IMPACT EVALUATION OF THE NATIONAL OPEN APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME OF THE NATIONAL DIRECTORATE OF EMPLOYMENT (NDE) IN THE SOUTH-WEST, NIGERIA (2008-2017)

Abstract

The Advanced National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (A-NOAS) was established to enhance the proficiency of beneficiaries of the Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (B-NOAS) in Nigeria, including the South-West. However, evaluation of impact of A-NOAS on unemployment was a mirage. Previous studies on unemployment have focused largely on the contributions of B-NOAS, with little attention paid to the impact of A-NOAS on unemployment and job creation. This study was, therefore, designed to evaluate the impact of A-NOAS in the South-West, Nigeria from 2008 to 2017. This was with a view to ascertaining the availability and usability of training facilities, employability skills, stakeholders’ perception, attitude of beneficiaries towards business and their self-reliance status. Age, gender and entry level qualification of beneficiaries were also examined. This study was anchored to the Organisational Elements Model, using mixed methods approach of sequential (QUANT-qual) design. Lagos and Ogun states were purposively selected based on most beneficiaries’ preferred business destination, high patronage and monthly profits. The Snowball sampling technique was used to select 360 B-NOAS and 600 A-NOAS trained graduates, 170 A-NOAS graduates’ customers and 25 National Directorate of Employment (NDE) personnel. The instruments used were Employability Skills Questionnaire A-NOAS (r = 0.82) and Customers (r = 0.89), Self-reliant Inventory (r = 0.80), Graduates’ Attitude towards Business Questionnaire (r = 0.87), Facility Availability and Usability Assessment Scale (r = 0.85), Stakeholders’ Perception Interview Guide and Resettlement Loan Administrators’ Interview Guide. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Paired t-test and ANOVA at = 0.05. Average age of beneficiaries was 33 years, the majority (67.5%) was female and most (89.4%) have B.Sc. or HND certificates. Many (75.8%) of the beneficiaries averred that there were available technical and vocational training facilities and 82.5% indicated that they were used during the training. There was a significant variation between employability skills ranking of A-NOAS graduates (X= 91.05) and their respective customers (X= 98.62). Beneficiaries were self-reliant in terms of monthly profits ranging from N43,000 to N537,000 and job creation ability was average of 22 apprentice. There was no variation between monthly profit of those who had B-NOAS training only and those who passed through B-NOAS and A-NOAS before their ANOAS training. A significant variation was observed between A-NOAS self-reliance status before and after the training in terms of monthly mean profit from N38,519 to N117,980 and job creation ability monthly mean from 0.34 to 2.23. There was significant interaction effect of training category and level of education (F(1,467) = 0.60, ƞ² = 0.03) on respondents’ attitude towards business. Stakeholders reported that ANOAS enhanced the proficiency level of beneficiaries leading to international recognition and resettlement loans greatly enhanced job creation ability and selfreliance status between 2008 and 2017. Advanced National Open Apprenticeship Scheme improved self-reliance status and job creation ability and skills of beneficiaries in the South-West, Nigeria from 2008 to 2017. Unemployed graduates should be encouraged to acquire vocational skills through A-NOAS trainings. Public enlightenment programmes on A-NOAS should be supported in Nigeria by all stakeholders.