THE IMPACT OF UNEMPLOYMENT ON
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND NATION BUILDING IN SOME SELECTED L. G. A IN EBONYI STATE.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title
page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgment
Abstract
Table
of Content
CHAPTER
ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Statement of problem
1.2 Aim/objectives of the study
1.3 Research Question
1.4 Significant of study
1.5 Scope of the study
1.6 Limitation of study
1.7 Definition of terms
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Related
Literature Review
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
APPENDIX
ABSTRACT
This research work made effort to examine empiricallythe impact of unemployment on youth development and nation
building, using Afikpo, Ivo and Ikwo
Local Government area as a case study. One of the many pressing challenges facing
Nigeria today is youth unemployment with the ripple effect of their resort to
violent crimes. The concern of many educationists and the public in general is
to encourage youths to engage in useful livelihood. Youths are very important stakeholder in
any society. They are not only the future of Nigeria, but also a major
stakeholder and useful resource in nation building. However, available data
show that youth unemployment is very prevalent in Nigeria with far reaching
implications for stability of the economy. Unemployment has a negative
multiplier effect not only on the individual involved but on the society as a
whole. The
researcher used primary and secondary methods of data collection to gather the
needed data. The data obtained through questionnaires were presented in tables
and analyzed using the simple percentage. The findings have also shown that
factors which militate against successful youth employment development to
nation building includes adoption
of untimely economic policy measures, wrong impression about technical and
vocational studies, the neglect of the agricultural sector, poor educational
Planning and poor enabling environment, anchoring the explanation of the causes
of these youth unemployment on neo-liberalism that created economic and social
dislocations. The
researcher therefore recommended that though government may not be able to create job enough for the teaming
millions of Nigerian unemployed youths, and therefore should embark upon
massive youth development programmes in all the states of the federation with
entrepreneurial skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development as a key
target hence a viable intervening tool for unemployment.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The
Nigerian economy since the attainment of political independence in 1960 has
undergone fundamental structural changes resulting to structural shifts which
have however not resulted in any significant sustainable economic growth and
development to ensure adequate employment opportunity for her youths. According
acknowledged Akpabio, (2005:332) and Gobeli, (1995:122). Over time, the roles
of the youth in national development have been. As they continue to play
pervasive roles in nation building, the youth by definition have been regarded
as that segment of the population from 18-35 years (National Policy of Youth
Development, 1999) who are characteristically active, vibrant, daring and with
useful energies. The development of the Nigerian nation from pre-colonial to
independent and post-independent era has been attributed to vital contribution
of the youth. Despite their positive roles in national development, they
constitute the most critical and volatile segment of the society. The worsening
economic situation in Nigeria from the austere periods to the SAP and Post-SAP
era has threatened the collective psyche of the youth. General unemployment,
lack of consistent policy framework for youth development, general economic
hardship among others have thrown the youth into joblessness, agents of social
vices and general idleness. As their conditions worsen, they have been used as
agents of political thuggery and general misadventure. Moreover, they have
become the major agents in social conflicts with diverse and devastating
consequences in the nation. As their negative and pervasive roles continue to
impact on the economy, several strategies of youth empowerment have been
evolved over time. The strategies have, however, yielded little or no results
as their activities have consistently imposed serious threats to social
security, truncated economic activities and severe drainage of national income.
Youth unemployment is becoming an
increasingly troublesome issue in many parts of the world. In Nigeria, it has
become one of the most serious socio-economic problems confronting the country.
