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Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme Beneficiaries’ perception on the Barriers to Implementation of Empowerment Programmes in Delta State
Abstract
This study evaluated Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP)
beneficiaries’ perception on the barriers to implementation of empowerment
programmes in Delta State, Nigeria, examining its impact on youth empowerment.
Using the Taro Yamane formula, 358 beneficiaries were selected from a population
of 5,042 participants across seven implementation cycles. Data analysis utilized IBM
SPSS version 23.0, employing percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Findings
revealed beneficiaries strongly agreeing (grand x = 3.59, SD = 1.36) on various items
as implementation constraints. The most critical constraint was insufficient follow-up
support for participants (x = 3.89, SD = 1.29), followed by low patronage of
beneficiary-produced products (x = 3.79, SD = 1.07). The study recommended that
State governments, through ministries of commerce and public procurement
agencies should institutionalize structured off-take schemes that integrate
programme beneficiaries into public supply chains via cooperative-based contracting
systems. Programme Implementation Units, in collaboration with development
partners, should establish a robust monitoring and evaluation framework involving
periodic field follow-ups, mentorship, and digital performance tracking to ensure long
term sustainability of beneficiaries’ enterprises
