National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and Rural Empowerment in Oyo State, Nigeria
Olufemi O. POPOOLA, Ph.D.; Olubusayo AJAYI

Abstract
Across the globe, in developed and developing nations, the subject matter of unemployment has been a topical and recurring issue. Indeed, virtually all nations grapple with the attendant challenges of unemployment and constantly device series of mitigative strategies to combat the menace of unemployment. In Nigeria, unemployment remains a daunting challenge at all levels of government. The Federal Government, in one of its spirited efforts to combat unemployment established an institution tagged National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to embark on rural empowerment across the thirty-six states of the federation. This empirical study therefore, examined the roles of NDE in Oyo State. It appraised the performance of the Directorate and determined the influence of the Directorate on rural empowerment. Furthermore, the study analyzed the challenges facing the implementation of NDE programmes in the State. 20 copies of questionnaire were administered to members of staff of the Directorate while 10 of them were interviewed; 625 copies of questionnaire were administered to beneficiaries of the Directorate while 40 of them were also interviewed. Findings revealed that NDE played significant roles in employment generation, entrepreneurship and skills creation, with a significant positive effect on the monthly income of beneficiaries, though major challenges such as financial constraints, poor-awareness of NDE programmes by the public, still faced the NDE in implementing her statutory responsibilities. The study concluded that the NDE programmes has enhanced rural empowerment in Oyo State, despite the challenges facing agency, thereby engendering an improved means of livelihood for the beneficiaries.

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