The magnitude of this can be appreciated if accurate statistics could be
obtained from the Federal Bureau of Statistics on the number of unemployed
youths roaming the streets of Nigerian cities. However, Awogbenle and Iwuamadi
(20101:33) observed from the excerpts of statistics obtained from the National
Manpower Board and Federal Bureau of Statistics showed that Nigeria has a youth
population of eighty (80) million representing 60 percent of the total
population of the country. Sixty four (64) million of them are unemployed while
one million six hundred thousand (1.6 million) are underemployed. Unemployment
has become a major problem bedeviling the lives of Nigerian youth causing
frustration, dejection and dependency on family members and friends, who also
have their own problems to contend with. The high rate of unemployment among
the youths in Nigeria has contributed to the high rate of poverty and
insecurity in the country. Unemployment is worldwide economic problem, causing
poverty and lack among the young once. In recent times, there have been notable
adverse social, economic and political developments in Nigeria, a consequence
of youth unemployment and underemployment, particularly exemplified by
increasing militancy, violent crimes, kidnapping, restiveness and political
instability. The Nigerian situation is further compounded by the recent global
financial crisis that has crippled businesses and the prospect of securing jobs
for young people (Fanimo and Olayinka, (2009:66). According to Adejumola and
Tayo-Olajubulu (2000:163) contended that unemployment has been identified as
one of the major causes of social vices, including armed robbery, destitution,
prostitution, political thuggery, kidnapping and many more. Musari (2007:299)
corroborated this statement by saying that about 4.5 million enter the labour
market every year without any hope of getting employment for life sustenance.
The precarious situation has left the youths in a vicious cycle of poverty that
daily erodes their self-confidence and bright future.
For most developing countries like Nigeria, Governments and policy
makers are increasingly finding it difficult to grapple successfully with youth
unemployment. This high rate of unemployment can be blamed on the lack of
adequate provision for job creation in the development plans, the ever
expanding educational growth and the desperate desire on the part of youths to
acquire University education irrespective of course and course contents. As a
result, a number of skills acquired from the University appear dysfunctional
and irrelevant (Okafor, 2011:307). In Nigeria, the federal government in 2008
acknowledged that about 80 percent of Nigeria’s youth are unemployed and 10
percent underemployed (Daily Trust, 2008). In 2011, the Minister of Youth
Development, Bolaji Abdullahi reported that 42.2 per cent of Nigeria’s youth
population is out of job. Depo Oyedokun, the Chair of the House Committee on
Youth and Social Development revealed that of the over 40 million unemployed
youths in the country, 23 million are unemployable and therefore susceptible to
crime, hence the need to articulate what could be done to salvage the
situation. The pace is increasing because most graduates lack relevant
marketable skills. More than half of the Nigerian populations are under the age
of 30 (National Population Commission, 2001). Therefore it can be asserted that
the economy of Nigeria is a youth economy (Oviawe, 2010:88). Expectedly,
today’s youth will become in a short decade tomorrow’s parents, leaders, labour
force and armies. However, the Nigerian youths are said to be confronted with
poverty, unemployment, urbanization, lack of capacity and skills needed to move
the economy forward. This is because the youth faces unemployment and lack of
necessary productive skills to keep body and soul together. A national survey
jointly sponsored by NUC and the Education Trust Fund (ETF) in 2004 sought to
determine the labour market needs. The study revealed that 44 percent of the 20
organizations rated Nigerian science graduates as average in competence, 56
percent rated them as average in innovation, 50 percent rated them average in
rational judgment, 63 percent as average in leadership skills and 44 percent as
average in creativity. On needed skills like literacy, oral communication,
information technology, entrepreneurship, analytical, problem-solving and
decision making, 60 percent rated them as poor. By any standard, the above
statistics reflect a poor assessment of Nigerian university graduates and
further buttress the argument that Nigerian university graduates are
unemployable (Okafor, 2011:310). Resultantly, the lack of employment potential
makes crime a more attractive option for some Nigerian university graduates.
This is because in Nigeria it is common to find some graduates still roaming the streets,
five years after graduating in search of jobs that are not thereby lending
force to crimes such as armed robbery, car snatching, pipeline vandalization,
oil bunkering, and prostitution among the youths. This critical skill gaps
inhibits the development of youths and the entire development of the nation, as
more than half of the Nigerian populations are under the age of 30. This is
dependent on the fact that Nigeria’s population is predominantly youth Oviawe,
J.O. (2010:66).
