YOUTH

This study seeks to determine the effect of social media, specifically Facebook, on youth involvement in politics during the 2024 Edo State Governorship election. With the recent increase in digital communication technologies, politics have been revolutionized especially among the youth who use social media for various political actions. The study evaluates the effects of exposure to political messages in Facebook on youths' engagement in political activities, their perception towards political figures, and their belief in political messages. Four main research objectives informed the study. These include determining the extent to which youth are exposed to political content in Facebook, assessing how this exposure affects their involvement in politics, analyzing the effect of peer influence on the development of political views, and determining the credibility of the information circulated politically via social media. A survey research method was utilized. Information was gathered through the use of questionnaires. From the findings of the research, it is evident that many youths are regularly exposed to political content via the social network, which has a positive effect on their political knowledge and involvement. Nevertheless, findings from the research indicate that misleading information and content play an important role in shaping perception of political messages and even inhibit political participation in some cases. Additionally, peer pressure has been established to be a key determinant of youths' political perspectives. Despite the potential benefits of using the social network in politics, issues such as misleading and unreliable political messages need to be addressed.

This study was conducted to evaluate Politics Today on Channels Television in shaping the opinion of Edo Youth on Controversial issues in Nigeria. The study employed survey design which helped to gather data from a sample of 398 respondents derived from Seventy-Seven thousand(77,000) undergraduates of the University of Benin (both Ekehuan and Ugbowo campuses for the 2024/2025 academic session, where thirteen departments were randomly selected out of the fourteen faculties that made up the institution. It was discovered in this study that there is a high level of engagement on Politics Today on Channels Television by Edo Youth, which has influenced them to a high level. The findings further unveiled that Politics Today on Channels is a medium where Edo Youth surf and consume news bulletins, it was an effective platform for promoting informed citizenship and shaping public opinion on national issues. The programme’s comprehensive coverage and analysis of political events enabled young viewers to stay informed about current issues and make informed decisions about their engagement in politics.. The respondents appreciated the programme’s objective and detribalized approach to reporting and the diverse perspectives presented by the Guests. This study is pivotal for media practitioners, policymakers and relevant stakeholders interested in promoting democratic development and civic engagement in Nigeria. However, the programme’s ability to shapen Edo Youth opinion on controversial issues was threatened by the spread of fake news on social media which has been due to advancement of technology which birthed yellow Journalism. Social media’s influence on news consumption habits brought attention to the necessity of media literacy programmes that foster critical thinking and discernment in young audiences. This will increase the programme’s ability to encourage informed citizenship and democratic participation.

This study explores the evolving landscape of youth culture within the University of Benin environment, with particular attention to the rise of counterculture and contraculture among young people. Employing a quantitative research approach, data were collected through structured questionnaires distributed to 380 students at the University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus. The research examines how youths express their identities through fashion, language, music, digital media, and political engagement, and how these expressions often challenge or reject mainstream cultural norms. The university environment serves as a key space where young people interact, share ideas, question norms, and foster the emergence of new forms of cultural expression. Youths adopt or resist certain cultural practices based on social influences, dissatisfaction, and institutional pressures.The study reveals that youth identity is vibrant and multifaceted, shaped by global influences, digital media, societal expectations, and institutional contexts. While youth culture provides a platform for creativity and self-definition, the emergence of countercultural and contracultural behaviours often reflects a deeper sense of dissatisfaction with prevailing social norms and societal values.

This study examines the issue of youth empowerment and crime control in the Ugbowo axis. Crime has been a serious factor hindering youth growth and development. Despite efforts to create empowerment programmes aimed at reducing the crime rate, several challenges still persist. These include insufficient financial resources and infrastructure, cultural and socioeconomic barriers to initiative success, the inability to sustain programmes, and other related factors affecting youths in the Ugbowo axis. The research aims to examine the relationship between youth empowerment and crime control in the Ugbowo axis. The study employed a survey method, using qualitative data collection and analysis techniques. Questionnaires were administered to youths in the Ugbowo axis, particularly in the Ekosodin area. The findings reveal that there is a significant relationship between youth empowerment and crime control, as the lack of youth empowerment initiatives can lead to a rapid increase in crime rates. The study recommends urgent attention to address these challenges. Some of which include providing financial support for youths, building infrastructure to aid training and skill acquisition, offering training to youth workers, volunteers, and youths themselves, and encouraging proper home upbringing. The study’s findings and recommendations
provide valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders to improve the community and promote better livelihoods for youths and the general public

