Effect of Opportunity Recognition Competence on Youth Empowerment in Selected States in Northeast Nigeria

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of opportunity recognition competence on youth empowerment in Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe states in Northeast, Nigeria. Some researches have reported that many youths in Northeast, Nigeria do not engage in entrepreneurship practice and are at the fore front of those carrying out most of the deadly attacks and committing social vices that have rocked the Northeast zone for many years. The population consisted of 1,694 indigenous youth from Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe states who participated in training at the skill upgrading and vocational training center from 2017-2021. A sample size of 322 was determined using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size determination table. Given the heterogeneity of the population for each state, Bowley’s sample allocation formula was applied for the determination of proportionate sample size for each state while stratified and simple random sampling techniques were adopted for selecting the study participants. The quantitative data were collected through standardized questionnaire adapted from previous related studies and analysed through descriptive statistics and path analysis. All measurement items on the adapted questionnaire were carefully reworded then subjected to the criticisms of experts in the field for content and face validity. The construct reliability and internal consistency of the instrument was determined through Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Out of 322 copies of questionnaire administered, 305 representing 94.72 percent were returned. However, out of this number, only 289 copies of questionnaire representing 89.75% were correctly filled and thus suitable for data analysis. The results showed that opportunity recognition skill had a significant effect on youth empowerment (β=-0.307, P>.001) in selected states in the Northeast, Nigeria. The paper recommends that Northeast state governments of Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe and community leaders should engage in vigorous media literacy to mobilize greater youth participation in skill acquisition programmes and also establish well-funded vocational training centers along with industrial parks in each state. Successful indigenous entrepreneurs should be encouraged with tax holidays in exchange for providing apprenticeship training to interested indigenous youths over a stipulated time frame. Keywords: Opportunity recognition, Skill acquisition, Youth empowerment, Northeast Nigeria