Exploring the Effectiveness of Vocational Skill Acquisition Interventions in Nigeria. A Perspective from North- Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of vocational skills acquisition on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Gombe metropolis, focusing on the relevance of training to career goals, business outcomes, and challenges faced by participants. A sample of 103 SME owners who had undergone vocational training was surveyed using a structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using SPSS software to generate descriptive statistics, including means and standard deviations. Results indicate that while vocational training moderately improves employability and income generation, significant external challenges, such as limited access to capital, markets, and modern technology, hinder the long-term success of business ventures. The study concludes with recommendations for aligning vocational training programs with market demands and providing additional support to address external barriers.

Keywords: Vocational training; SMEs; Employability; Income generation; Business challenges; Gombe metropolis; Skill acquisition

Introduction

The vocational skill acquisition is a central issue in the context of economic production and satisfaction for the purpose of empowering human capacity for self-reliance [2,6]. Over the years, vocational skill acquisition has been an area of serious concern for nation economic development in both developed and developing nations because of its impact on employment generation and improvement of national income for economic development [6,16]. Furthermore, it is also factual that the private ventures particularly the individual vocational skills acquisition and development has the capacity of generating more income and employment opportunities for self-reliance than public sector in Nigeria and in scores of developing countries as well [20].

With the growing level of abject poverty and unemployment couple with the declining interest of today youths in the productive and profitable private ventures particularly agricultural activities and skill acquisition which had constantly and habitually breeds a ground for the massive employment opportunities, especially to both the rural and urban communities contributed to the large possible extent in the growing numbers of unemployed youth in Nigeria [10]. So also, the bulk numbers of our university graduates and their urgent demand and hope for unreal and imaginary white-collar jobs and employment also deteriorate the unemployment situation in the country [21].

This resulted for unemployed youth among large population of Nigeria contributes to the high rate of insecurity, and the increase rate of violence vicious cycle of poverty in the country [7]. Omeje, (2021), Ajose, (2021) and Akinyetun, (2023) revealed that 64 million of the Nigeria youths are unemployed while 16 million are grossly underemployed bringing the quantum number of unemployed youth to 80 million. With this uncontrolled number of youth population skill acquisition for youth empowerment became inevitable to curtail the wide growing level of poverty in the country

Several attempts have been made by the governments, private organizations and nongovernmental individuals to reduce the large number of unemployed youths through various skill acquisition programmes (Inyang & Agwadu, 2017: Barringer, Ireland, 2012) Yet unfortunately, the speed of unemployed youth keeps on growing in alarming rate. This work is intended at assessing the success and the failure of various skill acquisition programmes over a long period of time particularly the skill acquisition programmes undertake by National Directorate for Employment and its collaborating agencies. It may also try to find out why the skyrocketing number of unemployed youths despite several numbers of skill acquisition intervention in northern Nigeria.

Problem Statement

The high rate of youth unemployment and the horrific and poor business environment couple with the lack of entrepreneur skill among our youths in their precious ages continues to have retrogressive consequences on the productive and profitable economic activities to our dear country (Adebisi & Oni 2012). This also affects their long-term employability and income generation for human development and state political stability as well. As the skills and capacity of those unemployed decline over time, they are more likely to be ill-equipped even when the country regains its full economic prosperity. This may however have negative impact on young people as well as growth and development of the state economy, as they are at the prime and precious age for acquiring necessary skills and work experience for the common good of all. It is however important to note that, in 2015 labour force increased to 76.9 million from 72 million in 2014, with increase rate 12% between 2010 and 2014 and the majority of whom were youth. This clearly shows that about 1.5 million youth are expected to enter the labour market seeking for job to survive. It is pertinent state that the public sector could not be able to absorb the 30% of the uncontrolled number of youths enter in the labour market annually (Help Desk Report, 2019: World Bank, 2016). It is therefore important to establish empirically whether or not the various programme undertaken by NDE and its collaborating agencies have the capacity of empowering our teeming youth for economic empowerment and self-reliance.

