YOUTHS

Social vices among youths pose a significant challenge in communities worldwide, and Oluku in Edo State, Nigeria, is no exception. This study investigates the social control mechanisms aimed at correcting such behaviors in Oluku community. Drawing on a survey methods approach, the research explored the effectiveness of various social systems, including education, family, mass media, religion, civil society and government, in mitigating youth deviance. Convenience and purposive sampling techniques were used for selecting data and SPSS was used for the data analysis. Findings from the study revealed a nuanced understanding of social control mechanisms and highlighted persistent challenges, such as unemployment and family breakdown, hindering their efficacy. Recommendations for enhancing social control strategies and fostering positive youth development were discussed, aiming to contribute to the formulation of evidence- based policies tailored to the specific needs of Oluku community.

The broad objective of this study is to examine the risk of drug abuse among youth from disadvantaged families in Ekosodin community Ovial North East Local Government Area of Edo State. The specific objectives are to assess the prevalence and patterns of substance use, highlight the psychological stress and mental health experienced by drug abuser, highlight the effect of drug abuse on Academic and Social Well-being, and to find out the effect of drug abuse among youth on disadvantaged families in Ekosodin community Ovial North East Local Government Area of Edo State. A total of 300 structured questionnaires were distributed to respondents. Frequency andpercentage method was adopted in this study. The finding showed that there are prevalence and patterns of substance use. Most youth become drug abuser because substance use is a common issue among people in the community. And this substance in most cases are abuse because it is easy for individuals to access substances if they wish to. Drug abuser experience psychological stress and mental health this includes feeling overwhelmed finding it difficult to manage emotions, feel isolated or alone, frequently experience feelings of anxiety or panic attacks, and increased mental health problems and finding it difficult to participate in healthy social activities. Drug abuse prevents abuser from engaging in activities they once enjoyed, leading to feelings of hopelessness, it cannegatively impacts academic performance of youth, harms relationships with family and friends, and reduces motivation for school and future goals. Drug abuse make abuser’s family experiences more arguments and conflict because of their drug use, and can make it harder for abuser to communicate openly and honestly with their parents/guardians. The study recommend that Nigeria government should work toward reducing easy access of most drug which could be harmful to the health of youth, this can be done through making a certain policy.

This study examined the socio-cultural determinants of mental health among youth in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design using a structured questionnaire as the primary instrument for data collection. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed to youths residing in different parts of Benin City, and the responses were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques, including frequency distributions and percentages. The findings revealed that mental health challenges among youth in Benin City stem from multiple causes, including poverty, unemployment, family pressure, academic stress, and substance abuse. Furthermore, socio-cultural beliefs, stigma, and traditional perceptions of mental illness were identified as major factors influencing attitudes toward mental health and help-seeking behaviour. The study also found that social support systems remain weak, and limited access to affordable mental health care continues to worsen the problem. Social workers were observed to play a crucial role in the rehabilitation, counselling, and reintegration of youth experiencing mental health issues, although their efforts are often constrained by inadequate resources and institutional support. The study concluded that mental health among youth in Benin City is largely shaped by socio-cultural, economic, and environmental factors, which collectively determine the perception, experience, and management of mental illness. It therefore recommends that government agencies, community leaders, and social work practitioners intensify mental health education, challenge harmful cultural stereotypes, and expand youth-friendly mental health services. Strengthening social work practice and promoting community-based interventions were also emphasized as vital strategies for improving mental health outcomes among youths in Benin City.

The study examined the effects of youth unemployment in Egor LGA, Edo State. The study indicated that youth unemployment has many negative effects to the society, economy, family, and individuals. From the response got from the questionnaires revealed that youth unemployment leads to poverty, low productivity, losses in foreign direct investment, low revenue generation, rural urban migration, illicit activities which increases insecurity, anti-social activities such as armed robbery, prostitution, political thuggery, violence, kidnapping, restiveness and other social vices evident among the unemployed youths and this constitutes danger to the stability, growth and development of the state. The research concludes that, addressing the problems of youth unemployment, must involve all stakeholders. Suggestions from the analysis therefore, are that effective policy measures such as re-prioritization or revitalization of agricultural sector, reformation of educational system, provision of enabling environment and building of industries be pursued vigorously which will drastically reduce unemployment and poverty as well as eradicate the menace of youth unemployment in Egor LGA, Edo State and Nigeria as a whole.

