Relationship between National Open Apprenticeship Scheme and Youth Employment: Evidence from Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the extent to which the National Directorate of Employment has fulfilled its mandate of combating youth unemployment in Bwari Area Council through survey research design. The analysis of data and testing of formulated hypotheses was executed through descriptive statistics and Chi-square statistic. The findings revealed that the National Open Apprenticeship Scheme is an effective strategy for combating youth unemployment in Bwari Area Council. However, the results showed that the Scheme had not significantly reduced the rate of youth unemployment in Bwari Area Council. The study recommended that policy strategies for the promotion of job creation should be deployed to support enterprises established by youth. In addition, the monthly stipends of trainees of National Open Apprenticeship Scheme should be improved upon and paid regularly to arouse their interest for self-employment opportunities. Furthermore, the government should create an enabling environment for small businesses in Bwari Area Council by making power, good roads, water and other social infrastructural facilities available and National Open Apprenticeship Scheme should be linked with Microfinance Banks to provide loans to their graduates.