Unemployment and Youth Restiveness in South-East Nigeria (2010-2022)

Abstract

Youth restiveness is a very disturbing and topical issue that requires proactive and concerted efforts to nip in the bud especially as it is being carried out by a category of people with uncommon vigor, energy and technological competence. This article is therefore designed to investigate the correlation between unemployment and youth restiveness in the South-east Nigeria (2010-2022). It adopts both descriptive and analytical research designs for collection and analysis of data. The findings of this article reveal among others that there is a significant relationship between unemployment and various forms of youth restiveness happening in the South-east such as kidnapping, vandalization of public facilities and violent attacks against security personnel. The article therefore recommends that: there is need for governments in the South-east to involve the young people and relevant Civil Society Organizations at the inception of youth empowerment policies/measures so as to get more reliable information as well as make the processes more transparent thereby addressing the issue of nepotism and lack of coordination; political leaders in the South-east and country at large must agree with actions that government is a continuum by showing adequate commitment to inherited youth empowerment policies and programmes of their predecessors; and governments in the region should get seriously involved in the apprenticeship system (Igba boy) which is common in the region with a view to making it a great source of employment in the area.