ABSTRACT
The study assessed youth participation in Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) of Osun State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of respondents, ascertain the level of participation of youths in OYES activities, ascertain the perceived benefits of participating in OYES activities, ascertain the empowerment status of participants, ascertain the livelihood outcomes of participation in OYES activities, ascertain the perception of youths on OYES activities and to examine the constraints to participation of youths in OYES activities. Purposive and multi-stage random sampling techniques were employed to select 180 respondents from three senatorial zones for the study. Primary data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and mean scores, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis and ordinary least square regression analysis were used to test the null hypotheses at 5% level of significance. The result showed that the mean age of the respondents was 29.7 years, 53.3% of the them were males while 46.7% were females. The result also revealed that re-orientation training ( = 3.93), OYES multimedia ( = 3.63), make up ( = 3.46) and O’Money ( = 3.25) were some of the OYES activities that recorded high level of participation. Reduced unemployment ( = 3.64), reduced crime and other social vices ( = 3.62) and skill development ( = 3.57) were the perceived benefits of participating in OYES activities. The result also revealed that the youths participating in the activities of OYES were empowered in the following ways: enhanced entrepreneurial skills ( = 3.53), enhanced contribution to family needs ( = 3.48) and increased competence for self-employment ( = 3.39). Increased income ( = 2.36), increased well-being ( = 2.47) and provision of employment ( = 2.68) were some of the livelihood outcomes of participation in the OYES activities. The result also showed that OYES actively involved participants ( = 3.58), incorporated skilled trainers ( = 3.50) and adequately provided training materials ( = 3.22). Poor motivation/lack of incentives ( = 2.57) and distance to training centre ( = 2.17) were the major constraints to participation in OYES activities. The correlation analysis showed that there was significant (3.351)** relationship between perception of youths and their participation in OYES activities at 5% level of significance. The ordinary least square regression analysis revealed that income (2.119)** and years of unemployment (2.241)** significantly influenced the participation of youths in OYES activities at 5% level of significance. The correlation analysis showed significant (2.333)** relationship between youth participation in OYES activities and their empowerment status at 5% level of significance. The ordinary least square regression analysis revealed that youth participation in OYES activities had significant positive effects on increased income (2.286)**, employment provision (2.685)** and increased wellbeing (2.389)** at 5% level of significance. The study concluded that there was high level of youth participation in OYES activities in the study area. The study therefore, recommended that OYES be sustained and expanded for continued promotion of employable skills, value orientation and leadership training aimed specifically at empowering youths for sustainable livelihood.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables ix
List of Figures x
Abstract xi
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Problem Statement 5
1.3 Research
Questions 7
1.4 Objectives of the Study 8
1.5 Hypotheses of the Study 8
1.6 Justification
of the Study 9
1.7 Scope
of the Study 10
1.8 Definition
of Terms 10
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 The
Concept of Youth 15
2.2 The Concept of
Unemployment and Youth Unemployment 18
2.2.1 Unemployment 18
2.2.2 Underemployment 20
2.2.3 Types of unemployment in Nigeria 20
2.2.4 The state of youth unemployment in
Nigeria 23
2.2.5 Some causes of youth unemployment
in Nigeria 25
2.3 The Concept of Empowerment 27
2.3.1 Elements of empowerment 29
2.4 Youth Empowerment 30
2.5 Youth Participation 33
2.5.1 Levels of youth participation 34
2.5.2 Relevance of youth participation 35
2.5.3 Challenges to youth participation 36
2.6 The Concept of Osun Youth Empowerment
Scheme (OYES) 38
2.6.1 Objectives of Osun Youth Empowerment
Scheme (OYES) 41
2.6.2 Empowerment activities of OYES (Exit
Program Training) 42
2.6.3 Challenges of OYES Scheme 44
2.6.4 Prospects of OYES Scheme 45
2.7 Review of Related Theories 46
2.7.1 Sherry Arnstein’s ladder of participation 46
2.7.2 Wilcox participation theory 48
2.7.3 Local participation theory 49
2.8 Theoretical Framework 50
2.8.1 Roger Hart youth participation theory 50
2.9 Conceptual Framework 52
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Study Area 55
3.2 Population of the Study 56
3.3 Sample and Sampling Procedure 56
3.4 Validity of Instrument 57
3.5 Test of Reliability of Instrument 57
3.6 Method of Data Collection 58
3.7 Data Analysis 58
3.8 Measurement of Variables 58
3.9 Hypotheses
Test 62
3.9.1 Model specification 62
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Socio-economic Characteristics of
