IMPACT OF N-POWER PROGRAMME ON YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IN NIGERIA

1.1 Introduction

Youth empowerment involve build the capacity of young people and motivating them to take responsibility of their lives. This is done through the process of improving their access to resources that will help in changing their lives, beliefs, values, and attitudes Youth empowerment is carried out to improve the quality of lives of the youth. Youth empowerment is attained through youth empowerment programs conducted by non-profit organizations, government organizations, schools or private organizations. Youth empowerment program consist of youth activism, civic engagement, democracy building Intergenerational equity. Young people account for a large percentage of Nigeria's population figure, representing an important and dynamic force in the Nigerian society. However, young people face many challenges in the Nigerian society, such as high rate of poverty and unemployment, illiteracy, lack of access to information, and essential welfare services, that are manifested in young people's diminished hopes for the future.

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, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of the Study

N-Power is a youth empowerment scheme sponsored by the Federal Government of Nigeria. N-Power addresses the challenge of youth unemployment by providing a structure for large-scale and relevant work skills acquisition and development while linking its core and outcomes to fixing inadequate public services and stimulating the larger economy. N-Power aspires to provide a platform where most Nigerians can access skills acquisition and development. N-Power is designed for Nigerian citizens between the ages of 18 and 35. The modular programmes under N-Power will ensure that each participant will learn and practice most of what is necessary to find or create work.

However, Nigeria, a country with an estimated population of 170 million people (NBS, 2013) is well endowed with abundant human and natural resources and a favorable geographical location in the world map. The current global financial crisis has impacted negatively on the macro and micro levels of the economy of Nigeria. As at present, the situation has poses serious threats and challenges to both government and well meaning citizens. Nigeria like most developing nations of the world is faced with myriad of problems which include youth and graduate unemployment, high rate of poverty, conflict and diseases, insincerity, over-depending in foreign goods, low economic growth and development, lack of capacity and skills needed to move the economy forward and urbanization.

Unemployment has become a major problem bedeviling the lives of Nigerian Youth causing frustration, dejection and depending on family members and friends. The high rate of unemployment among the youths in Nigeria has contributed to the high rate of poverty and insecurity in the country (Ajufo, 2013). More than half of the Nigerian population is under the age of 30 according to the National Population Commission (2013). Awogbenle and Iwuamad (2010) observed from the excepts of statistics obtained from the National Manpower Board and Federal Bureau of statistics 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. According to Ossal and Nwalado (2012) the need for empowerment programmes started emerging in the mid-1980s, when there were political instability and inconsistencies in the socio-economic policies of successive government, high level of unemployment, large scale lay off of workers and early retirements as a result of structural adjusted policies and bad economic trends. In the face of these challenges there was no encouragement from the federal government for public and private investors to embark on empowerment activities. These situations pose great challenges to the very existence of individuals and the national development. To salvage these situations there is need for the training of educated man and woman who can function effectively in their society in which they live in terms of self-employment and self-reliant which N-Power programme can provide. Based upon this premise, the study examined N-Power programme as a veritable tool for youth empowerment in Nigeria.

The socioeconomic situation in Nigeria poses serious threats and challenges to both government and wellbeing of citizens of the nation as a whole. The unemployment problems further call for different strategies and actions for it to be ameliorated. N-Power programme has been embraced by almost all the Nigerian youths and its capabilities and efficacy in springing up economies is not in doubt. It is believed that refocusing N-Power programme will immensely contribute in developing the spirit and culture of empowerment in country N-Power programme is essential not only to shape the mindsets of young people but also to provide the skills and knowledge that are central to developing an empowerment culture. N-Power programme provides unemployed youths motivation, knowledge, and skills essential for launching a successful venture company (Cho, 2017).

