Article Details

The study was conducted to find out the strategies for enhancing participation in building construction among youths in Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers State. The study was guided by three specific objectives and three research questions and adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population for the study was 149 persons comprising 66 youth leaders, 66 community leaders and 17 councilors from Obio/Akpor lcal government area of Rivers State. The sample for the study was 149 obtained through census sampling technique. Data for the study were obtained through a questionnaire developed by the researcher from literature review. It was validated by three experts and with an internal consistency reliability coefficient of 0.89 obtained through Cronbach Alpha. A total of 149 copies of the instrument were administered and a total of 103 were retrieved and used for data analysis. Data gathered were analysed using frequency and mean. The result of the study showed that low wages, negative public perception, fear of being seen as low class person among others contribute to low participation in building among the youths. The study also showed that organising community meetings to sensitize youth on the need for engagement in building industry would enhance participation among others are some possible strategies that could be taken by communities to enhance youth participation in building industry. Furthermore, organising professional training programmes could attract youth into the industry; providing incentives to practicing youths would encourage others to get involved among others were some of the strategies that could be taken by local government council to enhance participation in building industry among youths in the study area. Based on the findings it was recommended among others that community leaders should organize programmes to sensitize youths on the need and benefits of involvement in building construction industry.