Youth 66
4.1.1 Age 66
4.1.2 sex 67
4.1.3 Marital Status 67
4.1.4 Household Size 68
4.1.5 Level of Education 68
4.1.6 Monthly Estimated Income 69
4.1.7 Years of Unemployment 69
4.1.8 Frequency of Training 70
4.1.9 Distance to Training Centre 70
4.1.10 Religion 70
4.2 Level of Participation of Youths in the Activities of Osun Youth
Empowerment Scheme 72
4.3 Perceived
Benefits of Participating in Activities of the Osun
Youth Empowerment Scheme 75
4.4 Empowerment
Status of Youths Participating in the Activities
of
Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme 77
4.5 Livelihood
Outcomes of Youth Participation in the Activities
of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme 80
4.6 Perception of Youths
on the Activities of the Osun Youth
Empowerment Scheme 82
4.7 Constraints to
Participation of Youths in Osun Youth
Empowerment Scheme 84
4.8 Results of Hypotheses Tests 86
4.8.1 Hypothesis 1 86
4.8.2 Hypothesis 2 87
4.8.3 Hypothesis 3 90
4.8.4 Hypothesis 4 92
CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary 96
5.2 Conclusion 99
5.3 Recommendations
100
References
102
Appendix
113
LIST OF TABLES
4.1 Distribution of youths by their
socio-economic characteristics 71
4.2 Distribution of respondents based on level of participation of youths
in the activities of Osun youth empowerment
scheme 74
4.3 Distribution
of respondents based on perceived benefits of
participating in the activities of Osun youth
empowerment Scheme 76
4.4 Distribution
of respondents based on empowerment status of youths
participating in the activities of Osun youth
empowerment scheme 79
4.5 Distribution
of respondents based on livelihood outcomes of youth
participation in the activities of Osun youth
empowerment scheme 81
4.6 Distribution of respondents based on
perception of youths on the
activities of the Osun youth empowerment
scheme 83
4.7 Distribution
of respondents based on constraints to participation of youths
in
Osun youth empowerment scheme 85
4.8.1 Correlation
result of relationship between perception of youths and
their participation in activities
of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme 87
4.8.2 Influence
of selected
socio-economic characteristics of youths on their
participation in Osun youth empowerment scheme 90
4.8.3 Correlation result of relationship between
level of youth participation
and their empowerment status 91
4.8.4 Ordinary Least Square (OLS) multiple
regression result of relationship
between the level of youth
participation and selected livelihood outcomes 95
LIST OF FIGURES
2.1 Conceptual
framework for youth participation in Osun youth
empowerment
scheme 54
3.1 Map of Osun State showing the various
local government areas 56
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
Youth empowerment programmes feature
on the international agenda and have international bodies and donor agencies
investing resources especially money into encouraging youth empowerment
initiatives particularly in developing countries including Nigeria (Shiyanbade,
Odunlade, Rotimi and Ganiyu, 2017). Furthermore, in the views of Awogbenle and
Iwuamadi (2010), youth development and empowerment are vital stages in life for
building the human capital that allows young people to avoid poverty and live a
better, and possibly have a more fulfilling life.
In Nigeria, the federal government
has initiated several measures and policies to reduce the level of poverty
among the masses including youths. However, most of the poverty alleviation
measures or initiatives have suffered several challenges culminating into their
failure. Some of the schemes include Directorate of Foods, Roads and Rural
Infrastructure (DFFRI), Better Life Programme (BLP), National Directorate of Employment
(NDE), Family Support Programme (FSP), National Poverty Alleviation Programme
(NAPEP), Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES), Rural Infrastructural Development
Scheme (RIDS), Natural Resources Development and Conservation Scheme (NRDCS)
among others (Shiyanbade et al.,
2017). Their aims are to ameliorate the suffering of the people by providing
them employment opportunities and access to credit facilities to enable them
establish their own businesses (Arogundade, Adebisi and Oguro, 2011).
According to the United Nations
Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), youth is best
understood as a period of transition from the dependence of childhood to
adulthood’s independence and awareness of their interdependence as members of a
community. The National Policy on Youth Development (NPYD) also said any
individual that falls within the age bracket of 18 to 35 years is a youth.
Youth according to Jega (2012), can be defined as a special group of people
with a strong stamina and passion for realizing certain set goals and
objectives. The role of youth empowerment cannot be over emphasized
particularly in a high-poverty country like Nigeria (Odunlade, 2017). Youth
empowerment is integral for national development especially as the youth
constitute majority of the overall population. If Nigeria focuses on youth
development and empowerment, this will lead to long term prosperity and high
returns on investment in every sector (Shiyanbade et al., 2017).
