The increasing rate of youth unemployment in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, remains among the challenges to social and economic stability. Accordingly, the Nigerian government implemented several interventions, including the Youth-in-Agribusiness (YIA) program to reduce youth unemployment. However, the effect of these programs on gainful employment creation is yet to be documented. Therefore, this study examined the impact of the YIA program on creating gainful employment among the youth. Multistage random sampling was used to obtain cross-sectional data from 668 youth in Southwestern Nigeria. Propensity score matching and endogenous switching probit techniques were used for the estimations. Results indicated that variables such as educational attainment, access to training, non-agricultural activity, membership in a youth organization, access to credit, productive resources, and youth location were significant and positively influenced youth decision to participate in the YIA program. Furthermore, participation in the YIA program has a significant positive impact on gainful employment among the youth. Therefore, the study recommends that strengthening social capital such as youth organization, credit scheme (financed by private and government), vocational training, and educational system is vital in enhancing participation in the YIA program and eventually gainful employment of youth.

https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su132112243

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Djana Babatima Mignounahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4074-2928

DONTSOP NGUEZET Paul Martinhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5098-1853

Tahirou Abdoulayehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8072-1363

Victor Manyonghttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2477-7132

Zoumana BAMBAhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8913-3357

https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su132112243

Social Science and Agribusiness

Agribusiness; Agronomy; Capacity Development; Food Security; Plant Breeding; Plant Production; Smallholder Farmers; Socioeconomy

Impacts; Youth; Agribusiness; Employment; Nigeria

Africa; West Africa

Nigeria

Eastern Africa Hub; Headquarters and Western Africa Hub

Sustainability