Abstract

Adejuwa F. Akimade1, Segun D. D. 2 and Gbenga I. Fayosa3*

This study investigated empowering the youths for sustainable national development through vocational education in South West zone of Nigeria. Three hypotheses were generated. The research design used for the study was the descriptive research design of the survey type. One thousand two hundred youths were selected through stratified random sampling technique from three randomly selected states in the zone. The research instrument used was a self-constructed instrument titled “Youth Empowerment and National Development Inventory” (YENDI). Face and content validities of the instrument were ensured and the reliability of the instrument was established at a value of 0.70 using the test re-test reliability method. The inferential statistical technique used for the data analysis in the study was Pearson Moment Correlation analysis. The result of the analysis revealed that there was a significant relationship between capacity building (empowerment) and human capital formation; again, it was found that a strong correlation existed between capacity building and youth employability. It was further revealed that there was significant linkage between capacity building (empowerment) and social exclusion in South West Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was recommended (among others) that vocational education must necessarily be central to any meaningful youth policy for human capital formation.