This study examined Substance Abuse: Its Effects Amongst the Youth in Ekosodin Community, Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State. The survey research design was adopted for this study because data were collected from a sample population with specific characteristics. Five research questions were formulated and answered using simple percentage analysis. The population of the study comprised youths residing in Ekosodin Community, and from this population, a total of 100 respondents were selected as the sample using a random sampling technique. The instrument used to collect data for the study was a twenty-five-item self-structured questionnaire. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that substance abuse has significant negative effects on the physical health, academic performance, social behavior, and psychological well-being of youths in Ekosodin Community. The study revealed that peer pressure, unemployment, family instability, and easy access to drugs are major factors contributing to substance abuse among youths. Furthermore, the findings indicated that substance abuse leads to increased crime rates, school dropouts, health complications, and social disintegration within the community. The implications of the study highlight the need for urgent intervention through public awareness campaigns, youth empowerment programmes, and stronger law enforcement against drug trafficking and abuse. It was also emphasized that schools, parents, and community leaders have a crucial role to play in sensitizing and monitoring the youth. The study recommends that government and non- governmental organizations should intensify efforts in establishing rehabilitation centres, promoting skill acquisition programmes, and creating job opportunities for youths. Additionally, there should be continuous community-based education on the dangers of substance abuse, strict enforcement of drug control laws, and collaborative efforts among stakeholders to curb the menace and promote the overall well-being of the youths in Ekosodin Community

Youth participation in politics remains pivotal in the sustenance of a nation’s democracy. Participation does not only ensure that government performs its duties, but also guarantees the rights of ordinary people to participate in their community development. Activities such as voting in an election, sponsoring a candidate, petitioning or participating in a protest are forms of political participation that influence public policy directly or indirectly through affecting the selection process of those who govern the people. The study attempted to examine the impacts of the youths on democratic process in Edo State: A case study of 2023 general elections. The study interrogated the following research questions: What was the level of the youths’ turnout during the 2023 general election in Edo State? What were the different ways the youths participated in the 2023 general election in Edo State? What were the youths’ patterns of voting in 2023 general elections in Edo State? Did the youths indulge in electoral violence in the 2023 general election in Edo State? In what ways can youth political participation and democratic process in Edo State and Nigeria be improved? Theoretically, the study utilized the system theory to explain youth political participation and democratic process in Edo State during the 2023 general election. Methodologically, the study surveyed 392 respondents in Oredo Local Government Area through a structured questionnaire. The study made the following key findings. The first finding was that there was massive youths’ turnout during the general election in Edo State. The second finding was that the youths participated in the elections by joining the INEC team as ad hoc staff, sensitizing the people on how to locate their voting centers and ways to vote in the election and campaigning for their preferred candidates. The third finding shows the patterns for which the youths voted during the 2023 general elections in Edo State. In that order, the pattern were voting to safeguard the future of Edo State and Nigeria’s democracy as well as foster national development, voting based on religion, personality of the candidates, ethnicity and political party. The last finding shows that the youths were also involved in various forms of electoral violence such as voter inducement, ballot box snatching and thuggery. The study therefore recommends that the government should create an enabling environment that can stimulate youths’ participation in the Nigeria’s democratic process, implement the various policies such as ‘Not Too Yong Run’ should be speedily implemented, need for proper sensitization of the Nigerian youths on the need to participate in politics and criminal elements are not good for the growth and development of any country.

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.

Crime appears to be a permanent feature of modern society (Shehu, 2014). Despite efforts of criminologist, law enforcement agency, personal and criminal justice professionals to minimise it, the world is becoming a more terrible place. Where crimes such as terrorism, kidnapping, robbery, assault, sex offences, child molestation, burglary, environmental crime, arson (crimes without a victim), economic crime, political crime and cybercrime are the order of the day (Igba, Chimezie, Aja, Nnamani, Ogodo, 2018). Crime appears to be a permanent feature of modern society. Despite efforts of social workers, law enforcement agency, personal and criminal justice professionals to minimise it, the world is becoming a more terrible place. Where crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, robbery, assault, sex offences, child molestation, burglary, environmental crime, arson are crimes without a victim, economic crime, political crime and cybercrime are the order of the day

Youths have the potential to overcome some of the major constraints to expanding fish farming in developing countries such as pond construction, disease management, hatchery management, genetic improvement, harvesting and processing because they are often more open to new ideas than adult farmers. In Nigeria, fish farming is still carried out using physical strength, which declines with age. However, empirical evidence on influence of youth involvement in fish farming on their standard of living is scarce. Therefore, involvement in fish farming and the standard of living of youths in Ughelli north local government, delta state, Nigeria were investigated. The result from the analyses shows that most of the fish farmers were male. The mean age of the farmers was 32 years. Majority(75%) of the respondent were married, majority(81.25%) of the respondent were members of association. Majority( 97.5%) of the respondent family size was 5 and below The mean monthly income from other sources is ₦75,195. Majority(52.5%) of the respondent has experience of between 5-9 years, with a mean years of experience of 8 years. Majority (68.75%) has 1-5 fish ponds with a mean number of fish pond of 6. The majority(46.3%) of the respondent live in a room and palour self-contain apartment. 23.8% owns the house they live in, while majority(76.2%) rented. Majority owns basic household facilities such as television, telephone, water closet, gas cooker and generator.