Nigeria’s
population is said to have reached about 167 million people in 2012 (National
Bureau of Statistics, 2012). The National Population Commission states that
about half of the population is made up of youth, and defined youth as
individuals between 15 and 34 years of age (National Population Commission,
2013). Unfortunately, as the youth population grows, so does the unemployment
rate. This development informed the decision of the Osun State government to
include “banishing unemployment” as one of the items of the six-point Integral
Action Plan (Blue print). Towards this end, the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES)
took off within the first 100 days of the Aregbesola administration, precisely
in February, 2011, with about 250,000 unemployed youths across the State
applying for placement in the scheme. After thorough screening, 20,000 of them
were recruited, trained and absorbed into the scheme. This figure covers the 30
Local Government Areas and the Ife East Area office in Modakeke, Ile-Ife in the
State. OYES is a revolving volunteer scheme, which lasts for two years for each
batch. The 2011-2012 teams left in February, 2013 and another batch of
2013-2015 has just exited the scheme (OYES Bulletin, 2013). The youths engaged
through OYES are distributed to public works brigades, sanitation czars, green
gangs, Osun sheriffs, Osun paramedics, traffic managers and relief teachers. By
and large, OYES is not a destination but a halfway house for graduates and
school leavers to acquire practical skills and real life experience before
securing permanent jobs or full empowerment (Shiyanbade et al., 2017).
The
broad mandate of OYES is to empower youths by equipping them with positive work
ethics and culture, thus making them employable or employers of labour, with
respect for the environment (Badejo, Agunyai and Adeyemi, 2015). OYES also has
the following aims; to help channel the lateral potential young people into
productive social and economic activity, whilst at the same time being mindful
of their current livelihood conditions and capabilities, to restore sense of
community, individual, self-esteem and worth to our youth who were selected
impartially as pioneer members, to create a moral and ethical overhaul by remolding
the value of our youths towards making them pursue honour and
integrity/virtuousness and to give the candidates entrepreneurship
opportunities through new skills training.
Furthermore, in all intent and
purposes, the OYES aims at creating a bridge to unemployment by equipping young
men and women with positive work ethics and culture, self-sustenance,
resourcefulness and respect for the environment. The design is to develop youth
with character and competence infusing in them honour and integrity in life,
civic responsibility, correct life attitudes, self-confidence, improved skills,
handwork, probity, discipline, leadership and loyalty (Shiyanbade et al., 2017). Ifaturoti (2012) opined
that OYES is a grassroot driven youth empowerment scheme that seeks to direct
the bursting energy of this army of unemployed youth towards the good of the
society. OYES was inaugurated purposely to boost employment among the youths to
the highest stage and develop the State through aggressive agricultural
practice, road network construction, rural and urban renewal, establishment of
community development associations (CDAs), provision of electric power
transformers and tourism (Shiyanbade et
al., 2017).
Participation is an essential
component of youth and leadership development. Through participation, young
people find the opportunities to play significant roles in a safe, supportive
environment where they can experiment with roles, task and responsibilities
(Onuekwusi, 2015). Participation is an obvious strategy for the success of any
developmental programme. It is a powerful tool for mobilizing new and
additional resources (Thomas and Eforuoku, 2016). According to Ataneh (2012), participation
entails the ability of individuals to have an input in the decision making
process and to play a role in measures aimed at improving their quality of
life.
Furthermore, Agary (2013) noted that
young people gain the ability and authority to make decisions and implement
changes in their own lives through active participation in empowerment
programmes. Similarly, Badejo, Agunyai and Adeyemi (2015) opined that
participation in empowerment programmes would equip youths with the requisite
skills that will make them self-reliant on the long run. The youth employment
challenge is universally recognized as one of the major priorities of
governments and civil society. The unemployed youth is much more vulnerable to
social ills than the employed youth. Whilst youth in urban areas are likely to
face difficulties in securing employment, youth in rural areas are in much dire
straits when it comes to getting a job (Onuekwusi, 2015). There is increase in
population and geometrical increase in youth population with an attendant low
or zero employment for youths of the Nigerian society. This situation is particularly
prevalent in the rural areas eventually leading to rural-urban migration of the
youths in Osun State (Ogunremi,
Ogunremi and Faleyimu,
2012). The establishment of OYES was a demonstration of the Osun State government’s
willingness to cater for youths in the area of skills acquisition, poverty
alleviation, job and wealth creation. However, the target beneficiaries
(youths) can only be empowered through OYES when they are actively involved in
various activities embedded in the programme. The study thus sought to assess
the level of participation of youths in activities of OYES in Osun State.
