Strengthening Youth Empowerment Programmes through Technical anf Vocational Education and Training; A Strategy for Reducing Unemployment in Nigeria

Abstract

There has been growing concern about the rate of unemployment and underemployment among Nigerian Youths and graduates. This has increased the crime and poverty rate of the nation. The federal government, international and non governmental organizations have introduced some youth empowerment programmes to curb the problem of unemployment in Nigeria. Nonetheless, these programmes have not been effective and accessible for the youths. This is because of the poor content of some of the programmes for the reasons that they do not appropraitely incorporate Vocational Technical Education and training in its programme content. Vocational Education and Training which leads to applied and practical skills acquisition if properly integrated in youth empowerment programmes will strengthen the programmes and thereby reduce unemployment to the minimum.