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ABSTRACT
This study aimed at investigating the influence of community development programmes on youth empowerment in the Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State. To enable the study to achieve its objectives, four (4) research questions were raised. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of this study comprised all the youths living in the local government areas in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State State from which a total of two hundred (200) are selected to form the sample size for the study. A questionnaire titled “Questionnaire on the influence of community development programmes on youth empowerment in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State” was the instrument used for the collection of data. The validity of the instrument was ascertained through the expert judgment approach while the test re-test method of estimating reliability was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. A reliability index of 0.87 was obtained using Person Product Moment Correlation Statistics. Collected data were analyzed using mean score standard, simple percentage and frequency count. Findings from the data revealed among others that the existing community development projects/programmes introduced for youth empowerment in the area under study are Farm Settlement Scheme (FSS), Green Revolution (GR) horticulture, Youth Capacity Building Scheme, Skill Acquisition Programme, Micro Credit Youth Empowerment Programme, Youth Innovation Support Programme, Agriculture Support Scheme, Social Intervention Programmes and Gender Equality Campaign. In addition, the study revealed that community development has politically empowered the youths by providing opportunities for them to be part of the planning and decision-making process in the community, enabling them to participate in community building taking a leadership position, opening their eyes to their civic rights and responsibilities, increases their awareness to their importance to community growth and development, and provides them with the knowledge needed to fight for their rights and protect them against any intimidation. Finally, recommendations were made that there is a need for the government and nongovernmental agencies to add more community development programmes to the list of existing programmes to help empower the youths in the community. This, it is believed will expand the development opportunities available to the youths in the community.