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
Nigeria as well as many other
developing countries in the world is facing the worst burden of youth
unemployment. Many Nigerian youths roam the streets in rural and urban centres without
gainful job and the danger of this situation has far reaching implications on
the social wellbeing and security of the country (Abefe-Balogun, 2015). The rate of youth unemployment is high in Osun
State, and it seems to have remained
so even during the economic boom while its problems could be traced to many
well-known factors among which
are: non-availability of jobs both in the private and public sectors of the
economy, lack of required
skills among job seekers and absence of loan facility to those who deserve it
for self-employment among
others (Ogbonnaya, 2010). The determination to arrest the ugly trends
necessitated the efforts of the former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf
Adesoji Aregbesola to not only empower 20,000 youths in Community Development
Programmes (CDP) but also embark on developmental projects aimed at taking the
State and citizenry out of poverty to socio-economic prosperity (Abefe-Balogun,
2015).
OYES is a revolving volunteers’
scheme designed to eliminate the frustration and paralyzing effect of
unacceptably high and seemingly intractable youth unemployment pervasive in
Osun State. It aims at creating a bridge to employment by equipping as many
young men and women with positive work ethics and culture, self-sustenance, resourcefulness
and respect for the environment (Odunlade, 2017). It is designed to develop
youths with character and competence. Osun State by 2011 had unemployment rate
of 30 percent and in 2010 had unemployment rate of 27.60 percent (Central Bank
of Nigeria Annual Report, 2011). Furthermore, in ensuring that the programme
achieved its target purpose, the Osun State government organized training
sessions for youths across all the local governments in the State. However, in spite
of the implementation of several empowerment programmes by successive
governments, Shiyanbade et al. (2017)
and Badejo et al. (2015) observed
that there was still increase in youth unemployment and poverty in Osun State. It
thus raised pertinent questions as; could it be that the scheme is not
achieving its intended objectives or is there low level of youth participation
in activities of the scheme? More so, Adebisi and Oni (2012) opined that
participation is very germane to the acquisition of technical/vocational
skills. It was against this backdrop that the study was conducted to assess youth participation in Osun
Youth Empowerment Scheme in Osun State.
Furthermore, recent studies by
Shiyanbade et al. (2017) assessed effectiveness of OYES on youth
unemployment and poverty reduction in Osun State, Nigeria while Odunlade
(2017) assessed the implementation of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme in Osun State. Furthermore, Badejo et al. (2015) examined the impact of
Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme on youth
recruitment and empowerment in Nigeria while Ogunremi et al. (2012) assessed the relevance and benefits of agricultural
youth empowerment programme to participating youth in Osun State. None of these
studies specifically investigated youth participation in Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme in Osun State, thus
the level of participation of youths in the activities of Osun Youth
Empowerment Scheme has not been extensively studied, hence the study.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This study provided answers to the following
research questions:
i.
What are the socio-economic characteristics of respondents in the study
area?
ii.
What is the level of participation of youths in the activities of Osun
Youth Empowerment Scheme?
iii.
What are the perceived benefits of participating in activities of the
Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme?
iv.
What is the empowerment status of participants in the activities of Osun
Youth Empowerment Scheme?
v.
What are the livelihood outcomes of youths’ participation in the
activities of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme?
vi.
What is the perception of youths on the activities of the Osun Youth
Empowerment Scheme?
vii.
What are the constraints to participation of youths in Osun Youth
Empowerment Scheme?
1.4 OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The broad objective of the study was to
assess youth participation in Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme of Osun State.
Specifically, the study sought to:
i.
describe the socio-economic characteristics of respondents in the study
area;
ii.
ascertain the level of participation of youths in the activities of Osun
Youth Empowerment Scheme;
iii.
ascertain the perceived benefits of participating in the activities of
the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme;
iv.
ascertain the empowerment status of participants in the activities of
Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme;
v.
ascertain the livelihood outcomes of youths’ participation in the
activities of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme;
vi.
ascertain the perception of youths on the activities of the Osun Youth
Empowerment Scheme and;
vii. examine the constraints to participation of
youths in Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme.
1.5 HYPOTHESES
OF THE STUDY
Based on the
specific objectives stated above, the following null hypotheses guided the
study:
Ho1: There is no
significant relationship between perception of youths and their participation
in activities of Osun
Youth Empowerment Scheme.
Ho2: Participation of
youths in Osun
Youth Empowerment Scheme is not
significantly influenced by selected socio-economic characteristics.
Ho3: There is no
significant relationship between level of youth participation and their
empowerment status
Ho4: There is no
significant relationship between the level of youth participation and selected
livelihood outcomes.
