Analysis of Skill Acquisition Programmes (SAP) on Employment Opportunities in Rural Rivers State

Abstract

The study analyzed skill acquisition programmes (SAP) on employment opportunities among rural people in Rivers State. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 100 respondents. Multistage sampling technique was employed. Four institutions involved in SAP were purposively selected while 80 beneficiaries and 20 managerial/administrative staff of the institutions were randomly selected. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that the four institutions carried out activities/skills in carpentry, computer training, fashion design, welding, GSM repairs, barbing /hair saloon, hat making, soap making and tie and dye. All(100%)the persons that enrolled with RSSDA and NDDC graduated at the end of the programme while Elf (95%) and NAOC(90%) graduated at the end of the programme. Furthermore, the study revealed that 23% of the beneficiaries areself-employed, 19% were employed by government, 14% were employed by private sector and 45% still see their selves as unemployed. The factors militating against SAP were beneficiaries went into SAP because they needed money ( =3.10), lack of interest in the skills ( =2.90), lack of electricity to continue the skill ( =2.80), beneficiaries sell their starter packs ( =3.10), lack of store/place to start the business ( =2.90) and government not admitting the right individuals into the programme ( =3.10). It was therefore recommended thatleaders in the study area should allow the programme to be independent. They should allow the coordinators or organizationsto recruit the candidates themselves.

Keywords: Skill Acquisition Programmes, Employment Opportunities, Rural