1.1 Introduction
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Youth employment, empowerment, and poverty alleviation are critical issues that continue to shape the socio-economic development of nations worldwide. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO, 2020), youth employment refers to the engagement of young people, typically aged between 15 and 35, in productive economic activities that provide them with adequate income, decent working conditions, and opportunities for career advancement. Empowerment, on the other hand, is defined as the process through which individuals or groups acquire the capacity to make choices and transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes (Narayan, 2002). Poverty alleviation is the deliberate effort aimed at reducing the incidence of poverty through targeted interventions that improve living standards, increase access to resources, and enhance social welfare (World Bank, 2019).
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As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.
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1.2 Background of the Study
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Youth employment, empowerment, and poverty alleviation have become central issues in development discourse, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where rapid population growth places significant pressure on economies. According to the International Labour Organization (2020), youth unemployment is one of the greatest challenges confronting both developed and developing nations, with African countries recording some of the highest unemployment and underemployment rates. The National Bureau of Statistics (2022) reported that Nigeria’s youth unemployment rate remains above 40%, making it one of the most pressing socio-economic problems.
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Globally, empowerment has been recognized as a vital tool for poverty alleviation. Narayan (2002) contended that empowerment is about expanding people’s ability to make strategic life choices in a context where this ability was previously denied to them. In Nigeria, empowerment initiatives such as the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN) have been established to address unemployment and poverty. However, these interventions are reported to have achieved limited success due to lack of sustainability and inadequate monitoring mechanisms (Olawoye, 2020).
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Okafor (2019) asserted that the persistent unemployment among Nigerian youths is largely due to the mismatch between educational curricula and labor market needs, resulting in a large pool of graduates with limited employable skills. On the other hand, Okojie (2018) affirmed that empowering youths through skills acquisition and entrepreneurship support is critical to reducing poverty and fostering economic growth at the grassroots level (Okojie, 2018).
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In Nigeria, youth constitute more than half of the population, and their active participation in economic and social development is indispensable for the country’s growth. However, unemployment and underemployment among young people remain critical challenges. The National Bureau of Statistics (2022) reported that over 42% of Nigerian youths are unemployed or underemployed, and this situation contributes significantly to poverty, insecurity, and social instability. Ogun State, as one of the fastest-growing states in Nigeria due to its proximity to Lagos, is experiencing rapid urbanization and industrialization. Yet, despite its economic potential, the state is grappling with the challenge of youth unemployment and persistent poverty, which continues to hinder inclusive development.
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In Ogun State, youth unemployment and poverty have persisted despite the state’s proximity to Lagos, which provides vast economic opportunities. The state government has introduced several empowerment and poverty alleviation programs, including vocational training schemes and agricultural empowerment projects. Yet, the outcomes have not significantly reduced youth unemployment and poverty levels. Aremu and Adeyemi (2020) asserted that many youths in the state still face economic exclusion due to limited access to resources, skills gaps, and weak institutional frameworks.
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The persistence of youth unemployment and poverty in Ogun State has resulted in rising social vices such as internet fraud, drug abuse, and insecurity. Okon (2019) reported that unemployment and poverty are major drivers of youth involvement in crime, thereby threatening social stability and development. Scholars contend that addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach that combines job creation, skills development, and sustainable poverty alleviation measures (Adebayo & Olagbaju, 2021). This study is set against the backdrop of these challenges as it seeks to critically examine youth employment, empowerment, and poverty alleviation in Ogun State.
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1.3 Statement of Problems
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Investigation revealed that youth unemployment remains one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges in Nigeria, and Ogun State is not exempt from this reality. The increasing rate of joblessness among young people is contributing to persistent poverty, insecurity, and social unrest. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (2022), youth unemployment and underemployment rates in Nigeria are among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, which directly undermines the prospects of sustainable development. In Ogun State, the problem is compounded by limited industrial absorption capacity, inadequate vocational skills among graduates, and the mismatch between educational curricula and labor market needs.
