Adult Education Journal of Educational Thought

Assessing the Impact of Youth Employment and Community-Based Workshops on Sustainable Community Forest Management in Akamkpa LGA, Cross River State, Nigeria

Acha J.O., Nandi M.A., Edet O.E., Onor E.R., Ettah E.I. — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This research examined the impact of youth employment and community-based workshops on sustainable forest management in Oban, Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. Two null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study made use of a descriptive survey design, employing a multistage sampling procedure in selecting a sample of 151 respondents from this population, a population of 2,156 youth and community members engaged in forest-related activities within the study area. The instrument used in data collection was a researcher-developed instrument titled “Youth Employment and Community-Based Workshops on Sustainable Forest Management Questionnaire (YECWSFMQ), validated by experts in Environmental Education and measurement and Evaluation Departments both from University of Calabar, Calabar Cross River State, Nigeria. The reliability of the instrument was ascertained using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients analyses with the text coefficient ranging from 0.78 to 0.86, which was considered good enough for this study. In answering the research questions in the study, the mean and standard deviation were used, while simple linear regression analyses were used employed for the hypotheses testing at the 0.05 significance level. The data analyses results indicated that youth employment is significantly related to sustainable forest management practices within the research area. In like manner, finding as shown from the analysis of the second hypothesis indicated that community-based workshops significantly and positively impact local communities’ attitudes towards sustainable forest management. With regards to these results and subsequent findings, recommendations were made, among others, that the Cross River State government, as well as other relevant environmental agencies, strengthen youth employment opportunities with reference to forestry initiatives, in addition to intensifying community-based workshop programmes towards the promotion of positive attitudes and enhancing sustainable forest management practices in Oban Akamkpa and by extension Cross River State.

Tracing Administrative Bottlenecks from Policy Design to Programme Delivery in Non-Formal Education in Nigeria

Acha J.O., Erim C.O., Iyaji P.I., Effiong A.F., Effiong M.O. — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Administrative bottlenecks are often prevalent between the development and implementation of policy and programmes in the non-formal education (NFE) sector of Nigeria, but little is known about them, their causes, and the impact. This research particularly explores the links between clarity in policy interpretation and intergovernmental coordination, the impact of accountability frameworks on the efficiency of local-level NFE programs, and how administrative bottlenecks collectively affect programme quality. The research is grounded in the principal–Agent Theory, which views policy implementation as a delegation process that creates administrative bottlenecks. Using three research questions and two hypotheses, the study adopted a descriptive survey approach with a structured questionnaire, surveying 464 adult education program supervisors in Nigeria. Descriptive and regression analyses (at a 0.05 threshold) were conducted for data analysis. The results indicate that clear interpretations of policies are likely to improve inter-governmental coordination through reduced ambiguity and increased trust between agencies. But uncertainty in operational guidelines may limit the effectiveness of these benefits, revealing the difficulties in translating policies to practice. Accountability processes were found to support timely initiation and implementation of programmes where processes were transparent and approval mechanisms clear, but inflexible procedures or financial processes could inadvertently delay implementation. Also, bureaucratic inefficiencies, institutional weaknesses and budgetary constraints tended to build up and impact planning, implementation and service continuity. Although adaptive measures occasionally offset these impacts, inefficient processes, especially when sustained, were found to limit programme efficacy and over time have potential to undermine public trust. This research concludes that policy-makers and educational administrators should create operational guidelines, coordination tools and role expectations to minimize role ambiguity and promote intergovernmental co-operation.

ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS AND EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

Agunsoye O.B., Alani R.A., Sule S.A. — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Nigeria has a significant problem of graduate unemployment, which raises the question of whether university education can prepare graduates with skills that are relevant in the labour market. This paper explored the connection between entrepreneurial intentions and employability skills of undergraduates in South-West Nigeria using the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Three research objectives were addressed through one research question and two research hypotheses. The design used was a descriptive survey research design. The study sampled 984 final-year students using a random sampling technique. A self-constructed questionnaire titled Entrepreneurial Intentions and Employability Skills among Undergraduates Questionnaire (EIESAUQ) was used. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation at a 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that the average level of employability skills among the undergraduates (grand mean = 3.47) was generally high, with the highest degree observed in teamwork skills. Significant positive relationships were found between subjective norms and employability skills (r = .43, p < .05) and between perceived behavioural control and employability skills (r = .44, p < .05). The study concludes that entrepreneurial intention variables are significant in enhancing the employability competencies of Nigerian undergraduates. The study suggests that government agencies should promote university–industry collaboration through supportive policies, funding, and national employability programmes, while employers provide structured internships and mentorship.

INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ADVOCACY ON LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENT AND SUSTAINABLE HEALTHY LIVING AMONG OLDER ADULT STAFF OF SELECTED BASIC SCHOOLS IN TANKE, ILORIN, KWARA STATE

Sholagberu A.O., Toyin K.S., Oyewole F.E. — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study assessed the influence of social media advocacy on lifestyle adjustments and sustainable health living among older adult staff of selected basic schools in Tanke Area, Ilorin, Kwara State. The population comprised older adult teaching and non-teaching staff of selected public and private basic schools, from which a sample was drawn using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire titled Social Media Advocacy, Lifestyle Adjustment and Sustainable Health Living Questionnaire (SMALASHLQ). The instrument was validated by experts and tested for reliability using the test–retest method, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.78, both descriptive statistics were used to answer the research questions. Findings revealed a high level of exposure of older adult staff to social media health advocacy messages. The results also shows that social media advocacy has certain effect on lifestyle adjustments and on the level of sustainable health living among the older adults However, challenges such as limited digital skills and poor internet access were identified as factors limiting the effectiveness of social media advocacy. The study concluded that social media advocacy is an effective tool for promoting positive lifestyle adjustments and sustainable health living among older adult staff of basic schools. It was recommended that school authorities, health educators, and policymakers strengthen digital health advocacy initiatives and improve digital literacy and internet access to enhance healthy living among older adults.