PERCEPTION OF YOUTH AGRICULTURAL ENTREPRENEURS PROGRAMME AND SKILL TRAINING ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME FOR JOB CREATION BY UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS IN DELTA STATE.

Abstract

This study sought to examine the perception of the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programe (YAGEP) and Skill Training Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) as job creation schemes, by unemployed youths of Delta State. Three research questions were raised while three hypotheses were formulated. The population comprised of all unemployed youths of Delta North District and sample comprised of 230 randomly selected unemployed youths who applied for the 2016 YAGEP and STEP schemes. A structured questionnaire containing 42 items, grouped into three (3) clusters that sought to elicit the perception of respondents to the schemes, was administered. The instrument was validated by lecturers from three institutions in Delta State and it had a reliability coefficient of 0.82 (Cronbach alpha). Data generated by 219 respondents were analyzed using, means, standard deviation, and t-test analysis to obtain results. Findings revealed that respondents had positive perception of YAGEP and STEP as job creation schemes, called for expansion of the YAGEP to cover more crops and more livestock, and agreed that they are viable and sustainable schemes which they could participate in to become entrepreneurs and job creators. T-test analysis of the hypotheses revealed that males and females had different levels of perception of YAGEP and STEP, had different positive ratings of the programmes, while ND/NCE and HND/B.Sc or B.A graduates’ perceptions were influenced by their different levels of education. Recommendations included unemployed youths keying into properly managed empowerment programmes like YAGEP and STEP to become job creators, while governments were advised to always conduct studies on the perception of their programmes by the people to be served, so that they can happily participate in such programmes.