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Additionally, the persistence of poverty among the youth is not only reducing their standard of living but is also fostering cycles of dependency and frustration that is fueling crime, and rural-urban migration. Scholars such as Okojie (2018) have asserted that without sustainable employment opportunities and empowerment schemes, youth poverty will continue to undermine development goals at the grassroots (Okojie, 2018).
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Furthermore, the challenge is exacerbated by weak institutional support, inadequate infrastructure, and limited private sector participation in youth-focused development programs (Adebayo & Olagbaju, 2021). It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to examine youth employment, empowerment, and poverty alleviation in Ogun State.
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1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study
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The aim of this study is to critically examine youth employment, empowerment, and poverty alleviation in Ogun State. The specific objectives of this study are:
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\r\n- To evaluate the effectiveness of youth empowerment programs in reducing unemployment.
\r\n- To assess the current state of youth employment in Ogun State.
\r\n- To examine the impact of empowerment initiatives on poverty alleviation.
\r\n- To identify the challenges hindering youth employment and empowerment in Ogun State.
\r\n- To propose sustainable strategies for improving youth employment, empowerment, and poverty alleviation.
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1.5 Research Questions
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Based on the stated objectives, the study will address the following research questions:
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\r\n- What is the current state of youth employment in Ogun State?
\r\n- How effective are youth empowerment programs in addressing unemployment?
\r\n- What impact have empowerment initiatives had on poverty alleviation in Ogun State?
\r\n- What challenges are hindering youth employment and empowerment in the state?
\r\n- What strategies can be adopted to ensure sustainable youth employment, empowerment, and poverty alleviation?
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1.6 Significance of the Study
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The outcome from the findings of this research will hold significant relevance in the following ways:
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\r\n- The government will benefit from the findings as it will provide direction for effective policy formulation.
\r\n- Non-governmental organizations will benefit as the study will reveal gaps they can target with sustainable programs.
\r\n- The private sector will benefit as the study will encourage collaboration in job creation and entrepreneurship support.
\r\n- The youth will benefit directly through better access to employment and empowerment opportunities.
\r\n- Academic researchers will benefit as the study will serve as a resource for further investigations in youth development and poverty alleviation.
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1.7 Research Hypotheses
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In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
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Hypothesis One
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\r\n- H0: Youth empowerment programs do not have a significant impact on poverty alleviation in Ogun State.
\r\n- H1: Youth empowerment programs have a significant impact on reducing unemployment in Ogun State.
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Hypothesis Two
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\r\n- H0: Youth empowerment initiatives have a negative relationship with poverty alleviation in Ogun State
\r\n- H1: Youth empowerment initiatives have a positive relationship with poverty alleviation in Ogun State.
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1.8 Scope of the Study
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The scope of this research is focused on the youth employment, empowerment and poverty alleviation in Ogun State. The research will include both government and private sector initiatives targeted at youths.
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1.9 Limitations of the Study
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A study of this nature is bound to experience certain problems as such the constraints imposed on the research include:
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\r\n- Time Constraints: 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.
\r\n- Financial Constraints: 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.
\r\n- Lack of Cooperation: Many of the respondents are usually aggressive on issue that border cooperation among the respondents border.
\r\n- Response Bias: The study will involve surveys and interviews with cooperative managers and members. Response bias may occur if respondents provide socially desirable answers or if there is reluctance to disclose negative financial information due to privacy concerns or fear of repercussions.
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1.10 Definition of Terms
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Youth Employment:
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Youth employment refers to the participation of young individuals in productive economic activities that generate income and contribute to economic development (ILO, 2020). In this study, it relates to the availability of job opportunities for young people in Ogun State.
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Youth Empowerment:
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Youth empowerment is the process of equipping young people with skills, resources, and confidence to make decisions and take control of their lives (Narayan, 2002). It involves vocational training, entrepreneurship support, and social inclusion initiatives.
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Poverty Alleviation:
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Poverty alleviation is the deliberate effort to reduce the level of poverty within a population through targeted interventions such as income generation, education, and social welfare (World Bank, 2019). In this study, it refers to programs in Ogun State aimed at improving youth livelihoods.
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