ASSESSMENT OF PRIVATE SECTORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AMONG YOUTHS IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the contributions of private sectors to youth empowerment in Rivers State. The objectives were to identify areas of their contributions, ascertain whether the contributions achieved their goals and determine the perception of youths about the private sectors' contributions. One hundred and fifty youths were sampled using multiple sampling technique and used as respondents. Data were obtained using structured questionnaire and oral discussions with the respondents. The gathered data were analyzed using frequency counts, and mean statistics. The findings shows that contributions by the private sectors towards empowerment were more of educational than economic empowerment which appears to be their priority. That programmes/projects meant for youth empowerment did not achieve their goals and that youths in Rivers State perceived the contributions of private sectors to youth empowerment as mere cosmetics and lacking in sense of purpose and sincerity. The study therefore, recommend a wholistic approach to youth empowerment aimed at reducing poverty, ignorance and dependency of the youths.