APPRAISING THE ATTAINMENT OF FINAL YEAR PROJECT AND NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES IN NIGERIA: TOWARDS INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The study appraised the attainment of final year students’ projects and national youth service corp. objectives in Nigeria, with the view of recommending an innovative collaboration for economic development and national unity. To achieve this, two research questions were formulated to guide the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population and sample of the study was 1200 graduates from the six-geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Researchers developed questionnaire containing 25 items, structured on the basis of two options of high extent and low extent was used for data collection. The questionnaire was faced validated by two lecturers from the University of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State. Data collected were analyzed using mean scores. The results of the study showed that although final year project objectives were attained to high extent, lack of utilizing the recommendations from the projects and plagiarism have shrouded the objectives in mystery. The results also showed that the NYSC objectives were attained to a low extent. Based on the findings, the researchers recommended a new innovative collaboration between tertiary institutions, NYSC directorate, graduating students of the institutions, Bank of Industry (BOI), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and Standard Organization of Nigerian (SON). This innovative collaboration will require two years mandatory final year students’ new venture creation and management that would see the students start ventures and manage them successfully. An initial capital of not more than N3million would be jointly financed by grant of N1.5million from NYSC and N1.5million loan from BOI guaranteed by the students’ institutions.     

Keywords: human capital, unemployment, business venture creation and gross domestic product