LEADERSHIP AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF N-POWER PROGRAMME IN BENUE STATE

This study examines Leadership and Youth Empowerment in Nigeria: A Study of N-Power Programme in Benue State. The specific objectives of the study include: to examine the nature and character of leadership in Nigeria, to ascertain the efficacy of N-Power programme on youth empowerment in Benue State, to identify the factors militating against the implementation of N-Power programme in State and to suggest possible ways of enhancing effective leadership in order to enhance youth empowerment in Benue State. The study relied on survey design, questionnaire were adopted as the main instrument of data collection. Theoretically, the study adopted system theory as its framework of analysis. Findings of the study revealed that the development of any country depends largely on the ability of its leadership to facilitate, entrench and sustain good governance. Leadership is a crucial variable that is capable of enhancing social, political and economic development in any society (youth empowerment inclusive). The role of leadership in any state is crucial in terms of creating a vision, mission, determination in establishment of objectives, designing strategies, policies, and methods to achieve the state’s objectives effectively and efficiently along with directing and coordinating the efforts and the state activities. It is sad to state that, despite the design and the implementation of the social welfare policies of Buhari administration called N-Power programme in Benue State in order to alleviate the suffering of the youths, majority of population of youths in the state are still living below the poverty line and are unemployed. This development shows clearly that, the social welfare policies of Buhari’s administration on youth empowerment have not achieved their objectives as majority of youths in the state are still confronted with problems of poverty and unemployment, therefore the overall impact of N-power programme on youth development is low. The study recommends that, the youths that participated in N-power programme should be given permanent employment. Also, the federal government should introduce more employment schemes to address the high prevalence of unemployment in the country at large in order to enhance youth empowerment.