1.1
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
This study has tried to establish that youth unemployment is a growing
challenge of all in selected local government in Ebonyi state as well as the
Nation as a whole. Policies to tackle youth unemployment have tended to focus
on how youth are different from other workers. They are less skilled, less
experienced and have very limited business contacts. Thus skills training and
vocational education constitute the majority of interventions to date. However,
many of these training programs have had disappointing outcomes. Youth
unemployment in Ebonyi State is a multi-dimensional problem that needs to be
addressed on macro basis. Youth
unemployment in Ebonyi State is more of a demand side problem. There are not
enough jobs to go round. Increase in the demand for labour will move the
economy along the demand curve, thereby increasing wages and employment. The
demand for labour in an economy is derived from the demand for goods and
services. If the demand for goods and services in the economy increases, the
demand for labour will increase. This may be described as classical
unemployment. Youth unemployment can be reduced if the following interventions
and recommendations are creatively implemented in the selected local government
areas.
1.2 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STDUY
1. To examine the impacts
of unemployment on youths development and nation building in Ebonyi state.
2. To examine how unemployment affect youths development in the state.
3. To identify those factors that will directly or indirectly improves
employment of youths.
4. To assess effect of unemployment on youth development to Nigeria
economic.
5. To identify the ways which the problem of youth unemployment can be
solved.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What is the impact of
unemployment on youth’s development and nation building in Ebonyi state?
2. What are the ways unemployment affect youth’s development in the
state?
3. What are those factors that will directly or indirectly improves
employment of youths?
4. What are the effects of unemployment on youth development to Nigeria
economic?
5. What are the ways which the problem of youth unemployment can be
solved?
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
The impact of unemployment
on youth development and nation building is such an interesting subject or
study; it is believed that the outcome of this research work will be of
interest to the nation, state and to each local government to showcase the need
for adequate youth employment which would be as a prerequisite to the national
development. The research work will provide them with vital information which
will enhance an efficient and effective national development; it will provide
the knowledge on some of the major challenges facing unemployment in Nigeria.
This research work will also serve as a vital material to those who may want to
carry out further research work in this regard.
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This
research study is limited to Afikpo, Ivo and Ikwo alone where the researcher
wants to find out the impact of unemployment on youth development and nation
building.
1.6 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
A study of this nature is
bound to experience certain problems as such the constraints imposed on the
research include:
TIME: A study of this nature needs relatively long time during
which information for accurate or at least near accurate inference could be
drawn. The period of the study was short, time posed as constraints to the
research.
COST: The research would have extended the survey to other area at
the empirical level, but limitation as included cost of transportation to the
source of material and the cost of time setting of the already completed work.
LACK OF COOPERATION: Many of the respondents are usually
aggressive on issue that border cooperation among the respondents border.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Unemployment: Unemployment people are without
jobs and they have actively sought work within the past five weeks. The
unemployment rate is a measure of the prevalence of unemployment and it is
calculated as a percentage by dividing the number of unemployed individuals by
all individuals currently in the labour force.
Employment: This is a relationship
between two parties, usually based on a contract, one being the employer and
the other being the employee. Youth development, the process of growing up and
developing one’s capacities, happens no matter what we do.
Youth development: – or YD, refers to intentional efforts of other
youth, adults, communities, government agencies, and schools to provide
opportunities for youth to enhance their interests, skills, and abilities into
their adulthoods.
Nation-building: – Refers to the process of
constructing or structuring a national identity using the power of the state.
This process aims at the unification of the people within the state so that it
remains politically stable and viable in the long run.
Youth: – Is the time of life when one is young, but often means the
time between childhood and adulthood (maturity). Economics: – Is the social science that studies economic activity
to gain an understanding of the processes that govern the production,
distribution and consumption of goods and services in an exchange economy.
Empowerment: – Refers to increasing the economic, political, social,
educational, gender, or spiritual strength of individuals and communities.