Barriers to Access and Utilization of Available Youth Empowerment Programmes in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State

Abstract

The need for youth empowerment became glaring in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, to help re-focus the youths on meaningful self-development. This was as a result of the high level of youth restiveness over issues of marginalization, neglect by the federal government and the poor development of the region, which gave rise to militancy, kidnapping and other forms of exploitations amongst youths. These risk factors associated with the struggle left a huge negative impact such as un-employability on a large number of youths in the region. The study focused on analyzing the barriers to access and utilization of available youth empowerment programmes in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State. The questionnaire and in-depth interview were used as instruments for collection of data from 510 and 28 respondents respectively. The quantitative data were analysed using version 20 of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and frequency distribution tables and percentages were used to present the results. Chi-square (χ²) was used to test the four hypotheses; binary logistic regression was used to predict the effect of independent variables on a dependent variable while the qualitative data collected were analysed in themes as complement to the quantitative data. The independent variables included: ‘distance to programme location’, ‘attitude of government and youths’, ‘awareness’, and ‘sex’, while the dependent variables were ‘utilization’. The findings of the study revealed that a few majority of the respondents were aware of the youth empowerment programmes in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State; however, majority of them have not benefitted from any youth empowerment programmes. Among the findings was that younger youths have access to the programmes more than the older youths.  Findings further revealed that there was statistical significance between the place of residence and perception of access while age, marital status, religion and education had no statistical significance. Also, education had statistical significance with utilization while the place of residence, age, marital status and religion had no statistical significance. Majorly, findings from the hypotheses tested showed that distance, attitude and awareness were significant predictors of utilization. This was confirmed using the binary linear regression analysis, only distance was not significant with perception of access but its long run significance was positive as were attitude and awareness, whereas sex had no influence and this was confirmed using the binary linear regression analysis. This implies that distance, attitude and awareness are significant predictors of access and utilization of the YEP. From the findings the study recommends that Government, policy makers and NGOs can collaborate to reduce the barriers to access and utilization of youth empowerment programmes. Government is also charged with ensuring there is adequate funding and that monitoring, maintenance and sustenance mechanisms are put in place for effective youth empowerment programmes in the area