1.6 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
Several studies have established positive
relationship between empowerment and policies or schemes initiated for groups
which include women, youths and the poor in Nigeria. However, less emphasis is
placed on the actual involvement of the target groups in these empowerment
schemes.
This study is considered expedient for
several reasons. Firstly, the findings of the study will assist federal, state
governments, policy makers and all stakeholders to ascertain the level of participation of youths
in the activities of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme by providing
empirical information on the
level of participation of youths in the activities of Osun Youth Empowerment
Scheme. Secondly, the study also provides empirical information on the
perception of youths on the activities of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme. This
helps in identifying the strengths and weakness of the activities of the scheme
in the study area. Thirdly, the study also provides empirical information on
the perceived benefits of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme on livelihood
outcomes. Also, the study provides empirical information on the empowerment
status of participants in the activities of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme. This
provides a greater insight into the level of attainment of set objectives of
the programme.
The
study also highlights factors influencing the level of participation of youths
in the activities of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme which
need to be properly considered in the implementation of youth empowerment or
rural development programmes in the study area. This would be achieved through
empirical information provided on the constraints to youth participation in
OYES activities in the study area.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This
study focused on the skills acquisition component of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme which is
regarded as the Exit Program Training (EPT). Accordingly, this study focused
on youths participating in the skill acquisition activities of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme in
selected local government areas across the three senatorial districts in Osun
State. The study also covered the level of participation of youths in the activities of Osun Youth
Empowerment Scheme. The study also focused on the perception of youths on the activities of the Osun
Youth Empowerment Scheme and the perceived benefits of activities of the Osun
Youth Empowerment Scheme. The study also covered constraints to participation
of youths in Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme in the study area. Additionally, the
study covered the empowerment status and livelihood outcomes of youths’
participation in the activities of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Participation:
This refers to the actual involvement of youths in activities of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme.
Youth:
This refers to persons found between the ages of 18 and 35 years as defined by
the National Youth Development Policy and the Social Protection Law of Osun
state. This age range covers all the youths who are engaged in the activities
of OYES.
Unemployment:
This refer to the number of the economically active population who are without
work but available for and seeking work, including people who have lost their
jobs, and those who have voluntarily left work.
Training:
This refers to the process by which youths are exposed to practical skills
embedded in activities of Osun
Youth Empowerment Scheme.
Youth
empowerment: This is a process whereby young
people engaged in the activities of OYES are provided with both material and
non-material resources such as skills to enable them gain the ability and
authority to make decisions and implement change in their own lives.
Beneficiary:
A beneficiary is an individual or a group of individuals who receives benefits
from a project or a programme.
Empowerment status: this
refers to the degree to which an individual has been empowered such that the
persons’ earnings improves standard of living.
Livelihood outcomes: this
refers to the measure of people’s capacity to generate and maintain their means
of living, enhance their well-being and that of future generations.
Perception:
This refers to opinions of youths on activities of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme as it affects them.
Attitude Re-Orientate
Training:
This refers to the leadership skill, discipline, morals, virtue and competence
imbibe in the youths that will make them free from any misdemeanor in
discharging of their duties.
OYES-Tech:
This refers to information and communication technology training that instills
literacy in computer, internet devices and related devices in the OYES cadets.
Omoluabi Autocare: this
refers to training on requisite skills in auto repairs and maintenance.
Leventis Foundation: this
refers to requisite training in fishery production, poultry farming, crop
production, agro forestry and value addition. This aspect of OYES activity is
anchored by Leventis Foundation.
O’Garment (Ijinle Tailoring): this
refers to training in the art of fashion designing and making of cloths.
Ijinle Laundry: this
refers to trainings in the art of cleaning and maintenance of cloths and other
fabrics. Participants are also taught how to turn this into a profitable
enterprise.
Perfect Touches: this
refers to training in the art of hair-making, barbing and make-over. The
interested members are also equipped with skills in Manicure and pedicure.
Ojenco: the
programme is meant to train the interested cadets on production of
Insecticides, pesticides, soap, izal and perfume etc.
Omoluabi caregivers:
this refers to training and certification in the taking-care of the elderly and
the young and tender ones (Nanny). It also includes requisite trainings needed
in the hospitality industry. Additionally, it also involves training in
cake-baking, production of snacks and other confectionaries.
O’ Mobile Money Training:
this is an entrepreneurship training, that
teaches interested cadets on how to turn mobile money service into a profitable
business.
O’ Multimedia training:
this refers to the trainings in the usage of multimedia devices like camera,
video recording devices etc.
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