YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT: IMPLEMENTATION OF YOUTH MUST WORK PROGRAMME IN IMO STATE NIGERIA, 2011-2015

The study examined the youth unemployment with a specific focus on implementation of youth must work programme in Imo State, Nigeria, 2011-2015. The study drew on survey data from a sample of 174 respondents within the study areas. Using the Normalization Process Theory (NPT) the paper is of the view that the implementation of youth must work programme and youth unemployment in Imo State is an intervention programme initiated by the Government of Imo State to reduce the high rate of youth unemployment in the State. A five point Likert scale were used in  analysis. The chi-square at the appropriate level of confidence (0.05) were used for the research hypotheses. Data for the study were gathered through primary and secondary sources. The findings revealed among others that youth must work programme have failed to make adequate provision for engaging the youth and therefore unable to resolve the development disaster facing the state. Also the implementation of the programme made minimal impact in the living condition, standard of life of the people that in-spite of the effort and financial input by the state government, youth unemployment is still on the increase. The paper recommended among others that government should try and monitor all allocation meant for the programme  to avoid, making it insufficient for the targeted beneficiaries.