1.0 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Nigeria, the most populated country in Africa and the continent's second-largest economy, is endowed with both material and people resources, but years of unchecked corruption, poor management, and outright waste have hampered the country's ability to build its economy. Due to this, the nation's resources have not been fully used, which has resulted in widespread unemployment and extreme poverty (Bakare, 2013).

With a skyrocketing rate of youth unemployment, the adoption of foreign policies that worked in developed economies failed to enhance the economic system. The federal, state, and municipal governments all share responsibilities for education this where entrepreneurship skills acquisition can be obtainable in Nigeria.

Nigeria has a population of over 200 million people, 250 ethnic groups, and people from a wide range of backgrounds, with about 70% of the population being under 25. (Business Day, (2013) continuing to see more than 150,000 people graduate each year, and the number of jobs available is insufficient to keep up with the growing number of job searchers (Bakare 2013).

As a result, the unemployment rate keeps rising, which is bad for a developing country. Since a few years ago, Nigeria has faced severe and frenzied security difficulties, some of which have been linked to the country's high unemployment rate.

 The position was confirmed by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi (2013) delivered in the paper at Umuahia, Abia State's first Ochendu Youth Empowerment Lecture Series. He confirmed that variables like unemployment, among others, can serve as both a catalyst and fuel for unease. He stated that the statistical unemployment rate would be 20% from 2010 to 2011 compared to 15% from 2012 to 2010.

According to Bakare (2013) According to recent World Bank estimates, 40% of young people are unemployed. She asserted that in reality, 80% of Nigerian youngsters are unemployed, with secondary school graduates making up around 50% of this group of unemployed rural people.

 Today in Nigeria, we live in fears, a position corroborated by Clark & Ausukuya (2013) that due to the fact that most economic operations have been halted and crippled and as a result, firms are unable to pay their employees, further escalating the already difficult situation of unemployment..

In light of this, BusinessDay decided to partner with the ministry of industry, trade, and investment as well as the small and medium scale enterprises development agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to launch the entrepreneurship development programme (UNEDEP) initiative, which will serve as a platform to encourage the development of entrepreneurship skills among Nigerian universities and inspire students about the opportunities available in the nation.

In order to foster the culture among Nigerian youth, according to the former minister, Mr. Olusegun Agangu, his ministry extended the mission on entrepreneurship to the university level via UNEDEP. The minister added that there is a global focus on MSMEs and that more nations are prioritising the growth of this industry because it is the only one that retains jobs while larger firms lay off workers. He urged the students and youths to benefit from the numerous conversations since they will provide them with the essential direction for creating their business ideas.

 The aim of this programme is to empower undergraduates and youths for job and wealth creation as well as poverty alleviation (BusinessDay, 2013).

In another skill acquisition programme organized for unemployed youths especially graduates by the Centre for Human Security, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in collaboration with tertiary institutions in Nigeria, the former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Peter Okebukola opined that Nigerian tertiaty have been asked to make entrepreneurship skill acquisition and training compulsory for all graduates of tertiary institutions to reduce youth unemployment in the Nigeria and besides, in few years to come, the measure would have prepared youths for entrepreneurship towards moving Nigerian forward (Nigerian Tribune, 2013).

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

One of Nigeria's strengths as a country is its human resources, and the country annually produces fresh graduates who enter the labour market without any corresponding businesses, organisations, or government parastatals to relieve them despite our vast material resources. As a result, many people, with the exception of a select few of the affluent, graduate with no job after a long period of time. As a result, the unemployed youths  join  criminal groups as a result of their frustrations and incorrect orientations. Most of the girls may wind up as prostitutes in to make ends meet, leading to difficulties in the country these days, including insecurity. Some joined oil theft syndicates, violent criminals, kidnapping, militants, or insurgents.

Overtime unemployment rate  has been a topic of national discussion in Nigeria. Due to the high unemployment rate, the issue cannot be solved by a simple campaign or word of mouth (Nwankwo & Ifejiofor, 2014).

Nigeria's high unemployment rate necessitates a concerted effort from citizens and the government at all levels to develop a long-term plan to address this problem.

Every country addresses the socioeconomic issue of unemployment to the best of their unique abilities. The circumstance in Nigeria has gotten out of hand, as evidenced by individual study papers and other government statements, since approximately 70% of those who are ready to work unable find gainful job in Nigeria..

