Reasons for Youth from Nigeria and Somaliland to Apply for Online Certified Courses

Abstract

In Nigeria and Somaliland, where youth unemployment rates are high, young people struggle to meet the skills required in an ever-changing labour market. Research has shown that to combat youth employment; youngsters have started to prefer non-formal education as an alternative to formal education to improve their skills, knowledge and employability. This research investigates why young people in Nigeria and Somaliland enrol in online certified courses and how these certificate structures could be improved based on participant feedback. Based on literature research on the impact of non-formal education on employability, an online interview was conducted with the alumni of the Design Thinking course. An online questionnaire was also distributed to youth with previous experiences with online courses from Nigeria and Somaliland to gain insights into their experiences and opinions on online courses and certificates. The analysis demonstrates that the benefits of technological advances and the provision of the teaching of skills that are sought for in the job market provided by the courses are two crucial factors that increase the interest of the youth in online certified courses. This study indicates that young people in Nigeria and Somaliland resort to online certified courses to acquire skills and knowledge to stand out in the labour market. Further research could compare the reasons why young people in Western vs. non-Western countries apply for online certified courses.