INCREASING RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND PROBLEM OF YOUTHS INVOLVMENT IN CRIME IN ILORIN METROPOLIS

Abdulrahman, Ibrahim; Hanafi, Alimat Yetunde & Yusuf Habeeb

Abstract

The national unemployment rates for Nigeria between 2011 and 2020 showed that the number of unemployed persons constituted 23.9% in 2011, but surprisingly jumped to 27.1% in 2020. This study examined the increasing rate of unemployment and problem of youths involvement in crime in Ilorin metropolis. The research adopted a descriptive survey of correlation type. Random sampling technique was used to select youths.. “the increasing rate of unemployment and problem of youths Questionnaire” were used to gather information from the respondents. Research questions were raised for the study and answered with descriptive statistics of mean scores and standard deviation. Three hypotheses were formulated and statistically tested using inferential statistics of Pearson product moment correlation statistic at 0.05 level of significance. The result of the findings revealed that “Poor dispersal and diversification of economic base”, “Lack of skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development” and “Lack of foresight, bad planning and ineptitude execution on the part of the nations’ administrator” were the most causes of youth unemployment in Ilorin; that “Robbery”, “Breaking and Entering” and “Pick-pocketing and theft” were the most types of criminal behaviours committed by unemployed youths in Ilorin; that “Social stain, disgrace and labeling”, “Suffocated safety and undermined security” and “Erosion of social values” were the most Effects of Criminality on Jobless Youths within Ilorin metropolis. Based on the findings, it was recommended that Support services in terms of entrepreneurial training should be given to them to enhance skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development; Education planning must also be structured to take cognizance of self employment and self-sustainability with the possibility of the youths engaging in self-run enterprises.