Youth awareness and employment potentials of sports In Ebute Metta Local Government Area of Lagos State

Abstract

Sports has proved to be an appropriate means to profitably engage the growing population of the unemployed youth as it provides variety of job opportunities. Hence, this paper examined youth awareness and employment potentials of sports in Ebute Mette Local Government Area of Lagos State. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 150 respondents from three geographical zones Ebute Mette Local Government Area. Stratified sampling technique was adopted to select sample for the study. A structured questionnaire drawn on a 4-point Likert scale was used to collect data from the respondents. The result showed that awareness of the youth of employment potentials of sports will reduces unemployment in Ebute Metta and that employment potentials in sports industries will significantly reduce unemployment in Ebute Metta. It was further established that professional sports career has substantial financial gain to influence the reduction of unemployment in Ebute Metta. Based on the findings, the study, it was concluded that a significant relationship exists between employment opportunity in sports industry and unemployment in Ebute Metta Local Government Area of Lagos State. Also, there is a significant relationship between employment opportunity in sports industry and unemployment in Ebute Metta Local Government Area of Lagos State. Therefore, the study recommended first, that sports career opportunities should be made accessible to the unemployed youth through community-based programmes. Secondly, the study recommended that the government, through the national and state association, should properly and objectively promote and market sports so as to lure private sectors to sponsor sporting events at grassroot. Finally, the study recommended that the government and all sporting bodies should identify strategies of engaging and empowering the unemployed through sports opportunities being made available to the youth. Keywords: Sports, employment potentials, government, youth awareness