A Study on the Role of Youth in Nation Development
Chapter One
Objective of the study
The broad objective of the study is to investigate the role of youth in nation development. The specific objectives are as follows:
- To establish the relationship between youth and national development.
- To ascertain the perceived challenges facing youths on national development in Nigeria.
- To identify the role youths played in national development in Nigeria.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
Precisely, the chapter will be considered in three sub-headings:
- Conceptual Framework
- Theoretical Framework
- Empirical framework
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Youth
The concept of youth has attracted various interpretations that have mounted to a state of controversy. This controversy arises because of the difficulty in reaching an agreement on the age bracket that should constitute the acceptable youth age. Many countries see youth as ending at the age when a person is given equal treatment under the law – often referred to as the “voting age”. In many countries this happens when the young person is 18 years old. After this age, the young person is considered adult. In spite of the disparity in these views, it is generally agreed that youth is the period that marks the physical, psychological and social transformation into adulthood. Based on this characterization, many government policies consider to include people aged 13 to 25 years old (Wyn and White 1997).The pan-African Youth Chatter (2006) defines youth or young people as “every human being between the ages of 15 and 30 years”. This corresponds with the English convention which classifies the period of youth as falling within the ages of 15 to 30 years (Wokocha, 2002).The peculiarity of the Nigeria situation has led to the invention of social and economic definitions, which treat youth as a thing of the mind and so admits people up to the age of 40 years and beyond. Economically, the lateness of the period of independence for the average young Nigeria leaves them socializing in the realm of youth for as long as they remain dependent on their parents or guardians and this could be well beyond the age of 30. It is important however, to maintain that despite the debate, the most vital point is that, the youth are indispensable facet of any given society. The task of developing them to enhance societal growth rests squarely on the shoulder of the state that beholds them.Empowerment: This is commonly used to refer to a widely participatory process of directed social change in a society, intended to bring about social and material advancement including greater equality, freedom, and other valued qualities-for the majority of the people through their gaining greater control over their environment (Arvind and Everett, 1989).National development:This refers to the unending process of qualitative and quantitative transformation in the capacity of a national entity to organize the process of production and distribution of the material benefits of a society in a manner that sustains improvement in the well-being of its members in order to enhance their capacity to realize their full potentials, in furtherance of the positive transformation and sustenance of their society and humanity at large. It involves the efficient utilization of the national productive resources to attain productive efficiency; the efficient utilization of resources to raise productivity as a means of attaining allocative efficiency; the provision of sufficient food and fibre of adequate quantity to attain consumptive efficiency; the enhancement of incomeemployment opportunities to attain goals of equity and distributive efficiency; and the dynamic spatio-temporal equalization of income-employment opportunities to evolve maximum welfaristic efficiency (Esan, 1996; Onuoha, 2008).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried out on the role of youth in nation development using ministry of youth and sport, Abuja as a case study. Staff of ministry of youths and sport form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of two hundred and sixty-six (266) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only two hundred and fifty-nine (259) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 259 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Introduction
This chapter summarizes the findings into the role of youth in nation development using mnistry of youths and sports as case study. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.
Summary of the Study
In this study, our focus was to examine the role of youth in nation development using mnistry of youths and sports as case study. The study specifically was aimed to establish the relationship between youth and national development, ascertain the perceived challenges facing youths on national development in Nigeria and identify the role youths played on national development in Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 259 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are youths and staff of ministry of youths and sports.
Conclusions
Based on the findings of this study, the researcher made the following conclusion.
- Tthere is a relationship between youth and national development.
- The perceived challenges facing youths on national development in Nigeria is lack of employment, lack of youth participation in decision making and poverty.
- The role youths played on national development in Nigeria is promote peace,
- Promote stability and national unity through their active involvement in the electoral process, promote security and build bridges of understanding across ethnic groups.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations were made:
- Provision of Socio-economicInfrastructure: Availability of socio-economic infrastructure like electricity, telephone, access roads and housing especially in the rural areas can stimulate economic activities that would enhance the productivity of the youth and increase their contribution to national development. There is need to remove such major constraints as credit avenues, technology back-up training support, marketing assistance, entrepreneurship development, etc.
- Establishment of Industries: The government should develop cottage industries which should be linked to agricultural processing community. Government can achieve this by aggregating farmers into groups, site semi-processing industries in the rural areas which will serve as markets to the rural farmers. This will prevent the cyclical pattern of agriculture products. Government can also make available modern farm tools and establish agricultural hubs in the six geo-political zones that could employ thousands of the youth. These agricultural hubs could be serviced and supported by cottage industries.
- Improved Access to Micro Credit: There is the need to ensure adequate access of youth to micro-credit in Nigeria. The involvement of youth clubs or community-based organizations which the young people belong, that will be guarantors for applicants can help in this regard.
REFERENCES
- Adamu, A.(2003), “Youths and Development in Nigeria” Being a paper presented at National Congress of the National Youths Council of Nigeria held at Abacha Youths Centre, Lafia, Nigeria.
- Ademiluka (1999), “Religious Extremism and the Learning Process” in I.T. Ogunye, S. Jegede and E. Akinsola (eds) Citadels of Violence. Lagos: CDHR.
- African Union. (2006), African Youths Charter. Adopted by the Seventh Ordinary Session of the Assembly,Banjul, Gambia, July 2.
- Aiyede, R.E. (nd), The State, Values and Development: Towards Re-orientating the Nigerian Youths for Positive Leadership, Almond, G; Bingham, G; Powel, Jr.; Strom, K; Dalton, R.J. (2004), Comparative Politics Today, Pearson Education, Inc., Singapore.
- Amanda S. (2003), Youths Network and Governance, Common Wealth Journal of Youths and Development Vol. 1 No.2
- Anaeto, S.G and Anaeto, M (2010). Development Communication Principle and Practice.Ibadan, Sterling- Holden Ltd. Ibadan
