Abstract:
Unemployment is one of the developmental problems bedevilling the world in this twenty-first century although the up-surge is more pronounced in the developing nations. In Africa and Nigeria in particular, youth unemployment is a very daunting challenge in the labour market, and constitutes a serious threat to national development. It appears to be shooting up the sky as many of the youths portrays lack of the skills and entrepreneurship competencies that will empower them to self-employment. The introduction of youth entrepreneurship programmes and youths' participation in the programmes has not really alleviated the situation, hence this study. This research examined graduates' unemployment reduction in Nigeria, using the NYSC's Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programme as a case in point. The study reveals that corps members are aware, appreciates and participates in the in-camp training. However, there seems to be a very sharp decline in participation between the in-camp and post camp segments of the programme as very few participates in the post-camp exercise (where the real or main skill acquisition training is expected to take place). The reduction in number in the post-camp training is occasioned by some evidenced challenges ranging from unconducive training/seminar venues, attitude of trainers, inadequate time etc. and leads to loss of interest in the programme. This is coupled with the fact that the post camp training attracts payment, and the NYSC is not actually involved in the negotiation of the terms of engagement of the corps members with the trainers in the post-camp training. More still, training centres does not exist in all the Local Government Areas especially in the remote ones. Against this backdrop, the study recommends inter-alia that for effective and efficient skill acquisition and participation of corps members both in the in-camp and post-camp training exercise, motivations such as adequate sensitization, availability of conducive training environment, quality lectures/trainings, availability of skill acquisition centre, smooth accessibility to credit facilities etc. should be made available.
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