DRIVING YOUTH EMPLOYABILITY THROUGH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPRENTICESHIP SCHEMES: THE CASE OF SOUTH SOUTHERN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined youth employability in multinational companies and whether Federal Government Apprenticeship Schemes drive employability in South –Southern Nigeria. The study adopted a quantitative research design. The capital cities of four South-Southern States were selected for the study due to their large economic activities and the centers of the Federal Government Apprenticeship Schemes in South-Southern Nigeria. A total of 360 owners of micro, small and medium enterprises trained in Federal Government Apprenticeship Schemes were used as the sample for the study. The study utilized a structured questionnaire to elicit information from 20 different but most desirable traders/craftsmen who have gone through Government’s apprenticeship Scheme. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression and analysis of variance. Results of the study indicate that federal government apprenticeship scheme has contributed significantly to job creation in South-Southern Nigeria through impartation of skills to unemployed youths, however, it has not contributed to youth employability in multinational corporations. On the basis of the above findings, the study concluded that federal government apprenticeship scheme in Nigeria has potentials to generate higher income and create jobs but should be multi-dimensional in approach with modern skills and implemented in local communities to trickle down the job creation capacity of the schemes.