ABSTRACT

The study assessed youth participation in community development projects in Abia State. Nigeria. The population of the study covered all the youth in the study area. The study was guided by the following objectives: examine the socio-ecoriomic characteristics of youths participating in the projects; identify the on-going and completed community development projects in th study area; ascertain the level of youth participation in stages of community development projects; determine the level of youth participation in the projects; assess the perception of youth about participation in community development projects and identify limitations to youth participation in the projects. Purposive and multi-stage randomized methods were adopted in selecting a sample size of 120 respondents. Data. were generated through the use of structured questionnaire and locus group discussion methods. Data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools, such as frequency tables, mean count, percentages and inferential statistics such as tobit regression analysis. Results showed that 75% and 25% of the respondents were males and females respectively, with a mean age of 30 years. The results further showed that the mean household size was 5 persons, with about 95% of the respondent attending one level ol'förmal education or the other. About 62.5% of the respondents were single with only 29.2% being married. Results showed that 27.5% of the respondents were public/civil servants, 2.5, 21.7. 38.3 and 10% were into farming. trading. studentship, and artisans respectively, with a mean annual income of N547, 083.00. Results also showed that all projects on rural electrification in the study area were already completed. In like manner, 42.5% of water borehole projects were also completed. However, 90.8% and 62.5% of the civic center and rural roads! culverts respectively were still on-going. In terms of participation of the respondents in the various stages of project execution, result showed high participation in four activities namely Need identification ( 3.08), Decision making (= 2.87), Attendance to meeting (. 2.73). and Financial contribution ( 2.6). Results further showed that the youth in the study area participated highly (= 3.37) in construction of rural roads! culvert and, ( = 2.98) in the execution of rural electricity project. Results also showed that the respondents recorded moderate participation in three projects which included civic center ( = 2.38), water borehole ( = 2.33), market ( = 2.00) and low participation in health center maintenance (. 1.93), Results further showed that the respondent had positive perception ( 2.50) on community development projects. Challenges confronting youth participation in the study area were poor-leadership. lack of encouragement. exclusion of the youths by the elders, inadequate mobilization, lack of time, gender blindness, and cultural issues among others. The Tobit results showed that age (_3.3***) affected youths participation negatively at 1% alpha level, while distance (2.4**) affected youths participation negatively at 5% alpha level, occupation (2.9**) affected youths participation positively at 5% alpha level and household size (1.9*) affected youths participation positively at l0% alpha level respectively. The study recommends adequate mobilization and involvement of the youths in all rural development projects, especially in the study area, as this will empower them more since they are the leaders of' tomorrow.