Objective of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness of vocational skill acquisition interventions in Nigeria. Other specific objectives are:

1. To identify the type of the vocational skills acquired by the individual participant from the vocational skill development of NDE, or any of collaborating agencies

2. To identify the type of business undertaking by individual participant as a result of skills acquired from the Vocational Skill Development by NDE or any of its collaborating agencies

3. To assess whether the vocational skills obtained by the individual participant improve his income for decent life

4. To identify the further constraints face by individual participants in the current business learn from the Vocational Skills Development of NDE or its collaborating agencies

Literature Review

Vocational skill acquisition refers to as functional skills that gain toward becoming knowledgeable in specific trade or particular profession (Iroegbu, 2017). It is factual, that most successful entrepreneurs worldwide begin acquiring a vocational skill or training that is high demand for self-reliance and economic empowerment. It is obvious that several empirical studies emphasize on the functional aspects of skill acquisition programmes, Le, Hoang, and Nguyen, (2023). Gambari (2009), Abdallah, Khasawneh, Al-Madadha and Abedrabbo, (2023), Miranda (2016), Iroegbu, (2017) and Ofoye (2019). Likewise, scores of other set of empirical works investigated the challenges of the challenges faces by various interventions of skill acquisition programmes, Adebisi and Oni (2012), Masha, Shava, Mambiravana and Bwowe, (2022), Awogbenle and Igweh and Egbule, (2022), and Gopi and Subramoniam, (2023). While focusing on challenges bedeviling the different skills acquisition in the country, none of the aforementioned studies examines the effectiveness or the None of this study researched the effectiveness of otherwise of the programmes.

Material and Method

Research Design

This study adopted a descriptive survey design to assess the impact of vocational training on SMEs in Gombe metropolis. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from participants to understand the relevance of vocational skills acquisition, its impact on employability, business ventures, income generation, and challenges faced by SME owners. Descriptive survey design was selected as it allows for a detailed examination of the participants' perceptions and experiences, providing both qualitative and quantitative insights into the phenomena under investigation.

Population and Sampling

The target population for this study consisted of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) situated in Gombe metropolis. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select 103 participants, representing a cross-section of SME owners or operators who had undergone vocational training. This sample size was considered sufficient to generate statistically reliable results and was chosen to reflect a variety of sectors within the SME landscape in the metropolis. The choice of purposive sampling ensured that the participants had direct experience with vocational training programs relevant to their business operations.

Data Collection Instrument

The primary data collection instrument was a structured questionnaire designed to capture both demographic information and specific details about vocational training and its perceived impact on business operations. The questionnaire was divided into four main sections:

1. Vocational skills acquired and their relevance to career goals.

2. Business ventures undertaken as a result of the training.

3. Financial benefits and improvements in quality of life.

4. Challenges faced in business operations.

A Likert scale ranging from "Strongly Agree" to "Strongly Disagree" was used to measure participants’ responses to key items. This scale allowed for the quantification of subjective perceptions, providing a basis for the statistical analysis of participant responses.

Data Collection Procedure

Data was collected through face-to-face distribution of questionnaires to the 103 selected participants. The questionnaires were administered over a period of two weeks, with each participant given sufficient time to complete the survey. Follow-up visits were made to ensure high response rates, and participants were assured of the confidentiality and anonymity of their responses.

Data Analysis

The collected data was analyzed using the **Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 25. SPSS was used to generate descriptive statistics, including means and standard deviations, for the variables of interest. These descriptive statistics helped to summarize the central tendencies and variability in the data, providing insight into the general perceptions of the participants regarding vocational skills and their business outcomes. Mean scores were used to determine the average level of agreement with the various statements on vocational skills relevance, business performance, and constraints faced by SMEs. Standard deviation was employed to assess the variability of responses, indicating the degree of consensus or disagreement among participants. Tables were generated to present the key findings from the data, illustrating the distribution of responses across the Likert scale for each item. These tables provided a clear visual representation of the impact of vocational training on SME operations and outcomes in Gombe metropolis.

The data in Table 1 reveals critical insights into the perceptions of vocational skills acquisition, particularly regarding career relevance, employability prospects, and satisfaction with the variety of skills offered. The mean values for most items cluster around 3.4, indicating that participants tend to agree or remain neutral regarding the relevance and impact of the skills they have obtained. The item "The vocational skills I acquired are relevant to my career goals" has a mean of 3.46 (SD = 1.22), suggesting that while some participants found the skills relevant, a significant portion did not. In fact, 39.5% disagreed with the statement, highlighting a substantial portion of dissatisfaction. The perceived improvement in employability prospects from vocational skills was rated slightly lower, with a mean of 3.33 (SD = 1.11), and the standard deviation indicates a spread in responses. Here, 34.2% of participants disagreed that their employability had improved, pointing toward uneven outcomes in the applicability of the training. Satisfaction with the variety of vocational skills offered scored similarly (Mean = 3.47, SD = 1.07). The lower standard deviation implies more consistency in responses, but with 32.5% of participants expressing dissatisfaction, this indicates an area for improvement in diversifying the skillsets offered.