Government Entrepreneurship Programmes and Unemployment in Osun State, Nigeria

Youth unemployment is one of the most difficult problem threatening economic development of many nations. Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) is therefore increasingly recognized all over the world, as a panacea to ameliorate the menace of unemployment. Any country that attaches special importance or gives special attention to entrepreneurship stands a better chance of reducing unemployment and improved economy. This study therefore seeks to examine the impact of EDP on the menace of unemployment in Osun state, Nigeria. The specific objective seeks to examine the impact of National Directorate of Employment (NDE) on youth empowerment; and determine the effect of N-power on poverty reduction in Osun state. The study adopted survey research design, using item structured instrument to elicit information from the respondents, for a true representation of the whole population of twenty-five and seventeen thousand (25,000 & 17,000) from both NDE and N- power respectively. The sample of four hundred (400) and two hundred and fifty (250) from both NDE and N -power respectively, making a total of six hundred and fifty (650) respondents was drawn from the population using Taro Yamane (1967) formula for estimating sample. A total of 650 questionnaires were administered out of which six hundred and thirty-two (632) were properly filled and returned. The formulated hypotheses were tested using multiple regression with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS…Version20). The finding of the study revealed that NDE programmes have significant impact on job creation. with the R2 of 0.598. The study also revealed that N-power significantly address poverty reduction, most especially in Osun State, with R2 value of 0.687, which indicate that technical skills which comprises of cognitive and non-cognitive skill actually reduced unemploment. Therefore, It was recommended that, in other to produce a typical entrepreneurs that will not only be self-employed but employ more other unemployed youth, government should make it as a point of duty that beneficiaries are given practical training and ensure they acquire technical skills, both cognitive and non- cognitive skill during and after the programme. Keywords: Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP), Skills, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), N-power, Youth Empowerment