ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF YOUTH RESTIVENESS ON THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF YOUTHS IN THE NIGER DELTA

Abstract

Abstract Youth restiveness m the Niger Delta states of Nigeria has been a challenge to vanous governments since the 1980s with devastating effects such as oil pipe line vandalism, inter and intra ethnic conflicts, increase in crime rate and a host of other social vices (Onoge 2008). Another major challenge in the Niger Delta is the falling degree of academic achievement. Despite the effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) via: Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Youth Intervention Programmes, Amnesty Programme and Post Amnesty Programme; the problem of youth restiveness and low academic achievement still looks untouched (Ofem and Ajayi, 2008). Tthis study was therefore carried out to assess the effectiveness and adequacy of youth intervention programmes and the academic background of youths in the Niger Delta with the View of suggesting methods that can be adapted to arrest youth restiveness in the south- south states of Nigeria. A survey design was adopted. A sample of 332 youths were selected through random selection and a researcher designed stmctured questionnaire on youth restiveness and academic achievement was used for the data collection. The reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was found to be 0.79 using correlational analysis. The study used mean and standard deviation to answer four (4) research questions and four hypotheses were tested. The findings revealed that the intervention programmes are making progress in achieving the goals, that is, curbing youth restiveness and reducing unemployment amoung the youths but the programmes are inadequate (mean 2.95). The result also showed that there exists a significant difference between restive youth and youths in regular secondary school. This means that educational background IS a predictor of youth restiveness. Recommendations were made on tthe strategies of abating youth restiveness in the Niger Delta.