Youth Empowerment A Panacea for Unemployment in Kogi State, Nigeria

This study was designed to determine the effects of youth empowerment on youth unemployment in Kogi State. Three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Data for the study were collected from 2500 youths in 10 local government areas of the State using structured questionnaires. The questionnaire was pilot tested with split-half method and the result of 0.75 obtained shows the questionnaire was reliable. The three hypotheses stated were tested at 0.05level of significance and were rejected. The first hypothesis stated shows that functional and quantitative education, lack of connection among the youths, economic crisis and wastage and selfishness among our leaders are the major cause of youth unemployment in the State. The second and the third hypotheses stated show that youth empowerment has great effect in reducing the crisis of unemployment in the State and that social media increases the zeal of criminal activities in the State. Based on this, recommendations such as Educational policy should be restructured to meet the needs of most employers in the state, the Federal Ministry of Education should embark on curriculum reform by involving education professionals and subject specialists for adequate and effective career guidance, and that Governmental and Non-Governmental organizations in the country should be actively involved in youth empowerment strategy in the country among others were made.