Developing mindsets, generic attributes and skills that are the foundations of N-Power can be achieved through indoctrination from an early stage; that is, if it is incorporated into the national system with the seriousness it deserves. Because employment is key to shaping young people’s attitudes, skills and culture, it is vital that N-Power programme is addressed from an early stage and up into level of sustainability. N-Power programme should be available to all unemployed regardless of major courses and choice of studies to enhance competitive advantage, not only for students but the societies and nations where they are involved. The relationship between empowerment and development has been established, such that empowerment is now internationally accepted as a key development index. The importance of empowerment cannot be overemphasized; it is a fundamental human right, hence, the need for incorporating N-Power programme in the unemployment alleviated system. In line with the above, this study is discussed under the following heading: conceptual framework, importance of N-Power programme, need for N-Power programme , rationale for fostering N-Power programme and its achievements as well as problems for effective implementation of N-Power programme in Nigeria. Finally, the way forward will be highlighted.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Impact of N-Power Programme on Youth Empowerment.

1.3 Statement of the Problem

Investigation revealed that the analysis of youth unemployment by geographical/settlement location (rural and urban areas) indicates that youth unemployment is mostly in rural areas and rapidly growing: From 2011 to 2017, the share of unemployed youth in rural areas increased from 47.59 percent to 59.95 percent. The population of unemployed youth in rural areas rose from 2.9 million in 2010 to about 5.9 million in 2016. Public policies directed at addressing youth unemployment have faced different challenges including finance, the absence of good administration and implementation, inconsistent policies, unimpressive responses from would-be trainees, and unqualified resource personnel handling the training programs.

The economic hardship experienced in our society has made poverty and malnutrition to deeply penetrate the youth (one of the most vulnerable groups in any society). They lack almost all the basic things needed for a standard living, such as meaningful employment, balanced diet, good health care services, clothing, affordable education etc. When youth are passing through terrible experiences, such as low self -esteem, depression and other mental health issues, increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases, homelessness, unsafe environments and lack of participation in decision making with little or no concern on the part of the government, there is tendency for high rate of crime.

Youths are disproportionately susceptible to poverty in comparison with other age groups primarily because of the fluid nature of the challenges and opportunities they face during transition to adulthood, particularly in relation to the labour market. This study, therefore, examined youth empowerment as a strategy of reducing crime in the society. This present study was conducted with the broad objective of identifying and exposing Impact of N-Power Programme on Youth Empowerment in Nigeria.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study is to determine Impact of N-Power Programme on Youth Empowerment in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To ascertain how well N-Power programme as enhance youth empowerment;
2. To ascertain the upshot of N-Power programme on the productivity of the youth;
3. To evaluate the value of N-Power programme amongst youth in Nigeria; and
4. To evaluate how well is N-Power programme implemented in organizations.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• What is youth empowerment?
• How does N-Power programme enhance economic growth?
• What is the upshot of N-Power programme on youth productivity?
• How has N-Power programme enhance youth empowerment?
• What is the plus point of N-Power programme among youths in Nigeria?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

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.

Hypothesis One

• H0: The level of impact of N-Power Programme on Nigeria youth empowerment in crime reduction is low
• H1: The level of impact of N-Power Programme on Nigeria youth empowerment in crime reduction is high

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There is no significant relationship between the N-Power Scheme and employment generation.
• H1: There is a significant relationship between the N-Power Scheme and employment generation.

1.7 Significance of the Study

The study proffers the essence of youth empowerment as measure to eradicating crime in Nigeria. It is imperative to know that at the completion of this study the findings will be beneficial to the government (ministry of youth and sport), the potential social welfare in human capital development, and skill acquisition, the academia, youths and the general public.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.8 Scope of the Study

The scope of study focuses on the Impact of N-Power Programme on Youth Empowerment in Nigeria.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.10 Definition of Terms

Youth empowerment: Youth empowerment involves build the capacity of young people and motivating them to take responsibility of their lives. This is done through the process of improving their access to resources that will help in changing their lives, beliefs, values, and attitudes Youth empowerment is carried out to improve the quality of lives of the youth.