustainable enterprise. One approach I advocate for is the formalization of gig labor through worker cooperatives and digital unions, where freelancers can collectively bargain and access pooled resources like pensions, insurance, and training. Innovation must not come at the cost of dignity.

Project Proposal: Sustainable Innovation and Work Lab (SIWL)

To address these challenges, I am launching the Sustainable Innovation and Work Lab (SIWL)—a pilot initiative in Kaduna State aimed at empowering 500 young people, particularly women and gig workers, with three core objectives:

1. Upskill & Certify: Offer practical digital and entrepreneurial training in high-demand sectors like agritech, health tech, and e-commerce, with industry-recognized certifications.

2. Protect & Empower: Partner with legal and HR firms to educate gig workers on their rights and provide access to portable benefits.

3. Incubate & Scale: Provide seed funding and mentorship for innovative micro-businesses that merge sustainability with profitability.

   
   

Expected outcomes include job creation, increased worker protections, and the establishment of scalable social enterprises that balance innovation with inclusivity.

Evaluating Perspectives: Government vs. Youth-Led Solutions

While Nigeria’s National Development Plan 2021–2025 emphasizes economic diversification and job creation, implementation gaps remain—particularly in rural and underserved regions. Top-down approaches often miss the grassroots insight needed for real impact. As a youth leader who has worked directly with affected populations, I’ve seen the power of bottom-up, youth-led innovation. The future belongs not just to tech unicorns in urban centers, but to the everyday change agents crafting local solutions to global challenges.

Why the World Youth Festival Matters

Attending the World Youth Festival presents a unique opportunity for me to collaborate with changemakers across the globe, exchanging insights on how other countries are balancing gig work and job security. The networking will allow me to attract potential partners for the SIWL project and explore new models for cooperative platforms. I aim to return with refined strategies, international best practices, and cross-border collaborations that can accelerate our efforts at home.

Moreover, the festival will deepen my leadership capacity through exposure to policy dialogues and social innovation labs, allowing me to influence conversations on SDG 8 not just in Nigeria, but globally. My story is proof that local action can lead to national impact—and with global collaboration, that impact can go even further.

Conclusion

Inclusive economic growth is not a theoretical ideal—it is a necessity for the survival and dignity of millions. Through my work combating protein deficiency, I witnessed how malnutrition stems from deeper economic exclusion. Now, I am using that insight to promote sustainable livelihoods in the gig era. As we look toward the future, the question is not whether innovation will shape our economy, but whether that economy will serve everyone equally. As a youth leader, I am committed to making sure it does.

References (100 words):

• National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). (2023). Unemployment and Underemployment Report.

• United Nations. (2022). The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022.

• International Labour Organization. (2021). The Role of Digital Labor Platforms in Transforming the World of Work.

• FAO. (2020). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.

• World Bank. (2023). Nigeria Digital Economy Diagnostic Report.