THE INFLUENCE OF UNEMPLOYMENT ON RAPE IN NIGERIA

THE INFLUENCE OF UNEMPLOYMENT ON RAPE IN NIGERIA

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Every society on the planet faces its own set of issues and challenges. Nigeria is no different. As a developing country, it has its own set of social, political, economic, and cultural issues, all of which have had a significant impact on the population's well-being. Youth unemployment and a rising tide of crime are two such issues plaguing the country, both of which have major ramifications for the country's growth (Okafor, 2011).

Nigeria's youth population is estimated to be at 46.4 million, with the majority of those aged 15 to 39 years old (National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Abuja, 2017). Given the expanding young population, the government should give jobs and other incentives to the horde of jobless graduates and teenagers. Unfortunately, unemployment in Nigeria, particularly among the youth, has been on the rise since the mid-1980s, when the economy began to falter. Although unemployment is a worldwide problem, the rate varies by country and depends on the size and capacity of the economy to offer work for its population.

Despite the abundance of people and natural resources in the country, Nigeria's unemployment rate has continued to rise. In Nigeria, chronic young unemployment is obvious. Thousands of graduates are created each year, yet the majority of them remain unemployed. Nigerian streets are clogged with hawkers who might otherwise have found meaningful employment in some business (Okafor, 2011). The enormous number of jobless youngsters has the potential to undermine democratic practice by posing a severe danger to the political class if they are used for clandestine and criminal activities (Okafor, 2011).

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (2009), the national unemployment rate in Nigeria between 2000 and 2011 was 31.1 percent in 2000 and 11-9% in 2005, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. In 2011, it increased to 23.9 percent, and in 2012, it reached 29.5 percent. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the jobless rate will grow beyond 35% in 2013 and 2014, respectively. In 2012, the average young unemployment rate in Nigeria was 46.5 percent, according to the same figures (BLG, 2012). In many places, the high prevalence of violent crime in Nigeria today is attributed to unemployment, particularly among the youth. Unemployed teenagers are also more likely to be offenders as well as victims of crime and violence, according to research findings (Okafor, 2011). Increased violence, such as rape, is a result of the rising divide between the affluent and the poor.

The rise in crime in Nigeria in recent years is concerning and alarming. This may be seen in daily news reports of robbery, theft, burglary, auto theft, rape, abduction, online scams, and other social media crimes. In the past, South Western Nigeria was recognized for its serene and tranquil environment, as well as appropriate protection of lives and property, but in recent years, the scourge of insecurity has taken on a new dimension. The Aramoko-Erio-Efon, Akure-Ikere, and Ado-Ijan roads, for example, have become dangerous for tourists since many have been kidnapped or robbed along these routes. In Ondo State, a professor from a private institution was kidnapped and eventually discovered dead (Oladele, Akeke Oladunjoye 2011). Unfortunately, youths, who make up more than half of Nigeria's population according to the 2016 census (Mbachu & Alake, 2016), and the energetic class, who should be diversifying their strengths to contribute to the country's development, are frequently found culpable in the country's crime challenge.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Many causes have been ascribed to Nigeria's high youth unemployment rate, including significant rural unban migration, fast population increase, inadequate school curriculum, corruption, the fall of the manufacturing sector, policymakers' and youths' perceptions of employment, and weak governance (Adebayo, 2013; Ekeji, 2019). Scholars agree that unemployment is linked to criminal activity such as rape. According to Ehrlich, as referenced by Jelilov and Ndanitsa (2015), joblessness is linked to crime since real work reduces the likelihood of unlawful labor. According to Fadaei-Tehrani and Green in Jelilov & Ndanitsa (2015), a drop in unemployment leads to a decrease in crime, and vice versa. Socioeconomic inequality and a lack of possibilities for social growth and employment, according to UN-Habitat, are some of the fundamental causes of crime and violence (Ajaegbu, 2012). On the other hand, most crimes, such as robbery, abduction, thuggery, and others, are marked by violence and put the victims' and society's safety at risk. As a result, the study aims to determine whether there is a link between unemployment and rape in Nigeria..

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this study is to examine the relationship between unemployment and rape in Nigeria. Specifically, other objectives of the study are;

1. Examine the implications of the increased unemployment rate in Nigeria.
2. Examine the factors that leads to the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria.
3. Examine the relationship between unemployment and rape in Nigeria

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions will be answered in this study

1. What are the implications of the increased unemployment rate in Nigeria?
2. What are the factors that leads to the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria?
3. Is there any relationship between unemployment and rape in Nigeria?

RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The following hypotheses will be tested for its validity in this study:

Ho1: there is no relationship between unemployment and rape in Nigeria

Ha1: there is a relationship between unemployment and rape in Nigeria

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of this study can not be overemphasized as the study exposes the relationship between unemployment and rape in Nigeria, the implications of the increased unemployment rate in Nigeria, factors that leads to the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria and the relationship between unemployment and rape in Nigeria. Hence, the findings will undoubtedly apprise the federal, state and local authorities of the need to ensure adequate establishment of avenues to decrease the rate of unemployment. And the consequences that may likely arise if neglected.

In view of this, it is expected that one of the most paramount resultant effects of this study is that it will encourage the government to work out policies that will effectively curb the alarming rise in the rate of unemployment.

Lastly, this study will also contribute to the body of existing literature on the topic under study, thereby serving as a source of information for students and researchers who may be carrying out further studies on related topics.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study will be focused on the relationship between unemployment and rape in Nigeria. Specifically, this study will be focused on examining the implications of the increased unemployment rate in Nigeria, examining the factors that leads to the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria and determining the relationship between unemployment and rape in Nigeria.

Residents of Uyo City, Akwa Ibom State shall serve as enrolled participants for the survey in this study.

 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents.

In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Relationship: the way in which two or more people or things are connected, or the state of being connected.

Unemployment: This is a term referring to individuals who are employable and actively seeking a job but are unable to find a job.

Rape: unlawful sexual activity, most often involving sexual intercourse, against the will of the victim through force or the threat of force or with an individual who is incapable of giving legal consent because of minor status, mental illness, mental deficiency, intoxication, unconsciousness, or deception.

BUY THIS TOPIC ON WHATSAPP

Related Project Materials

INTRODUCTION

Globalization remains one of the most contr...

ABSTRACT

This research examines the Role of Manager in Small Scale Business Organization with special reference to Top P...

ABSTRACT

Although the Nigeria economy has been  characterized;  with importation of everything ranging from ma...

ABSTRACT

          The stock market is a common feature of...

Abstract

This research work is poised to look into ‘’The Role of Local Government in the Transformation...