This study aims to assess the prevalence and correlates of substance abuse among youths in Benin City Edo State Nigeria. A qualitative approach was applied in the thesis and content analysis was undertaken. five objectives were raised for the study. The population of the study comprised of youths residing in Oredo local government area. The data generated from the survey were analyzed by means of tables and percentages. The result of the analysis was tested at 0.05 (5%) level of significance. The findings of the study show that drug abuse negatively influences youth behaviour. The study recommend that parents should make deliberate effort to instill high moral standard and ensure they monitor the kind of friends their children hang out with in the community, as doing so will help reduce drug abuse behaviour among.

This study was carried out to investigate cybercrime and the misuseofmodern technologies by youths in the University of Benin. Cybercrimeisvastly growing in the world of technology today. Cybercriminals exploitinternet users’ personal information for their own gain. They dive deepintothe dark web to buy and sell illegal products and services and evengainaccess to classified government information. Many nations of the worldhaveblacklisted Nigerian youths in connection with fraudulent and illegal internetactivities and as such would not want to do any formof legitimate businesstransaction(s) with them especially on the internet with the fear of beingscammed or duped. Cybercrime in Nigeria seems to be perpetuatedbyyouths especially those in Universities and to a very large extent cybercrimeseems to affect their educational pursuit and academic performance. Theyouths are of a great concern and importance to every society, so, whateverit takes, their development should be looked into so as to promote thegoalsof education. Nine research questions were raised and six hypotheseswereformulated to guide the study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Thepopulation of the study comprised 43,772 students made up of 39,243undergraduates and 4,529 postgraduates. The data was collectedusingsimple random sampling technique and a sample size of 408 studentswasselected from the University of Benin. The research instrument usedfor the xiv study was a self-structured questionnaire. The instrument was subjectedtoscrutiny and test-retest reliability of 0.96 was derived, indicatingthat theinstrument was reliable. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square and t-test of independent samplesstatistics. The results revealed that unemployment, greed for money, povertyand parental conflict are among the leading causes of misuse of moderntechnology for cybercrime. Cybercrime activities can impact negativelyonyouths in the areas of academics, interpersonal relationships, socialbehaviour, and so on. Non-prosecution of cybercriminals by government andlaw enforcement agents encourages youths’ participation in cybercrimeactivities. Peer influence encourage youths’ involvement in cybercrimeactivities. There is a direct link between knowledge of internet andcybercrime activities. There exists a relationship between socio-economicstatus of youths and their involvement in cybercrime. Males aremoreinclined to cybercrime and deviant behaviours than their female counterparts. family and parents’ socio-economic background is linked toyouthinvolvement in cybercrimes and there is a relationship betweeneducationand cybercrime activities among youths. It was concluded that the causative factors of youths’ involvement incybercrime can be curbed or reduced to its barest minimumand youthscanbe encouraged to uphold societal values and shun criminal tendencies. It was xv recommended that the government should formulate workable policiesagainst cybercrimes.

The core objective of this study is to examine the extent to which traditional media and
the new media have remained dominant in the lives of the youths in our society and to
further investigate not just which of these media have dominated the sphere of the
youths but also find out the reasons why this is so. The study was anchored on uses
and gratification theory and media dependency theory. Like the name implies, the
youths have woken up to the several opportunities presented to them through the media
and as active participants of the media, they depend on it to explore these various
opportunities with their focus on which of the media world be more effective and
efficient in their drive towards these said opportunities. The survey research method
was adopted. To this end, 100 copies of the questionnaire were administered to
students in the University of Benin, Ekehuan campus. It was discovered in the study
that the new media has really dominated the world of the youths. Some youths stated
they used the new media for various reasons amongst which are entertainment,
education, information, business and aven politics. The study therefore recommends
that media practitioners, especially those with the youths as their target audience
should re-strategize in their goal of reaching the youths. Contents that would inspire
the thinking faculty of the youths to produce the right results for both them and the
society at large should be constantly made use of. Already, there is an integration of
traditional media to the new media, this collaboration should not be viewed as a loss
but for the benefit of the greater good, knowing that these youths are the future of the
society. In a society where the youths who are viewed as a menace in the society are fully equipped with information and knowledge that revolutionary, it would inspire them to be better and the society as well. The new media should be taken advantage of. If the new media among the youths is paid more attention, we would realize that most atrocities committed in the society will reduce. The new media has come to stay; the world is changing, it’s time for us to change to.