 As a result, many young people have turned to criminal activity like as robbery, kidnapping, drug and human trafficking, and different forms of armed banditry in an effort to support themselves. Whether the method is legal or not is no longer relevant. It looks that there is no longer any hope for improvement. Every year, more graduates and school dropouts add to the number of young people without jobs, which fuels their resentment and hostility toward the society that has failed to support them. The threat of youth unemployment has been addressed in a number of ways by successive governments, but it doesn't seem that these efforts have had much of an impact on the rate of unemployment, as it has continued to rise across the nation.

From a wide range of socioeconomic perspectives, Nigeria's high unemployment rate has had a detrimental effect on the youth as well as the economic growth and development of the nation. It is apparent that Nigeria's progress has been hindered in a number of ways, particularly by the high youth unemployment rate. In addition to the economic waste it caused, it also causes political and social instability in the nation (Ipaye, 2014).

According to Ezie (2012), The alarmingly high unemployment rate in Nigeria is made all the more depressing by the fact that the economy of the nation is unable to absorb a sufficient amount of the labour force. Crime and other social vices have been continuously rising in our society in recent years as a result of this predicament. In many spheres of human endeavour, numerous techniques have been proposed to ameliorate this dreadful state. All of these tactics can be found in entrepreneurship skills acquisition and training.

Studies such as Ekong and Ekong(2010), have all recommended entrepreneurial training as a surefire way to combat Nigeria's rising unemployment rate. To make the intervention effective and goal-oriented, the prescriptions, however, omit the precise roles that the government is anticipated to play.it is to this the study will center on impact of entrepreneurship skills on un employment problem of youths in somolu local government area of Lagos state

1.3     AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The general objective of this study is to examine impact of entrepreneurship skills on un employment problem of youths in somolu local government area of Lagos state. The specific objectives will be:

1 To examine the causes of youth unemployment in Somolu local government Area of Lagos state

2 To examine the relationship between entrepreneurship training and un employment  of youths in Lagos state

3 To examine the impact of entrepreneurship skills on un employment of youths in somolu local government area

4 To recommend ways of reducing youth unemployment through entrepreneurship skills acquisition and training in Lagos

1.4            RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1 What are the causes of youth unemployment in Somolu local government Area of Lagos state?

2 What is  the relationship between entrepreneurship training and un employment  of youths in Lagos state?

3 What is the impact of entrepreneurship skills on un employment of youths in somolu local government area?

4 What are the ways of reducing youth unemployment through entrepreneurship skills acquisition and training in Lagos?

1.5            HYPOTHESIS

In order to enable the researcher to impact of entrepreneurship skills on un employment problem of youths in somolu local government area of lagos state , the following hypothesis will be tested:

HYPOTHESIS

HO: There is no significant impact of entrepreneurship skills on un employment of youths in somolu local government area

H1: There is a significant impact of entrepreneurship skills on un employment of youths in somolu local government area

1.6             SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study will enrich the body of literature thereby expanding knowledge in the area. As could be seen from past studies in the area, entrepreneurship development has been the popular prescription for reducing the increasing rate of unemployment in Nigeria. Also, the policy dialogue that will arise from the findings would be of immense benefit to different categories of people and they include the government, the practicing and prospective entrepreneurs, the students, researchers and the general public , the study is aimed at influencing policy makers to change or update the current government policies to improve entrepreneurship education and skills acquisition programs and boost the intention of the students to pursue entrepreneurial activities. The study also aimed at revealing the challenges that young entrepreneurs face and the resources that are needed to help them transition from college to the workforce, thereby increasing the number of entrepreneurs and reducing the unemployment level

1.7   SCOPE OF THE STUDY   

The study would cover impact of entrepreneurship skills on un employment problem of youths in Somolu local government area of Lagos state

1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The researcher was faced with the following constraints in carrying out this study: Time: The time within the researcher is too short to carry on the detail study on this topic.

Resources: Another constraint of the researcher is financial resources to carry on the detail study of this topic.

Data: Another limitation to this study will be lack of data to make valid study on the research problem.

1.9            DEFINITION OF TERMS

ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS: Entrepreneur skills include various skill sets such as leadership, business management, time management, creative thinking and problem-solving. You can apply these skills in many job roles and industries. These entrepreneur skills are vital for promoting innovation, business growth and competitiveness

UNEMPLOYMENT: Unemployment, according to the OECD, is people above a specified age not being in paid employment or self-employment but currently available for work during the reference period. Unemployment is measured by the unemployment rate, which is the number of people who are unemployed as a percentage of the labour force