EFFECTS OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of involvement in rural development programmes on youth development. Multi-stage sampling technique was used in the study. In the first stage, three Local Governments areas each were purposively selected from Osun west which are Ede North, Ede South and Egbedore local government areas; and from Osun east senatorial districts, three local government areas of Ilesa East, Ilesa West and Oriade were purposively selected. This makes up six local government areas. The selection was based on their relative rurality and presence of youths related institutions and activities e.g. higher education institutions. Five wards were then selected from each of these local government areas to make up thirty wards. Four respondents were then selected from each ward to make a total of twenty respondents per local government. This made a sample size of one hundred and twenty respondents. Variables considered in the study include socio-economic characteristics of the youth; available rural development programmes, constraints and effect of rural development programmes on the youth. One hundred and twenty respondents were purposively selected for the study. Majority of the respondents were male (51.7%) while 48.3% were female. The mean age of the respondents was 24.16 years. Some (39.2%), of the respondents were still schooling while 21.7% where in the civil service. The others were engaged in farming and trading. More than half (56.7%) of the respondents were single while 39.2% are married. The others were divorced or widowed. The mean household size was 4.42. The results of the study revealed high level of education among the respondents with at least 67.5% of the respondents possessing at least secondary school level of education and 51.7% attaining post secondary education. The awareness of the major rural development programmes carried out in the study area include maternal and child healthcare (96.7%), women empowerment programmes (95.0%), agricultural support programme (95.0%), youth empowerment programmes (94.2%), poverty eradication programme (93.3%), rural electrification programme (92.5%), job creation (92.5%), and rural road project (91.7%). The result showed that the youths are not actively involved in the various aspects of rural development programmes. Correlation analysis between age of the respondents and level of involvement in rural development programme indicates a non-significant relationship with a correlation value, r = -0.17 and p greater than 0.05. The study further revealed that the level of involvement of youths in rural development programmes in the study area has not resulted in strong positive development of the youths, with a correlation value, r = 0.02 and p greater than 0.05. This indicates a non-significant effect on the youth development. Therefore, development agencies should ensure that youths are carried along and get more involved in rural development programmes for them to benefit more. The study also revealed that educational level does not have any effect on the respondents’ action towards rural development programmes. With a calculated chi square value of x2 = 0.76 and p value greater than 0.05. This is a positive index to project sustainability in rural areas, and government should assist in the provision of environment needed for rural development programmes. Also, extension agents, especially those in the agricultural sector, should assist in forming youth organizations that are germane to rural development.