Assessment of N-Power in Reducing Unemployment in Nigeria
Chapter One
Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study is on “assessment of N-power in reducing unemployment Alleviation in Nigeria” A study of Rivers State.
Specific objectives of the study therefore, are:
- To ascertain the activities of N-Power Agency towards unemployment alleviation in Rivers State
- To determine the extent to which N-Power programmes generate empowerment for the youths in Rivers
- To ascertain how N-Power Programmes alleviate poverty in Rivers
- To identify the problems affecting N-Power Agency/programmes
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
introduction
Indeed, most young people are better educated, wealthier, physically healthier and live longer than their elders; but changes in the labor market, family relations and social structures present them with new set of risks and challenges. Here, opportunities for those without skills are fewer, traditional sources of employment are disappearing while people are far less likely to hold a job for life. Yet young people usually face the prospect of periodic successive job change and the need to acquire new skills throughout their working lives to remain employable (Marshall and Butzboch, 2003). Thus, the best defense against social exclusion is a job and the best way to get a job is to have a good education with the right training and experience. However, the international labor organization (1996) reports that unemployment rates are twice as high among the (15-24) and (25+) age groups than among adults across both developed and developing countries. This research also showed that youth unemployment rates were significantly higher in the 1990s than in the 1980s. Regrettably, early unemployment can permanently impair people‟s future productive capacity; and the longer an unemployment spell lasts, the more difficult it is to find job or work. Again, unemployment can prevent young people from making the passage from adolescence to adulthood that entails establishing a household (or family). It is also evident that unemployed young people suffer more health problems than those who are employed, including lower rates of general health; more anxiety and depression; high rates of smoking and higher suicide rates. Clearly, young people are at high risk of social exclusion if they fall into a downward spiral of worsening health with unemployment. Yet, in seeking solutions to youth unemployment, we must clearly identify its causes. Perhaps, social exclusion is both a cause and effect of unemployment and this alone may not explain the high and persistent patterns of youth unemployment. In fact, changes in aggregate demand, the 7 growing demand for skilled workers and the rising participation of women who compete with the young for jobs appear to explain in large measure, the continuous rise in youth unemployment (ILO, 2000). And since a strong economy may create employment and not employability, then certain factors are of considerable importance: educational system, processes for enabling youth to make transition from education to employment as well as safety nets for catching those that are vulnerable. Consequently, training (empowerment) programs are designed to build human capital and foster the acquisition of skills with the expected outcome of improved employment. Yet, these programs can equally facilitate the contact of beneficiaries with the labor market by providing work experience, labor market intermediation, contacts and references for future employment. In other words, if the program increases participants‟ human capital, beneficiaries become more employable and more productive once employed (reflecting in higher employment levels and higher labor earnings). On the other hand, the program may be successful in contacting beneficiaries with future employers (Alzua, et.al, 2015). Indeed, most of the empirical literature on training programs examined the effects on employment and wage levels. However, there are reasons to expect effects on other dimension.
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 constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine assessment of Npower in reducing unemployment in Nigeria. selected residents in Rivers state 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 eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain assessment of Npower in reducing unemployment in Nigeria. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of assessment of Npower in reducing unemployment in Nigeria.
Summary
This study was on assessment of Npower in reducing unemployment in Nigeria. Three objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the activities of N-Power Agency towards unemployment alleviation in Rivers State, to determine the extent to which N-Power programmes generate empowerment for the youths in Rivers, to ascertain how N-Power Programmes alleviate poverty in Rivers and to identify the problems affecting N-Power Agency/programmes. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected hospitality industries in Lagos. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
Hence, the finding reveals that N-Power have no significant influence on the unemployment situation in the state. Further finding reveals that unemployment is quite alarming in the South – South region of Nigeria with Rivers sate leading recently. In this light, this paper recommend that efforts geared towards long-term employment in the state should be adopted rather than short-term empowerment programmes
Recommendation
The government of the state should see to welfare of her citizen by ensuring that jobs are created in ministries and parastatals and these are made open for all rather than embarking on underground recruitment exercise. Most importantly, beneficiaries of the N-Power should be made to stay on the programme until they find paid employment rather than laying them off after two years to join the mass unemployed paupers.
References
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