CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The youth are recognized not only as future leaders but also as actors and foundation of our society, with a direct stake in the development process of our great nation.                                         Aishat Ismail, (New Nigerian, 2001).

Youth are one of the greatest assets any nation can be proud of. Not only are they legitimately regarded as the future leaders, young women and men are potentially and actually the vital resources worth of investment by a country as well as the valued possession for national development.

As critical stakeholders, they are the center of reconstruction and sustainable development of any nation. The emerging global and regional consensus on youth development clearly underscores the need to ensure the inclusion of youth perspectives in the development process along with the effective participation of youth in national development practice.

Over the years, there has been a gradual increase in global awareness about the vital role of young people in sustainable development. The United Nations, in 1985 drew the attention of the world to the important role of young people, by declaring that year, The International Youth Year for Development and Peace. (Giwa, 2008).

In the world today, youth are estimated to be over one billion (World Youth Report, 2007). In Nigeria with a population of over 140 million (NPC, 2006), the youth are estimated to be over 1/3 of the population (NYP, 2008).

The youth are both demographically significant, and an essential and dynamic part of the world’s human resources. They make tremendous contributions to society at all levels as actors, players, partners and strategic catalysts for development. Yet, in spite of their valuable input to human development, youth contributions for development process have for centuries remained unacknowledged by societies that favor adult aged person.

People have been so distrustful of the youths’ capability that they doubted if civilization could continue. A formidable barrier has been created, which young people must surmount if they are to take on their responsibilities and work in partnership with adults to contribute meaningfully to national development and improve a world that is also theirs. Alvin Toffler opined (cited by Tsegaye S. 2006:4) sums up the effects of this barrier:

The secret message communicated to most young people today by the society around them is that they are not needed, that the society will run itself quite nicely until they - at some distant point in the future will take over the reigns.

Yet the fact is that the society is not running itself nicely...because the rest of us need all the energy, brains, imagination and talent that young people can bring to bear down on our difficulties. For society to attempt to solve its desperate problems without the full participation of even very young people is imbecile

Youth have been making enormous contributions to the improvement of life on the planet. There is hardly any function, be it social, cultural or economic, where youth have not played part: from leaders of crusades to national presidents, from prolific writers to media pundits.

Yet the acknowledgment of their contributions to human and societal development has not been fully apreciated. Their contributions were not also proportionate to their demographic weight as youth have remained mostly excluded from society’s important and critical socioeconomic decisions.

There are also instances where youth are exploited through their labor and courage in militant and insurgent groups and as instruments of political struggle though they end up being the least beneficiaries.

Thus, one can fairly say that attempts by youth and youth groups at participating in national development have been greeted by barriers that come in varied forms and styles.

On the political dimension, youth have become victims of their own cynicism about politics in spite of the fact that politics is the terrain of participation where most influential decisions are made. This cynicism has also has its roots partly in the lack of youth-friendly structures and methods of work. Existing political and organizational settings are mostly replete with a culture of patronage and change resistance.

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Youth participation is an essential strategy for ensuring young people’s optimal development and for achieving wider development goals for society.

Failure to provide opportunities for youth to build their capacity to participate in development would be a missed opportunity to harness the huge potential in human capital, and this could have enormous economic, cultural, political and social consequences.

Efforts must therefore be made to listen to youth and engage them in the process of strengthening participatory democracy. Their involvement can lead to better decisions and outcomes. Finally, several researches has been carried out on the roles of youth in nation building but not even a single research has been carried out on an assessment of youth in the development of Owan east local government area of Edo state.

1. AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim and objectives of the study is to assess youth in the development of Owan local government area of Edo state. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. to determine the effect of youth participation in the development of Owan east local government area of Edo state.
2. to determine the factors affecting youth participation in the development of Owan east local government area of Edo state.
3. to determine the extent to which youth contribute to the development of Owan east local government area of Edo state.
4. to proffer possible solutions to the problem.  
   1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the effect of youth participation in the development of Owan east local government area of Edo state?
2. What are the factors affecting youth participation in the development of Owan east local government area of Edo state?
3. What is the extent to which youth contribute to the development of Owan east local government area of Edo state?
4. What are the possible solutions to the problem? 
   1. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Ho:  Youth has no significant effect in the development of Owan east local government area of Edo state.

Hi:   Youth has a significant effect in the development of Owan east local government area of Edo state.

1. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on the assessment of youth in the development of Owan east local government will be of immense benefit to the entire Edo state in the sense that it will educate the government to understand that young people constitute a significant share of our population and will continue to do so.

It should be recognized that despite the challenges associated with youth development like inadequate access to education, the young people of today are, on average, better educated than their parents.

They are better connected to the rest of the world than any of the earlier generations of youth, and they are, as a result, more determined to find options to close the gap between their limited opportunities and what they perceive to be possible in the global economy.

Young people constitute a significant share of our population and will continue to do so. It should be recognized that despite the challenges associated with youth development like inadequate access to education, the young people of today are, on average, better educated than their parents.

They are better connected to the rest of the world than any of the earlier generations of youth, and they are, as a result, more determined to find options to close the gap between their limited opportunities and what they perceive to be possible in the global economy.

Participation promotes the well-being and development of young people, strengthens their commitment to an understanding of human rights and democracy, and provides them a form of protection; it also allows them to take part in decision-making processes.

Finally, the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge to this field of study and basis for further research.

1. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study on the assessment of youth in the development of Owan east local government area is limited to Edo state.

1. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Time Constraints: One of the challenges experienced by the researcher is the issue of time; the research will simultaneously engage in departmental activities like seminars and attendance to lectures. But the researcher was able to meet up with the deadline for the submission of the project.

Financial Constraints: Every research work needs funding; however lack of adequate funds might affect the speed of the researcher in getting materials for completion of the project.

1.9   DEFINITION OF TERMS

Assessment:    The process of considering all the information about a situation or a person and making a judgment.

Youth:     The period between childhood and maturity.

Development: The process of developing or being developed.