THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN EMPOWERING NIGERIAN YOUTHS

Youths empowerment is an attitudinal process of instilling in young people the ‘will-power’, authority and means to make, and implement decisions for a positive change in their own lives and that of other people. Youth empowerment is often addressed as a ‘gate way to inter-generational equity, civic engagement, and democracy building’. Local, state, federal governments, NGOs, non-profit organizations, as well as international government agencies need to provide programs centred on youth empowerment. This may be done through youth-led media, youth rights movements, youth councils and activism, and youths involvement in community decision making. Political parties need to have policy statements and programs supporting youths, instead of recruiting them as political ‘thugs’ for destructive activities.In the present decade, Nigeria has witnessed unprecedented youth restiveness in many parts of the country, especially states like Kano, Yobe, Bauchi, Borno, Plateau, etc. Some of the factors responsible for these destructive tendencies include religious sentiment, dilapidated educational structures, bad leadership, lack of moral values, high level of poverty and the effects of paid labour/industrialization on family structures as well as socialization process. These have plunged the nation into the abyss of stagnation and near anarchy. A functional education system is needed to promote creative skills and develop values in Nigerian youths, shape youths into role specificity to bring about national development.

Name: Afolabi Daniel Oluwatosin

State Code No: Os/22c/0132

Course of Study: Elect- Elect

Institution: Kwara state polytechnic

State of Origin: Kwara State