A striking three out of four young Nigerians feel that their country is heading in the wrong direction !

OJ Obodo on Aug 2, 2026

A striking three out of four young Nigerians feel that their country is heading in the wrong direction, making Nigeria one of the most pessimistic nations in a recent survey of 16 African countries released this month.

The 2026 African Youth Survey, conducted by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, reveals that while young Nigerians are quite worried about the future of their nation, their outlook on Africa as a whole has actually brightened over the last two years.

The survey indicates that the percentage of Nigerian youths who believe the continent is on the right path has surged, jumping from 10% in 2024 to 30% in 2026.

This trend underscores a widening gap between young Nigerians' views on their own country's progress and their hopes for Africa's future.

What the report reveals
According to the survey, a significant 76% of Nigerian youth think Nigeria is on the wrong track, while only 22% hold a more optimistic view.

This places Nigeria just behind Mozambique (85%), Chad (80%), and Kenya (80%) in terms of pessimism among the 16 countries surveyed.

Despite this, the findings also suggest a slow but steady improvement in the sentiments of Nigerian youth.

The report highlights that positive perceptions regarding Nigeria's direction have increased by 16 percentage points since 2024.

Additionally, concerns about unemployment among young Nigerians have notably decreased, with anxiety about job prospects dropping by 31 percentage points compared to 2024.

“In Nigeria, concern about employment fell by 31 pp. from 2024, while positive sentiment about the country’s direction rose by 16 pp.,” the report stated.
This improving outlook on employment aligns with a stronger economic performance, as the report notes that “Nigeria, for example, is now growing at a faster rate than at any point since 2015.”
The survey also highlighted Nigeria as one of the countries where optimism about Africa has seen an uptick.

“Nigeria records another significant shift, with nearly a third of youth now positive about the continent’s direction.” let hear your discussions