YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES ALONG OIL PALM FRUIT PROCESSING VALUE CHAIN- A CALL TO SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND LIVELIHOOD SUSTENANCE IN NIGERIA

The study specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of the oil palm processors, determined the level of involvement of the respondents in oil palm processing entrepreneurial activities and examined the constraints to oil palm processing in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select a total of 180 respondents for the study while structured interview schedule was used to collect quantitative data. Data collected were analyzed using percentages and frequencies while hypotheses were tested using Chi-square, multiple regression model (MRM) and Correlation. Results showed that the mean age of respondents was 38±5years, mean household size was 6±2 persons, mean year of formal education was 15±2 years and mean monthly income was ₦45,000±23,000. Results showed that 68.7percent of the respondents indicated moderate level of involvement in oil palm processing entrepreneurial activities; 25.3percent indicated high level of involvement while very few (6.0%) indicated low level of involvement respectively. Further results showed that household size (r = 0.224; p ≤ 0.01) and years of formal education (r = 0.211; p ≤ 0.01) had positive and significant relationship with involvement in oil palm processing entrepreneurial activities. It was concluded from the study that majority of the respondents indicated moderate level of involvement in oil palm processing entrepreneurial activities in the study area.